Pivoting multiple loop bipolar cutting device
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical cutting instrument connectable to a power source comprising:
- (a) a generally tubular working element having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween;
(b) a head member comprised of an insulative material pivotally mounted at a pivot point to said distal end of said working element;
(c) a pair of closely spaced bipolar electrodes extending outward from said head member and separated by a dielectric;
(d) a pair of conducting wires, insulated from one another and each electrically connected at one end individually to one of said pair of bipolar electrodes, the other ends facilitating connection to said power source; and
(e) pull-wire means extending through said working element and connected to said head member for pivoting said head member about said pivot point, said wire means being sufficiently rigid such that motioning said wire means towards and away from said proximal end of said working element creates rotation of said head member about said pivot point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical cutting instrument with bipolar electrodes integrally formed into a pivoting ceramic working head. The ceramic head is pivotable about a pivot point by selectively retracting a substantially rigid wire internal to a working element which is slidably and rotatably received within an introducer and connected to a point on the ceramic head offset from a longitudinal axis. Radial incisions are induced into a prostate gland during a transurethral resectioning of the prostate gland (TURP) by applying an RF energy across the bipolar electrodes from an external power source and drawing the electrodes across prostate gland tissue. The pivotal head can be selectively reciprocated to approximately a 90° angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the introducer to effectively cauterize tissue during surgery to perform resectioning of the prostate. Increased maneuverability of the instrument allows a surgeon to more quickly and effectively complete a TURP. The electrodes may be formed in various shapes out of ductile tungsten alloy to withstand high operating temperatures depending upon the nature of the cutting desired. The cutting instrument is suitable for other surgical procedures as well performed using an endoscope.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical cutting instrument connectable to a power source comprising:
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(a) a generally tubular working element having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween; (b) a head member comprised of an insulative material pivotally mounted at a pivot point to said distal end of said working element; (c) a pair of closely spaced bipolar electrodes extending outward from said head member and separated by a dielectric; (d) a pair of conducting wires, insulated from one another and each electrically connected at one end individually to one of said pair of bipolar electrodes, the other ends facilitating connection to said power source; and (e) pull-wire means extending through said working element and connected to said head member for pivoting said head member about said pivot point, said wire means being sufficiently rigid such that motioning said wire means towards and away from said proximal end of said working element creates rotation of said head member about said pivot point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification