Electrosurgical system and method
First Claim
1. A method of treating tissue located in the throat, nasopharynx, oropharynx and/or larynx of a patient using an electrosurgical system comprising:
- an electrosurgical generator adapted to generate a radio frequency oscillating voltage output across first and second output terminals;
an electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode connected to the first generator output terminal;
fluid delivery means for delivering electrically-conductive fluid to the lesion to be treated; and
a return electrode connected to the second generator output terminal, the method comprising the steps of;
isolating from the trachea and lungs, in a substantially fluid-tight manner, a space including the nasopharynx, oropharynx or pharynx and larynx, and within which at least the active electrode is located;
operating the fluid delivery means at least partly to fill the space with electrically-conductive fluid;
operating the generator to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes, and completing at least a part of a conduction path between the active and return electrodes using the electrically-conductive fluid; and
manipulating the active electrode in the vicinity of the tissue to be treated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for treating benign conditions, such as enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids located in a patient'"'"'s throat or nasopharynx, or soft tissue lesions located in a patient'"'"'s oropharynx or larynx. According to the method, a space containing the patient'"'"'s nasopharynx, oropharynx or pharynx and larynx is isolated from the patient'"'"'s trachea and lungs using an inflatable cuff tracheostomy tube or nasotracheal tube inserted in the patient'"'"'s trachea. The cuff is inflated to occlude the trachea. The patient is placed in a supine position, whereupon at least a portion of the space containing the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx and larynx is filled with saline. An endoscope is then inserted into the space to view the operative site in which the tonsils or tissue lesion are to be treated. An electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode and a return electrode connected to an electrosurgical generator is then inserted into the space, either along side the endoscope or through the endoscope'"'"'s working channel. The generator is then operated to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, whereby a conduction path is formed between the active and return electrodes, at least partially through the saline, whereupon the active electrode is manipulated to debulk or otherwise treat the soft tissue lesion or enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method of treating tissue located in the throat, nasopharynx, oropharynx and/or larynx of a patient using an electrosurgical system comprising:
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an electrosurgical generator adapted to generate a radio frequency oscillating voltage output across first and second output terminals;
an electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode connected to the first generator output terminal;
fluid delivery means for delivering electrically-conductive fluid to the lesion to be treated; and
a return electrode connected to the second generator output terminal, the method comprising the steps of;
isolating from the trachea and lungs, in a substantially fluid-tight manner, a space including the nasopharynx, oropharynx or pharynx and larynx, and within which at least the active electrode is located;
operating the fluid delivery means at least partly to fill the space with electrically-conductive fluid;
operating the generator to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes, and completing at least a part of a conduction path between the active and return electrodes using the electrically-conductive fluid; and
manipulating the active electrode in the vicinity of the tissue to be treated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of treating soft tissue lesions located in a patient'"'"'s oropharynx or larynx comprising the steps of:
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isolating a space including the patient'"'"'s oropharynx or larynx from the patient'"'"'s trachea and lungs using an inflatable cuffed tube for breathing inserted in the trachea;
inflating the cuff to occlude the trachea;
filling at least a portion of the space including the oropharynx and larynx with saline;
inserting into the space and endoscope to visualize an operative site in which the soft tissue lesion is treated;
inserting an electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode connected to a first output terminal of an electrosurgical generator inserted into the space either alongside the endoscope, or through the endoscope'"'"'s working channel, the electrosurgical instrument including a return electrode connected to a second output terminal of the generator;
operating the generator to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes, whereby a conduction path is formed between the active and return electrodes at least partially through the saline; and
manipulating the active electrode to treat the soft tissue lesion. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of treating enlarged tonsils located in a patient'"'"'s nasopharynx and/or throat comprising the steps of:
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isolating a space including the patient'"'"'s nasopharynx and larynx from the patient'"'"'s trachea and lungs using an inflatable cuffed tube for breathing inserted in the trachea;
inflating the cuff to occlude the trachea;
filling at least a portion of the space including the nasopharynx and larynx with saline;
inserting into the space and endoscope to visualize an operative site in which the tonsils are treated;
inserting an electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode connected to a first output terminal of an electrosurgical generator inserted into the space either alongside the endoscope, or through the endoscope'"'"'s working channel, the electrosurgical instrument including a return electrode connected to a second output terminal of the generator;
operating the generator to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes, whereby a conduction path is formed between the active and return electrodes at least partially through the saline; and
manipulating the active electrode to treat the tonsils. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification