Medical Bipolar Electrode Assembly With A Cannula Having A Bipolar Active Tip And A Separate Supply Electrode And Medical Monopolar Electrode Assembly With A Cannula Having A Monopolar Active Tip And A Separate Temperature-Transducer Post
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly comprising:
- a cannula having a first coupling assembly and an elongated tubular body having a proximal end mounted to a hub of the first coupling assembly and projecting outward to a distal end;
first and second spaced apart and oppositely charged contacts disposed adjacent to the distal end;
a supply electrode having spaced apart proximal and distal ends, the supply electrode dimensioned to be slidably inserted in the body so as to be positioned to electrically contact the first contact;
a second coupling assembly attached to the proximal end of the supply electrode, the first and second coupling assemblies configured to releasably interlock;
a first conductive terminal seated in the hub and electrically connected to the second contact; and
a second conductive terminal attached to the second coupling assembly, the first and second conductive terminals being collectively positioned so that when the coupling assemblies interlock, the conductive terminals abut.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical system preferably used for denervation procedures of nerve tissue has a control unit and a pluggable electrode assembly. The electrode assembly has a preferably disposable cannula and a preservable supply electrode assembly. The cannula has a tubular body that projects axially from a preferably pointed distal end for piercing tissue to a proximal end engaged to a first coupling assembly of the cannula. The body carries a first contact exposed directly to the nerve tissue and connected electrically to a terminal of the first coupling assembly. The supply electrode assembly has a second coupling assembly and a supply electrode that projects axially and removably into a through-bore of the body when the tool is in an operating state. The second coupling assembly carries a terminal that abuts the first coupling assembly when the coupling assemblies are mated. Preferably the supply electrode carries a temperature sensor for temperature measurement of the targeted tissue and processing by the control unit. Preferably, the electrode assembly also includes a stylet having a rod that fits into the through-bore of the body when the supply electrode assembly is removed and the tool is in a tissue penetrating state.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a cannula having a first coupling assembly and an elongated tubular body having a proximal end mounted to a hub of the first coupling assembly and projecting outward to a distal end;
first and second spaced apart and oppositely charged contacts disposed adjacent to the distal end;
a supply electrode having spaced apart proximal and distal ends, the supply electrode dimensioned to be slidably inserted in the body so as to be positioned to electrically contact the first contact;
a second coupling assembly attached to the proximal end of the supply electrode, the first and second coupling assemblies configured to releasably interlock;
a first conductive terminal seated in the hub and electrically connected to the second contact; and
a second conductive terminal attached to the second coupling assembly, the first and second conductive terminals being collectively positioned so that when the coupling assemblies interlock, the conductive terminals abut. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cannula for use with a matable supply electrode assembly having a coupling assembly connected to a cable that connects the supply electrode assembly to a control console, said cannula comprising:
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an outer tube with opposed proximal and distal ends and a through bore;
an insulating sleeve disposed over the outer tube and proximal to the distal end so as to provide a distal active contact;
a hub attached to the proximal end of the outer tube, the hub dimensioned to releasably engage with the coupling assembly; and
a contact disposed in the hub for establishing a conductive path from the outer tube to a complimentary contact in the coupling assembly.
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11. A cannula of an electrosurgical system having a matable supply electrode assembly for axial insertion into the cannula during a denervation procedure, said cannula comprising:
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an axis;
an electrically conductive and elongated outer member spaced radially outward from the axis and extending axially forward to a first distal end of the outer member;
an electrically conductive inner tube disposed concentrically to the axis and radially inward from the outer member and extending axially forward to a second distal end of the inner tube;
an elongated electrical insulating member disposed radially between and extending longitudinally with the inner tube and the outer member; and
an axially extending through-bore is defined by the inner tube for receipt of the supply electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of operating a bipolar electrosurgical system comprising the steps of:
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penetrating tissue with a pointed tubular body of a cannula;
locating the body to targeted tissue;
inserting a supply electrode of a supply electrode assembly in a through-bore of the body;
making electrical contact between a shell of the supply electrode and a first electrode of the cannula that is exposed at least in part to the targeted tissue;
further inserting the supply electrode into the through-bore; and
making electrical contact between a first terminal supported by a first coupling assembly of the cannula and a second terminal supported by a second coupling assembly of the supply electrode assembly.
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Specification