Electrosurgical cutting instrument

• US 20050283149A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silverglide Surgical Technologies Incorporated, Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Morningstar, Kevin, Thorne, Jonathan O.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument is provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes an active electrode in close proximity to a return electrode. The active electrode has a first thermal diffusivity. The second electrode has a second thermal diffusivity greater than the first thermal diffusivity. The volume, shape, and thermal diffusivity of the second electrode facilitate the transport of heat.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical cutting instrument, comprising:

a first electrode designed to facilitate cutting tissue and including a relatively low thermal diffusivity material;

a second electrode in close proximity to the first electrode including a first relatively high thermal diffusivity material;

the first electrode removably coupled to an electrical power source;

the second electrode coupled to a ground of the electrical power source; and

the second electrode being shaped and designed to facilitate the transport of heat from the surface of the second electrode.