Enhanced electrosurgical apparatus
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical apparatus for cutting biological tissue, which comprises, in combination, a hand-operated electrosurgical pencil comprising an exposed electrode with a distal end defining a cutting tip, means for supplying high-frequency, electrical energy from a generator through said electrode to cut said tissue and means for returning said electrical energy from said tissue to said generator to complete an electrical circuit, a source of inert gas, a device attached to said electrosurgical pencil, which device comprises a nose piece having a central axis and a hollow portion extending longitudinally about said axis, which hollow portion accommodates said electrode, said nose piece containing conduit means defining at least one pathway for gas so that gas passing therethrough shrouds said exposed electrode at or near to the tip thereof, means for connecting said conduit means to said source of inert gas and passing filtered inert gas from said source at a predetermined pressure and flow rate through said at least one pathway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for enhancing the safety and efficiency of a hand-operated electrosurgical pencil having an exposed electrode with a distal end defining a tip for cutting biological tissue, which device comprises a nose piece adapted to be mounted about said electrode and defining at least one pathway for a stream of gas which shrouds the electrode at or near the tip thereof, and electrosurgical apparatus incorporating the device and a method for cutting biological tissue using the apparatus.
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Citations
26 Claims
- 1. An electrosurgical apparatus for cutting biological tissue, which comprises, in combination, a hand-operated electrosurgical pencil comprising an exposed electrode with a distal end defining a cutting tip, means for supplying high-frequency, electrical energy from a generator through said electrode to cut said tissue and means for returning said electrical energy from said tissue to said generator to complete an electrical circuit, a source of inert gas, a device attached to said electrosurgical pencil, which device comprises a nose piece having a central axis and a hollow portion extending longitudinally about said axis, which hollow portion accommodates said electrode, said nose piece containing conduit means defining at least one pathway for gas so that gas passing therethrough shrouds said exposed electrode at or near to the tip thereof, means for connecting said conduit means to said source of inert gas and passing filtered inert gas from said source at a predetermined pressure and flow rate through said at least one pathway.
- 11. An electrosurgical apparatus for cutting biological tissue, which comprises a hand operated electrosurgical pencil comprising an electrically insulating housing and an exposed electrode with a distal end defining a cutting tip, means for supplying high-frequency, alternating current, electrical energy from a generator through said electrode to cut said tissue and means for returning said electrical energy from said tissue to said generator to complete an electrical circuit, a device attached to said electrosurgical pencil, which device comprises a nose piece having a central axis and a hollow portion extending longitudinally about said central axis, which hollow portion accommodates said electrode, said nose piece containing conduit means defining at least one pathway for gas so that gas passing therethrough shrouds said exposed electrode at or near the tip thereof, means for passing filtered inert gas at a predetermined pressure and flow rate through said at least one pathway, and switching means mounted on said housing for selecting the cut mode or the coagulating mode, said switching means being connected to an isolated low voltage, direct current circuit which provides an appropriate signal to control the generator in the cut mode or coagulating mode, respectively, whereby the generator supplies the desired high-frequency, alternating current, electrical energy to said electrode and current leakage is limited.
- 25. A method for performing an electrosurgical cutting operation on biological tissue with enhanced safety and efficiency which comprises making the tissue part of an electrical circuit which is closed when said operation is performed, providing at least one stream of filtered inert gas, which at least one stream shrouds an exposed electrode of a hand-operated electrosurgical pencil at or near to the tip of said electrode, bringing the tip of the electrode in contact with said tissue so that the said electrical circuit is closed by conducting electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator through said electrode and said tissue, and thereby performing the desired electrosurgical cutting operation.
Specification