SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ELECTRODE

• US 20110190764A1
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Long, Gary L., Dannaher, William D., Ghabrial, Ragae M.
• Application Number:
  US12/696,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral

Abstract

A surgical instrument configured to deliver electrical energy to the tissue of a patient, comprising a first electrode comprising a distal portion configured to contact the tissue and a second electrode comprising a distal portion configured to be inserted into the tissue, wherein the distal portion of the second electrode at least partially encompasses the distal portion of the first electrode.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument configured to deliver electrical energy to the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a first electrode comprising a distal portion configured to contact the tissue; and

a second electrode comprising a distal portion configured to be inserted into the tissue, wherein said distal portion of said second electrode at least partially encompasses said distal portion of said first electrode.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said distal portion of said second electrode comprises a spiral coil, and wherein said distal portion of said first electrode is positioned within said spiral coil.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil comprises a distal end configured to penetrate tissue when said spiral coil is rotated about an axis.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil is defined about an axis, and wherein said distal portion of said first electrode is positioned along said axis.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said spiral coil is configured to be rotated about said first electrode.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil comprises a distal end configured to penetrate tissue, wherein said first electrode comprises a distal end configured to penetrate tissue, and wherein said distal end of said first electrode is recessed with respect to said distal end of said spiral coil.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil is comprised of a wire having a circular cross-section.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil is comprised of a wire having a rectangular cross-section.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil comprises a plurality of helical rings, wherein each said helical ring is inclined at a pitch angle, and wherein the pitch angle of each helical ring is the same.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said spiral coil comprises a first helical ring and a second helical ring, wherein said first helical ring is connected to said second helical ring, wherein said first helical ring is inclined at a first pitch angle, wherein said second helical ring is inclined at a second pitch angle, and wherein said first pitch angle is different than said second pitch angle.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said distal portion of said second electrode comprises a plurality of connected rings, and wherein said distal portion of said first electrode is positioned within said connected rings.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein one of said rings comprises a distal end configured to penetrate tissue when said second electrode is rotated about an axis.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said connected rings are defined about an axis, and wherein said distal portion of said first electrode is positioned along said axis.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said connected rings are configured to be rotated about said first electrode.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein one of said rings comprises a distal end configured to penetrate tissue, wherein said first electrode comprises a distal end configured to penetrate tissue, and wherein said distal end of said first electrode is recessed with respect to said distal end of said ring.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said rings are comprised of a wire having a circular cross-section.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said rings are comprised of a wire having a rectangular cross-section.

18. A surgical instrument configured to deliver electrical energy to the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a first electrode comprising a distal portion configured to be inserted into the tissue; and

a second electrode comprising a distal portion configured to be inserted into the tissue, wherein said distal portion of said second electrode at least partially surrounds said distal portion of said first electrode.

19. A surgical instrument configured to deliver electrical energy to the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a first electrode, comprising;

a first distal portion configured to contact the tissue;

a passageway defined within said first distal portion, wherein said passageway comprises a fluid-receiving portion; and

an aperture in said first distal portion, wherein said aperture is in fluid communication with said passageway; and

a second electrode comprising a second distal portion configured to contact the tissue.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein said second distal portion of said second electrode comprises a spiral coil, and wherein said first distal portion of said first electrode is positioned within said spiral coil.