Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods

• US 20050090816A1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Published: 04/28/2005
• 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: Lipson, David, Luzzi, Robert, McClurken, Michael E., Oyola, Arnold E., Wilson, Jonathan E., Maurer, Christopher W., Greeley, Roger D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00035 with return means
• 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 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• 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 2018/00744 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 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 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1417 : Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1422 : Hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• 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

An electrosurgical device is provided which comprises a distal portion having a bipolar electrode configuration and at least one fluid outlet opening. The device further includes a first electrode tip spaced from a second electrode tip with the first electrode tip to serve as a first pole of the bipolar electrode configuration and the second electrode tip to serve as a second pole of the bipolar electrode configuration. The first and second electrode tips are configured to slide over a tissue surface in the presence of a fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening and an electrical current provided from the electrode tips.

Claims

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. An electrosurgical device comprising:

a distal portion having a bipolar electrode configuration and at least one fluid outlet opening;

a first electrode tip spaced from a second electrode tip, the first electrode tip to serve as a first pole of the bipolar electrode configuration and the second electrode tip to serve as a second pole of the bipolar electrode configuration;

at least one fluid passage connectable to a fluid source;

the at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage; and

the first and second electrode tips configured to slide over a tissue surface in the presence of a fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening and an electrical current provided from the electrode tips.

33. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening is located between the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip.

34. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid between the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip.

35. The device according to claim 34 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface.

36. The device according to claim 34 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a domed distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a domed distal end surface; and

37. The device according to claim 34 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a distal end surface;

having a contact angle with the fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening in contact therewith of less than 90 degrees; and

the second electrode tip comprises a distal end surfaced; and

having a contact angle with the fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening in contact therewith of less than 90 degrees.

38. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening further comprises at least a first fluid outlet opening and a second fluid outlet opening;

the first fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the first electrode tip; and

the second fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the second electrode tip.

39. The device according to claim 38 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface;

40. The device according to claim 38 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a domed distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a domed distal end surface;

41. The device according to claim 38 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a distal end surface;

having a contact angle with the fluid provided from the first fluid outlet opening in contact therewith of less than 90 degrees; and

the second electrode tip comprises a distal end surface having a contact angle with the fluid provided from the second fluid outlet opening in contact therewith of less than 90 degrees.

43. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip is laterally spaced from the second electrode tip by a separation distance; and

the separation distance between the first electrode tip and second electrode tip is adjustable.

46. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

an electrical insulator is located between the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip.

53. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are substantially parallel.

54. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are substantially the same shape.

55. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are substantially mirror images of each other.

56. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface.

60. The device according to claim 56 wherein:

the first electrode tip spherical distal end surface comprises a spherical surface less than 180 degrees; and

the second electrode tip spherical distal end surface comprises a Spherical surface less than 180 degrees.

61. The device according to claim 56 wherein:

the first electrode tip spherical distal end surface comprises a spherical surface of about 180 degrees; and

the second electrode tip spherical distal end surface comprises a spherical surface of about 180 degrees.

63. The device according to claim 56 wherein:

the first electrode tip spherical distal end surface is provided by an exposed surface portion of a first electrically conductive ball; and

the second electrode tip spherical distal end surface is provided by an exposed surface portion of a second electrically conductive ball.

64. The device according to claim 56 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a cylindrical surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a cylindrical surface.

65. The device according to claim 64 wherein:

the first electrode tip cylindrical surface is located proximally adjacent to the first electrode tip spherical distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip cylindrical surface is located proximally adjacent to the second electrode tip spherical distal end surface.

66. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a domed distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a domed distal end surface.

67. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a distal end surface having a contact angle with the fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening in contact therewith of less than 90 degrees; and

the second electrode tip comprises a distal end surface having a contact angle with the fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening in contact therewith of less than 90 decrees.

71. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises a first electrode tip hollow metal tube; and

the second electrode tip comprises a second electrode tip hollow metal tube;

88. The device according to claim 32 further comprising:

a first shaft having a first shaft distal end, the first electrode tip extending distally beyond the first shaft distal end; and

a second shaft having a second shaft distal end, the second electrode tip extending distally beyond the second shaft distal end.

89. The device according to claim 88 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet opening further comprises at least a first fluid outlet opening and a second fluid outlet opening;

the first shaft further comprises a first shaft distal end opening, the first electrode tip extending distally beyond the first shaft distal end opening;

the second shaft further comprises a second shaft distal end opening, the second electrode tip extending distally beyond the second shaft distal end opening;

the first shaft distal end opening to serve as the first fluid outlet opening; and

the second shaft distal end opening to serve as the second fluid outlet opening.

91. The device according to claim 89 wherein:

the first fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the first electrode tip; and

the second fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the second electrode tip.

92. The device according to claim 32 wherein:

97. The device according to claim 92 wherein:

the at least one fluid passage further comprises at least a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage,

the at least one fluid outlet opening further comprises at least a first fluid outlet opening and a second fluid outlet opening,

the first fluid outlet opening is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage; and

the second fluid outlet opening is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage.

98. The device according to claim 97 wherein:

the first fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the first electrode tip; and

the second fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the second electrode tip.

99. The device according to claim 32 further comprising:

a valve assembly to control a flow of the fluid.

104. The device according to claim 99 wherein:

the fluid passage is partially provided within a plastic tubing; and

the valve assembly comprises a roller clamp assembly, the roller clamp assembly having a wheel configured to roll along the plastic tubing to at least partially open and close the fluid passage.

106. The device according to claim 99 wherein:

the fluid passage is partially provided within a plastic tubing; and

the valve assembly comprises an arm, the arm configured to move in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction to compress the plastic tubing to at least partially close the fluid passage and a second direction to decompress the plastic tubing to at least partially open the fluid passage.

108. The device according to claim 99 wherein:

the at least one fluid passage is partially provided within a plastic tubing; and

the valve assembly comprises a mechanism configured to at least one of compress and pinch the plastic tubing to at least partially close the fluid passage.

110. The device according to claim 32 further comprising:

a switch assembly to control power, the switch assembly having on and off positions.

a valve assembly to control a flow of the fluid, the valve having on and off positions;

a mechanism which prevents the switch assembly from being in the on position while the valve assembly is in the off position.

42. (canceled)

44-45. -45. (Cancelled)

47-52. -52. (Cancelled)

57-59. -59. (Cancelled)

62. (canceled)

68-70. -70. (canceled)

72-87. -87. (canceled)

90. (canceled)

93-96. -96. (canceled)

100-103. -103. (canceled)

105. (canceled)

107. (canceled)

109. (canceled)

111-137. -137. (canceled)

138. An electrosurgical device comprising:

a distal portion having a bipolar electrode configuration and at least one fluid outlet opening;

a first electrode tip spaced from a second electrode tip, the first electrode tip to serve as a first pole of the bipolar electrode configuration and the second electrode tip to serve as a second pole of the bipolar electrode configuration;

at least one fluid passage connectable to a fluid source;

the least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage;

the first electrode tip comprises spherical distal end surface; and

the second electrode tip comprises a spherical distal end surface.

139. The device according to claim 138 wherein:

the at least one fluid passage further comprises at least a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage;

the at least one fluid outlet opening further comprises at least a first fluid outlet opening and a second fluid outlet opening;

the first fluid outlet opening is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage;

the second fluid passage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage;

the first fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the first electrode tip; and

the second fluid outlet opening is configured to provide the fluid to the second electrode tip.