ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING HARD BODY TISSUE

• US 20120196251A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Taft, Richard J., Seybold, Danielle
• Application Number:
  US13/019,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20120196251A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00565 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/144 Wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

A method of preparing a target hard body tissue, such as osseous or dental tissue, to receive an implant component including; positioning an active electrode in proximity to a target tissue and proximate an electrically conductive fluid, followed by applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage sufficient to form a plasma. This plasma modifies at least a portion of the target tissue. An implant component may then be placed adjacent at least a portion of the modified target tissue.

Claims

1. A method of preparing tooth tissue comprising:

positioning an active electrode disposed at a distal end of an electrosurgical instrument in proximity to a target tissue and proximate an electrically conductive fluid, wherein the target tissue is being prepared to receive an implant component; and

applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, such that a high charge density is formed at the active electrode, and wherein the return electrode is disposed on the electrosurgical instrument; and

converting a portion of the electrically conductive fluid into a plasma in the area of the high charge density, wherein the plasma modifies at least a portion of the target tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tooth tissue comprises an area exposed following a resection of a portion of the tooth tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plasma modifies at least a portion of the tooth tissue according to at least one of the group consisting of:

sterilizing the tooth tissue, debriding the tooth tissue, removing any decayed tooth tissue or plaque, removing biofilm or bacteria, and creating micropores to improve implant fixation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising translating the active electrode axially and radially over tissue in the proximity of the tooth tissue while converting the electrically conductive fluid into a plasma.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a conductive bridge disposed between the active and return electrodes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a least one selected from the group consisting of:

a body fluid, a conductive gel, isotonic saline and Ringer'"'"'s lactate solution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the active electrode is selected from the group consisting of an electrode having a pointed tip, a wire electrode, a screen electrode, a loop electrode, and a suction electrode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least partially contacting the tooth tissue with the active electrode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising wetting the tooth tissue with the conductive fluid.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting the period of the application of high frequency voltage between the active electrode and the return electrode for about 0.05 seconds to 3 seconds on each instance.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting the period of the application of high frequency voltage between the active electrode and the return electrode for about 0.5 seconds on each instance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plasma applies an electrical field to at least a portion of the tooth tissue.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the tooth tissue comprises inducing at least a portion of tooth tissue to molecularly dissociate.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of positioning the active electrode is performed using a robot.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is a crown.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant component is a dental filing.

17. A method of preparing a target dental tissue to receive an implant comprising:

positioning an electrosurgical instrument having an active electrode disposed at a distal end of the electrosurgical instrument in proximity to a target dental tissue and proximate an electrically conductive fluid;

applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage sufficient to form a high current density at the active electrode;

vaporizing a portion of the conductive fluid in the vicinity of the high current density to generate a plasma, wherein the plasma modifies at least a portion of the surface of the target tissue; and

disposing an implant adjacent at least a portion of the modified target tissue.

18. The method of preparing a target dental tissue as described in claim 17 wherein the plasma modifies at least a portion of the target tissue according to at least one of the group consisting of:

removing dental plaque, removing decayed tissue, removing biofilm and bacteria, and sterilizing the tissue surface.

19. The method of preparing a target dental tissue as described in claim 17 wherein the implant comprises a dental filling.

20. The method of preparing a target dental tissue as described in claim 17 wherein the implant comprises a dental crown.