Electrolyte purging electrode tip
First Claim
1. An electrolyte fluid purging electrosurgical device for use with an electrode holder connected to an electrical power source and with a source of non-electrically conductive fluid for enabling electrosurgery at a surgical site which is surrounded by an electrically conductive fluid, comprising:
- an electrically conductive electrode shaft having a first electrode end and a second electrode end;
an insulating tubular duct defining a duct conduit extending between a first duct end and a second duct end;
said electrode shaft being disposed within said duct conduit with said first electrode end of said electrode shaft extending beyond said first duct end of said insulating tubular duct for defining an electrode shaft connecting means for connection to the electrode holder;
said second electrode end of said electrode shaft extending beyond said second duct end of said insulating tubular duct for defining an electrode tip to provide electrical current to the surgical site;
a plurality of support walls extending longitudinally within said duct conduit of said insulating tubular duct and disposed between said insulating tubular duct and said electrode shaft for supporting said electrode shaft within said duct conduit of said insulating tubular duct and for defining a plurality of conduit channels encompassing said electrode shaft; and
means for connecting said first duct end of said insulating tubular duct to the source of non-electrically conductive fluid for enabling non-electrically conductive fluid to flow through said plurality of conduit channels of said insulating tubular duct to deliver the electrically non-conductive fluid to an immediate area proximate said electrode tip to displace the electrically conductive fluid from the immediate area proximate the surgical site when said electrode tip is positioned at the surgical site to enable electrosurgical treatment thereat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrolyte fluid purging electrosurgical device for use with an electrode holder connected to an electrical power source and to a source of a non-electrically conductive fluid and a method of use are disclosed. The fluid purging electrosurgical device enables electrosurgery at a surgical site where an area proximate the surgical site is surrounded by an electrically conductive fluid such as saline irrigation fluids, body fluids, certain injectables and the like. The fluid purging electrosurgical device comprises an electrode shaft with an electrode shaft connector electrically connecting a first end of the electrode shaft to an electrode holder. An insulating material provides electrical insulation between a second end of the electrode shaft and the electrode holder. The insulating material is positioned on the electrode shaft to expose a portion of the second end of the electrode shaft to define an electrode tip to provide electrical current to the surgical site. A duct means is connected to the source of the non-electrically conductive fluid and extends along the electrode shaft to deliver the non-electrically conductive fluid to a region immediately proximate the electrode tip to displace the electrically conductive fluid at the position of the electrode tip in the surgical site to enable electrosurgical treatment thereat.
627 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An electrolyte fluid purging electrosurgical device for use with an electrode holder connected to an electrical power source and with a source of non-electrically conductive fluid for enabling electrosurgery at a surgical site which is surrounded by an electrically conductive fluid, comprising:
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an electrically conductive electrode shaft having a first electrode end and a second electrode end; an insulating tubular duct defining a duct conduit extending between a first duct end and a second duct end; said electrode shaft being disposed within said duct conduit with said first electrode end of said electrode shaft extending beyond said first duct end of said insulating tubular duct for defining an electrode shaft connecting means for connection to the electrode holder; said second electrode end of said electrode shaft extending beyond said second duct end of said insulating tubular duct for defining an electrode tip to provide electrical current to the surgical site; a plurality of support walls extending longitudinally within said duct conduit of said insulating tubular duct and disposed between said insulating tubular duct and said electrode shaft for supporting said electrode shaft within said duct conduit of said insulating tubular duct and for defining a plurality of conduit channels encompassing said electrode shaft; and means for connecting said first duct end of said insulating tubular duct to the source of non-electrically conductive fluid for enabling non-electrically conductive fluid to flow through said plurality of conduit channels of said insulating tubular duct to deliver the electrically non-conductive fluid to an immediate area proximate said electrode tip to displace the electrically conductive fluid from the immediate area proximate the surgical site when said electrode tip is positioned at the surgical site to enable electrosurgical treatment thereat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification