Electrosurgical Devices and Methods

• US 20160045256A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Holding Company Sarl (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: 9234438 Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Godara, Neil, Woo, Jason, Won, Emily
• Granted Patent: US 9,788,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00565 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar

Abstract

An electrosurgical probe with internal cooling for use in systems and methods for lesioning in bone and other tissue is disclosed. The probe includes a distal electrical insulator, a proximal electrical insulator, a distal electrical conductor defining a distal electrode with a closed distal end and a proximal electrical conductor defining a proximal electrode, the distal electrode longitudinally spaced apart and electrically isolated from the proximal electrode by the distal electrical insulator. The distal electrode has a closed proximal end formed by a distal face of the distal electrical insulator to thereby define a closed distal inner lumen for circulating the cooling fluid. The proximal electrode has a closed distal end formed by a proximal face of the distal electrical insulator and a closed proximal end formed by a distal face of the proximal electrical insulator to thereby define a closed proximal inner lumen for circulating the cooling fluid.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical probe for use with a cooling fluid, the electrosurgical probe comprising:

a distal electrical insulator, a proximal electrical insulator, a distal electrical conductor defining a distal electrode with a closed distal end and a proximal electrical conductor defining a proximal electrode, the distal electrode longitudinally spaced apart and electrically isolated from the proximal electrode by the distal electrical insulator;

the distal electrode having a closed proximal end formed by a distal face of the distal electrical insulator to thereby define a closed distal inner lumen for circulating the cooling fluid; and

the proximal electrode having a closed distal end formed by a proximal face of the distal electrical insulator and a closed proximal end formed by a distal face of the proximal electrical insulator to thereby define a closed proximal inner lumen for circulating the cooling fluid.

2. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1 further comprising a first fluid inlet tube for supplying the closed distal inner lumen and a first fluid outlet tube for exit of fluid therefrom and a second fluid inlet tube for supplying the closed proximal inner lumen and a second fluid outlet tube for exit of fluid therefrom.

3. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the distal electrode and the proximal electrode are substantially equal.

4. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1, wherein the distal electrical conductor and proximal electrical conductor are elongated.

5. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1 further comprising a first temperature sensor.

6. The electrosurgical probe of claim 5 wherein the first temperature sensor is proximate the distal electrode.

7. The electrosurgical probe of claim 5 wherein the first temperature sensor is positioned at the distal electrode.

8. The electrosurgical probe of claim 6, further comprising a protrusion wherein the first temperature sensor is associated with the protrusion isolated from the cooling fluid circulating within the closed distal inner lumen.

9. The electrosurgical probe of claim 5 further comprising a second temperature sensor.

10. The electrosurgical probe of claim 9 wherein the first temperature sensor is proximate the distal electrode and the second temperature sensor is proximate the proximal electrode.

11. The electrosurgical probe of claim 2 wherein, in use, the cooling fluid circulating within the closed distal inner lumen contacts a portion of an inner surface of the distal electrical conductor for direct cooling of the distal electrical conductor.

12. The electrosurgical probe of claim 2 wherein, in use, the cooling fluid circulating within the closed proximal inner lumen contacts a portion of an inner surface of the proximal electrical conductor for direct cooling of the proximal electrical conductor.

13. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the proximal electrical conductor is substantially constant along its length.

14. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the distal electrical conductor is substantially constant along its length.

15. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1 wherein the distal electrical conductor and the proximal electrical conductor are electrically conductive along their lengths.

16. The electrosurgical probe of claim 15 wherein a surface area of the distal electrical conductor configured to directly contact the cooling fluid is substantially similar to an area of an outer surface of the distal electrode.

17. The electrosurgical probe of claim 15 wherein a surface area of the proximal electrical conductor configured to directly contact the cooling fluid is substantially similar to an area of an outer surface of the proximal electrode.

18. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical probe has an outer diameter of about 13 Gauge to about 17 Gauge.

19. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode and the proximal electrode are of substantially a same length.

20. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1, wherein the distal electrical conductor and the proximal electrical conductor each have a tubular configuration.

21. The electrosurgical probe of claim 1, wherein each of the distal electrical conductor and the proximal electrical conductor are coupled to an energy supply through electrically conductive insulated wires wherein the distal face of the proximal electrical insulator defines openings to allow passage of the electrically conductive insulated wires therethrough and the distal face and proximal face of the distal electrical insulator each define an opening to allow passage of one of the electrically conductive insulated wires therethrough.