Electrosurgical instrument and an electrosugery system including such an instrument
First Claim
1. An electrosurgery system for treating tissue immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, comprising:
- a generator for delivering a radio frequency tissue treatment output in the frequency range of from 100 kHz to 50 MHz, and an elongate instrument shaft configured to be mounted at a proximal end to a handpiece and carrying at its distal end a bipolar electrode assembly connected to the generator, wherein the electrode assembly includes;
an active electrode with an active zone at a distal end of the active electrode; and
a return electrode with a return zone near the active zone;
wherein at least one of the active and return zones has an electrically insulating dielectric covering such that in use a radio frequency electrical circuit between the active and return electrodes through the conductive fluid is completed preliminary by dielectric coupling through the dielectric covering.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an electrosurgical system which is operable within the frequency range of from 100 kHz to 50 MHz and which has a handheld instrument with an elongate instrument shaft, the distal end of the shaft carries a bipolar electrode assembly for use in a conductive fluid field. The electrode assembly has an active electrode and, set back from the active electrode, a return electrode coated with an insulative dielectric layer. The insulative layer may be made of a plastics or a ceramic material and acts as the dielectric of a capacitor when the electrode assembly is immersed in the conductive fluid. One of the effects of the insulative layer is to provide a more uniformly distributed electric field over the return electrode than is obtained with an exposed return electrode, yielding improved tissue desiccation and vaporisation characteristics. The active electrode may have a similar dielectric covering.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An electrosurgery system for treating tissue immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, comprising:
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a generator for delivering a radio frequency tissue treatment output in the frequency range of from 100 kHz to 50 MHz, and an elongate instrument shaft configured to be mounted at a proximal end to a handpiece and carrying at its distal end a bipolar electrode assembly connected to the generator, wherein the electrode assembly includes;
an active electrode with an active zone at a distal end of the active electrode; and
a return electrode with a return zone near the active zone;
wherein at least one of the active and return zones has an electrically insulating dielectric covering such that in use a radio frequency electrical circuit between the active and return electrodes through the conductive fluid is completed preliminary by dielectric coupling through the dielectric covering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue immersed in an electrically conductive fluid with radio frequency energy in the frequency range of from 100 kHz to 50 MHz, wherein the instrument comprises an elongate shaft configured to be mounted at a proximal end to a handpiece and carrying at its distal end a bipolar electrode assembly which includes:
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an active electrode with an active zone at a distal end of the active electrode; and
a return electrode with a return zone near the active zone;
wherein at least one of the active and return zones has an electrically insulating dielectric covering such that in use a radio frequency electrical circuit between the active and return electrodes through the conductive fluid is completed at least primarily by dielectric coupling through the dielectric covering. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An electrosurgical instrument for use at a frequency or frequencies in the range of from 100 kHz to 50 MHz, the instrument having a bipolar electrode assembly for tissue treatment when immersed in a conductive fluid, wherein the instrument comprises an elongate shaft mounted at one end to a handpiece, and carrying the electrode assembly at its other end, and wherein the electrode assembly comprises at least one distal active electrode, and an adjacent return electrode set back proximally of the active electrode, the return electrode being encased in an insulative dielectric layer.
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37. A laparoscopic electrosurgical instrument for wet field electrosurgery, wherein the instrument comprises a tubular elongate shaft for insertion into a body cavity and, at the end of the shaft for insertion into the body cavity, an electrode assembly comprising a first conductor at an extreme distal end of the instrument and a second conductor insulated from the first conductor and set back from the distal end, wherein at least the second conductor is encased in an insulative outer dielectric layer.
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38. An electrosurgical system for treating tissue structure contained within a body cavity and immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, said system comprising:
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a generator for delivering a radio frequency output for the treatment of tissue structures in the high to very high frequency range; and
an electrode assembly connected to said generator, said electrode assembly comprising;
an active electrode including an active zone at a distal end of said active electrode;
a return electrode including a return zone defined by an electric field developed between said active electrode and said return electrode when said electrode assembly is connected to said radio frequency output of said generator; and
an insulator separating said return electrode from said active electrode;
said return zone being coated with a layer of dielectric insulating material wherein, in use, said return zone is insulated from direct electrical contact with said tissue and said electrically conductive fluid so that an electrical circuit is completed between said active and return zones by dielectric coupling through said dielectric insulating material.
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39. An electrode assembly for treating tissue structure contained within a body cavity and immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, said electrode assembly being connected to a generator for delivering a radio frequency output for the treatment of tissue structures in the high to very high frequency range, said electrode assembly comprising:
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an active electrode including an active zone at a distal end of said active electrode;
a return electrode including a return zone defined by an electric field developed between said active electrode and said return electrode when electrode assembly is connected to said radio frequency output of said generator; and
an insulator separating said return electrode from said active electrode;
said return zone being coated with a dielectric insulating material layer wherein, in use, said return zone is insulated from direct electrical contact with said tissue and said electrically conductive fluid so that an electrical circuit is completed between said active and return zones by dielectric coupling through said dielectric insulating material.
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40. An electrode assembly for treating tissue structure contained within a body cavity and immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, said electrode assembly being connected to a generator for delivering a radio frequency output to said electrode assembly, said electrode assembly comprising:
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an active electrode in the form of a ceramic cavity lined internally with metal, said active electrode including an active zone at a distal end of said active electrode; and
a return electrode including a return zone defined by an electric field developed between said active electrode and said return electrode when said electrode is connected to said radio frequency output of said generator;
said ceramic cavity being a dielectric insulating material, wherein, in use, an electrical circuit is completed between said active and return zones by dielectric coupling.
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Specification