PLASMA BIPOLAR FORCEPS
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical bipolar forceps for use with an electrosurgical controller, said controller comprising a plurality of energy delivery modes including an ablation mode and a coagulation mode, said forceps comprising:
- a first leg, the first leg comprising a first tubular member disposed thereon, and a first distal end portion having an active electrode;
a second leg, the second leg comprising a second tubular member disposed thereon, a second distal end portion having a return electrode;
wherein the first leg and second leg movably cooperate together to move between an open first position and a closed second position; and
wherein the active electrode and the return electrode are electrically connected to an electrical first lead and a second lead respectively for delivering electrosurgical energy to tissue adjacent to one of the first leg or the second leg; and
wherein the active electrode is shaped to electrosurgically dissect or ablate the tissue adjacent the first leg or the second leg when the controller is in the ablation mode and the forceps are in the closed second position; and
wherein the active and return electrodes are shaped to coagulate or provide hemostasis or coagulation to tissue adjacent the first leg or the second leg when the controller is in the coagulation mode and the forceps are in the first open position or an intermediate position between the closed second position and the first open position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical wand. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are electrosurgical wands configured as a surgical forceps including opposed legs that defines respective distal end portions, the legs of the forceps operable to be actuated between an open position and a closed position, an active and return electrode disposed on one of the respective distal end portions, a discharge aperture on one of the distal end portions coupled to a first fluid conduit, and an aspiration aperture through the return electrode on the other of the distal end portions fluidly coupled to a second fluid conduit. In embodiments, the position of the forceps'"'"' legs, and the electrical energy applied to the electrodes, is adjusted to provide dissection or coagulation to the tissue. A stop or latch on the forceps'"'"' legs may maintain the active and return electrode a fixed distance from one another.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical bipolar forceps for use with an electrosurgical controller, said controller comprising a plurality of energy delivery modes including an ablation mode and a coagulation mode, said forceps comprising:
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a first leg, the first leg comprising a first tubular member disposed thereon, and a first distal end portion having an active electrode; a second leg, the second leg comprising a second tubular member disposed thereon, a second distal end portion having a return electrode; wherein the first leg and second leg movably cooperate together to move between an open first position and a closed second position; and
wherein the active electrode and the return electrode are electrically connected to an electrical first lead and a second lead respectively for delivering electrosurgical energy to tissue adjacent to one of the first leg or the second leg; andwherein the active electrode is shaped to electrosurgically dissect or ablate the tissue adjacent the first leg or the second leg when the controller is in the ablation mode and the forceps are in the closed second position; and wherein the active and return electrodes are shaped to coagulate or provide hemostasis or coagulation to tissue adjacent the first leg or the second leg when the controller is in the coagulation mode and the forceps are in the first open position or an intermediate position between the closed second position and the first open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrosurgical bipolar forceps system for coagulating or ablating tissue, said system comprising:
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an electrosurgical controller, said controller comprising a plurality of energy delivery modes including an ablation mode and a coagulation mode; and a bipolar forceps comprising a first leg and a second leg, the first leg comprising a first tubular member and a first distal end portion having an active electrode, and the second leg comprising a second tubular member and a second distal end portion having a return electrode wherein the first leg and second leg movably cooperate together to move between an open first position and a closed second position; and
wherein the active electrode and the return electrode are electrically connected to the controller; and
wherein the active electrode is shaped to electrosurgically dissect or ablate the tissue adjacent the first leg or the second leg when the controller is in the ablation mode and the forceps are in the closed second position; andwherein the active and return electrodes are shaped to coagulate or provide hemostasis to tissue adjacent the first leg or the second leg when the controller is in the coagulation mode and the forceps are in the first open position or an intermediate position between the closed second position and the first open position. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for electrosurgically treating tissue comprising:
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providing a bipolar forceps comprising a first leg, a first tubular member disposed thereon, and a first distal end portion having an active electrode, said bipolar forceps further comprising a second leg, a second tubular member disposed thereon, and a second distal end portion having a return electrode;
wherein the active electrode and the return electrode are electrically connected to an electrosurgical controller for delivering electrosurgical energy to tissue adjacent to at least one of the first leg and second leg;forming a plasma adjacent to the active electrode; applying the plasma to tissue thereby dissecting the tissue; and applying electrical energy to the active electrode while not forming a plasma to coagulate the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for electrosurgically treating tissue with a bipolar forceps, the forceps comprising an active electrode on a distal portion of a first leg and a return electrode on a distal portion of a second leg, the forceps being manipulatable from an open first position, to a closed second position, and to at least one intermediate position there between, the method comprising:
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placing the distal portions of the forceps in the vicinity of a target tissue to be dissected; forming a plasma adjacent to the active electrode while the forceps are in the closed second position; applying the plasma to the target tissue thereby dissecting the tissue; opening the forceps to one of the first position or the intermediate position; clamping the forceps on a collateral tissue to be coagulated to inhibit bleeding; and applying electrical energy to the active electrode while not forming a plasma to coagulate the collateral tissue.
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Specification