Non-stick surface coated electrodes and method for manufacturing same

• US 20080234672A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bastian, Barbara
• Application Number:
  US11/726,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0088 ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0013 non-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00142 lubricating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1415 multiple blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an electrosurgical instrument includes the steps of: providing an electrosurgical instrument having at least one conductor, applying a lipid coating onto at least a portion of at least one conductor on an electrosurgical instrument, and curing the lipid coating. An electrosurgical instrument manufactured by the method disclosed herein is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an electrosurgical instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing an electrosurgical instrument having at least one conductor;

applying a lipid coating to at least a portion of the at least one conductor; and

curing the lipid coating.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of curing the lipid coating includes the step of heating the at least one conductor to a temperature in a range from about 140°

C. to about 160°

C. for a time period in a range of about 1.5 hours to about 2.5 hours.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of curing the lipid coating includes the step of heating the at least one conductor to a temperature at about 150°

C. and for a time period of about two hours.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating the step of applying a lipid coating onto at least a portion of the at least one conductor followed by the step of repeating the step of curing the lipid coating.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the repeated step of curing the lipid coating includes the step of heating the at least one conductor to a temperature in a range from about 140°

C. to about 160°

C. for a period in a range of about 1.5 hours to about 2.5 hours.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the repeated step of curing the lipid coating includes the step of heating the at least one conductor to a temperature of about 150°

C. for a time period of about two hours.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor includes a surface selected from the group consisting of metal, ceramic and polymeric.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one conductor includes at least one electrode.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lipid is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, ElectroLube®

, lecithin, vegetable oil, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, glycolipids, fatty acids, phospholipids, phosphoglycerides, glycerophospholipids.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying comprises a process selected from the group consisting of spray coating, dip coating, vapor deposition, brushing, and combinations thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of curing the lipid coating includes curing via thermal ovens.

22. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the lipid coating is applied at a thickness of from about 0.5 microns to about 4000 microns.

23. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the lipid coating is applied at a thickness of from about 0.5 microns to about 500 microns.

24. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the lipid coating is applied at a thickness of from about 400 microns to about 4000 microns.

25. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the lipid coating is present at a concentration of 5×

10<sup>−

40</sup> to about 5×

10<sup>−

20</sup> μ

mol/cm².

26. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the lipid is present at a concentration of from about 5×

10<sup>−

20</sup> to about 5×

10<sup>−

10</sup> μ

mol/cm².

12. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle portion; and

at least one electrode having a lipid cured to at least a portion of a surface thereof.

13. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the instrument is a monopolar instrument.

14. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the monopolar instrument is a pencil.

15. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the instrument is a bipolar instrument.

16. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the bipolar instrument is a forceps.

17. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the lipid is coated at a thickness of from about 0.5 microns to about 4000 microns.

18. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the lipid is coated at a thickness of from about 0.5 microns to about 500 microns.

19. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the lipid is coated at a thickness of from about 400 microns to about 4000 microns.

20. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the lipid is present at a concentration of from about 5×

10<sup>−

40</sup> to about 5×

10<sup>−

20</sup> μ

mol/cm ².

21. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the lipid is present at a concentration of from about 5×

10<sup>−

20</sup> to about 5×

10⁻

μ

mol/cm².