Electrosurgical devices having sesquipolar electrode structures incorporated therein
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical device adapted to be connected to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, said device being used to cut, coagulate or otherwise treat human tissue or the like, said device comprising:
- an insulative electrode support means;
a first electrode adapted for connection to said active output terminal;
a second electrode adapted for connection to said return output terminal, said first and second electrodes being rigidly supported a fixed distance apart by said electrode support means, both said first and second electrodes being adapted for electrical connection to said tissue;
means for respectively connecting said first and second electrodes to said active and return output terminals; and
means for maintaining a separation between said first electrode and said tissue whenever said second electrode is in contact with said tissue and said first and second electrodes are connected to their respective output terminals to insure that a current arc is established between said first electrode and the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical device connected to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, the device being used to cut, coagulate, or otherwise treat human tissue or the like, the device comprising: an insulative electrode support; an active electrode responsive to the active output terminal and a return electrode responsive to the return output terminal, the electrodes being supported by the electrode support, both the electrodes being adapted for electrical connection to the tissue, the ratio of the return electrode area adapted to electrically connect to the tissue to the active electrode area adapted to ohmically or arc-wise connect to the tissue being in the range of approximately 2 to 200. Apparatus is also provided for separating the active electrode from the tissue when the device is placed in contact with the tissue to insure that a current arc is established between the active electrode and the tissue. Various electrode configurations are also disclosed.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical device adapted to be connected to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, said device being used to cut, coagulate or otherwise treat human tissue or the like, said device comprising:
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an insulative electrode support means; a first electrode adapted for connection to said active output terminal; a second electrode adapted for connection to said return output terminal, said first and second electrodes being rigidly supported a fixed distance apart by said electrode support means, both said first and second electrodes being adapted for electrical connection to said tissue; means for respectively connecting said first and second electrodes to said active and return output terminals; and means for maintaining a separation between said first electrode and said tissue whenever said second electrode is in contact with said tissue and said first and second electrodes are connected to their respective output terminals to insure that a current arc is established between said first electrode and the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of treating tissue by fulguration with an electrosurgical instrument, said instrument being connected to an electrosurgical generator having active and return output terminals, said instrument including an insulative electrode support means;
- a first electrode connected to said active output terminal, a second electrode connected to said return output terminal, such first and second electrodes being rigidly supported a fixed distance apart by said electrode support means, and means for maintaining a separation between said first electrode and said tissue whenever said second electrode is in contact with said tissue and said first and second electrodes are connected to their respective output terminals to insure that a current arc is established between said first electrode and the tissue, said method comprising the steps of
contacting said tissue with said second electrode; applying, no later than subsequent to said contacting step, electrical energy from said generator to effect said treating of the tissue by fulguration, and maintaining said separation between said first electrode and said tissue for said duration of the contacting step to insure that said fulguration is established between said first electrode and the tissue.
- a first electrode connected to said active output terminal, a second electrode connected to said return output terminal, such first and second electrodes being rigidly supported a fixed distance apart by said electrode support means, and means for maintaining a separation between said first electrode and said tissue whenever said second electrode is in contact with said tissue and said first and second electrodes are connected to their respective output terminals to insure that a current arc is established between said first electrode and the tissue, said method comprising the steps of
Specification