Septoplasty Instrument
First Claim
1. A septoplasty instrument, comprising:
- at least one shaft, the at least one shaft having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including;
first and second electrode members spaced-apart from one another, each electrode member including an electrode disposed within an insulative housing, the housing of at least one electrode including a lumen defined therein configured to circulate a cooling fluid therethrough, the lumen extending a length of the electrode member along an outer periphery thereof, at least one of the electrodes adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue disposed therebetween, each electrode member configured for insertion into a nostril of a patient such that the nasal septum of the patient is disposed between the first and second electrode members, wherein, upon application of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode, energy is conducted between the electrodes and through the nasal septum such that the nasal septum is heated above about 50°
C. and up to about 57°
C. to allow reformation thereof, and wherein the cooling fluid is circulated within the lumen to maintain tissue surrounding the electrode in a cooled state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A septoplasty instrument includes at least one shaft having an end effector at a distal end thereof. The end effector includes first and second electrode members, each having an electrode disposed within an insulative housing. At least one of the housings includes a lumen configured to circulate a cooling fluid therethrough. The lumen extends the length of the electrode member along an outer periphery thereof. At least one of the electrodes is adapted to conduct energy through tissue disposed therebetween. The electrode members are positionable on either side of the nasal septum. Upon application of energy to the electrode(s), energy is conduced between the electrodes and through the nasal septum such that the nasal septum is heated above about 50° C. and up to about 57° C. to allow reformation thereof, while the cooling fluid is circulated within the lumen to maintain tissue surrounding the electrode in a cooled state.
140 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A septoplasty instrument, comprising:
at least one shaft, the at least one shaft having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including; first and second electrode members spaced-apart from one another, each electrode member including an electrode disposed within an insulative housing, the housing of at least one electrode including a lumen defined therein configured to circulate a cooling fluid therethrough, the lumen extending a length of the electrode member along an outer periphery thereof, at least one of the electrodes adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue disposed therebetween, each electrode member configured for insertion into a nostril of a patient such that the nasal septum of the patient is disposed between the first and second electrode members, wherein, upon application of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode, energy is conducted between the electrodes and through the nasal septum such that the nasal septum is heated above about 50°
C. and up to about 57°
C. to allow reformation thereof, and wherein the cooling fluid is circulated within the lumen to maintain tissue surrounding the electrode in a cooled state.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A septoplasty instrument, comprising:
at least one shaft, the at least one shaft having an end effector assembly disposed at distal end thereof, one of the at least one shafts adapted to connect to a fluid source for supplying cooling fluid to the end effector assembly, the end effector assembly including; first and second electrode members spaced-apart from one another, each electrode member including an electrode disposed within an insulative housing, the housing of at least one electrode including a lumen defined therein configured to circulate a cooling fluid therethrough, the lumen having an input and an output, the lumen extending a length of the electrode member along an outer periphery thereof and configured for circulating a cooling fluid from the shaft connected to the fluid source, into the input, through the lumen, and out of the output, at least one of the electrodes adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue disposed therebetween, each electrode member configured for insertion into a nostril of a patient such that the nasal septum of the patient is disposed between the first and second electrode members, wherein, upon application of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode, energy is conducted between the electrodes and through the nasal septum such that the nasal septum is heated above about 50°
C. and up to about 57°
C. to allow reformation thereof, and wherein the cooling fluid is circulated within the lumen to maintain tissue in immediate contact with the electrode in a cooled state.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of performing a septoplasty, comprising the steps of:
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providing first and second electrode members, each electrode member including an electrode disposed within an insulative housing, the housing of at least one electrode including a lumen defined therein configured to circulate a cooling fluid therethrough, the lumen extending a length of the electrode member along an outer periphery thereof, at least one of the electrodes adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue disposed therebetween, and wherein, upon application of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode, energy is conducted between the electrodes and through the nasal septum such that the nasal septum is heated; inserting the first electrode member into a first nostril of a patient; inserting the second electrode member into a second nostril of the patient such that the nasal septum is grasped between the first and second electrode members; conducting electrosurgical energy between the first and second electrode members and through the nasal septum to heat the nasal septum above about 50°
C. and up to about 57°
C. to allow reformation thereof while circulating the cooling fluid within the lumen to maintain tissue surrounding the electrode in a cooled state; andreforming the nasal septum to a reformed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A septoplasty instrument, comprising:
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a pair of electrodes configured for positioning on either side of the septum, at least one of the electrodes adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting electrosurgical energy between the electrodes and through the septum to heat the septum; and a monitoring sensor configured to monitor a relative increase in conductivity of the septum during heating, wherein, the electrosurgical energy supplied to the at least one electrode is controlled in accordance with the relative increase in conductivity of the septum such that a target relative increase in electrical conductivity is attained during heating of the septum. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification