Electrosurgical apparatus with fluid flow regulator
First Claim
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1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating a target site, comprising:
- a shaft comprising a distal end section including a distal tip; and
an active electrode disposed near the distal tip, wherein the distal end section comprises a fluid collection chamber comprising;
an ingress port for suctioning a fluid flow over the active electrode and into the fluid collection chamber;
a regulator adapted to adjust the fluid flow through the ingress port; and
an aspiration port for exhausting the fluid from the fluid collection chamber.
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Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument comprising a shaft that includes a distal end section and a distal tip. Near the distal tip is an active electrode and a fluid collection chamber. The fluid collection chamber comprises an ingress port for suctioning a fluid flow over the active electrode and into the fluid collection chamber; a regulator adapted to adjust the fluid flow through the ingress port; and an aspiration port for exhausting the fluid from the fluid collection chamber, and a method thereof.
188 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating a target site, comprising:
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a shaft comprising a distal end section including a distal tip; and
an active electrode disposed near the distal tip, wherein the distal end section comprises a fluid collection chamber comprising;
an ingress port for suctioning a fluid flow over the active electrode and into the fluid collection chamber;
a regulator adapted to adjust the fluid flow through the ingress port; and
an aspiration port for exhausting the fluid from the fluid collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 17. The apparatus of claim 17, the ratio of the second cross section area to the first cross section area is equal to or greater than about 1.
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20. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating a target site comprising:
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a shaft comprising a distal end section, a distal tip, and a fluid aspiration lumen extending to the distal tip;
a fluid collection chamber arranged at the distal end section, said fluid collection chamber in fluid communication with said aspiration lumen, said fluid collection chamber comprising a fluid ingress port such that fluid in the vicinity of the said target site may be drawn therein at a first flowrate, and a regulator through which fluid enters said fluid collection chamber at a second flowrate, said regulator adapted to adjust said first flowrate such that the first flowrate is independent of a third flowrate through the aspiration lumen; and
an active electrode arranged at said distal end section such that fluid entering said ingress port is drawn across said active. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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- 21. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fluid ingress port comprises a first cross section area, and the regulator comprises a second cross section area such that the ratio of the second cross section area to the first cross section area is equal to or greater than about ⅗
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28. A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure on a target site, comprising:
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applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference between an active electrode and a return electrode of an electrosurgical apparatus in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, in close proximity to the target site;
removing a first fluid stream from the target site through an ingress port on the electrosurgical apparatus, at a first flow rate, wherein the first fluid stream comprises fluids in contact with the active electrode;
suctioning a second fluid stream from said target site through a regulator on the apparatus;
wherein the first fluid stream flow is regulated by the second stream flow and bubbles at the target site are removed for improved visualization of the target site during the procedure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification