Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods

• US 20040019350A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: OʼBrien, Scott D., Luzzi, Robert, McClurken, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,048,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00809 measured thermochromatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1417 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1422 Hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and conductive fluid to tissue. The tip portion includes an electrode having a domed portion having a domed surface and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface. The domed portion is located distal to the cylindrical portion and occupies at least a portion of the distal end of the surgical device. The device includes a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening configured to provide the conductive fluid to a surface of the electrode proximal to the distal end surface of the surgical device.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end;

a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source;

an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft;

the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and

at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid out opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ

) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and

whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening is located at the distal end of the shaft.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening located at the distal end of the shaft is located between a portion of the electrode tip contained within the shaft and the distal end of the shaft.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening is sheltered by the device from having direct contact with tissue.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening sheltered by the device from having direct contact with tissue is sheltered by the shaft.

8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means to shelter the at least one fluid outlet opening from having direct contact with the tissue.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein:

the means to shelter the at least one fluid outlet opening comprises the shaft.

10. The device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of fluid outlet openings.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein:

the plurality of fluid outlet openings are arranged to provide the fluid from the fluid source around the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein:

the plurality of fluid outlet openings are located at the distal end of the shaft.

13. The device according to claim 7 wherein:

the plurality of fluid outlet openings comprise four equally spaced openings located at the distal end of the shaft.

14. The device according to claim 4 further comprising:

at least one recess provided in the electrode tip, the recess providing a fluid flow channel for a flow of the fluid distally along the electrode tip.

15. The device according to claim 14 comprising a plurality of recesses, each recess providing fluid flow channel for a flow of the fluid distally along the electrode tip.

16. The device according to claim 14 wherein:

the at least one recess is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid outlet opening.

17. The device according to claim 14 wherein:

the number of recesses is equal to the number of fluid outlet openings.

18. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end;

a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source;

an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft;

the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a neck portion and an enlarged end portion, the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and

at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.

20. The device according to claim 18 wherein:

at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ

) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and

whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.

21. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end;

a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source;

an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft;

the portion of the electrode tip extending distally, beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a neck portion and an enlarged end portion, the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and

at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the neck portion of the electrode tip.

22. The device according to claim 21 wherein:

at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ

) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and

whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.

23. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end;

a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source;

an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft;

the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a neck portion and an enlarged end portion, the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and

at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source towards the enlarged end portion of the electrode tip.

24. The device according to claim 23 wherein:

at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ

) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and

whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.

25. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:

a handle;

a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source;

an electrode tip having an electrode surface, the electrode comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and

at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.

26. The device according to claim 25 wherein:

at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ

) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and

whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.

27. A surgical method for treating tissue comprising:

providing tissue having a tissue surface;

providing radio frequency power at a power level;

providing an electrically conductive fluid at a fluid flow rate;

providing an surgical device configured to simultaneously provide the radio frequency electrical power and the electrically conductive fluid to tissue;

providing the electrically conductive fluid to the tissue at the tissue surface;

forming a fluid coupling comprising the electrically conductive fluid which couples the tissue and the surgical device;

providing the radio frequency power to the tissue at the tissue surface and below the tissue surface into the tissue through the fluid coupling;

coagulating the tissue without cutting the tissue; and

blunt dissecting the tissue after coagulating the tissue.