Endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus
First Claim
1. An endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus for removal of unwanted biological material through a naturally occurring or surgically created opening in the body of a patient comprising:
- a handpiece;
an elongated sheath extending from said handpiece, said elongated sheath having a distal end and having a hollow bore therethrough;
a resonator assembly disposed within the handpiece and elongated sheath, said resonator assembly including an elongated tool having a tip extending beyond the distal end of the elongated sheath to a work site in the body of a patient;
means mounted in said handpiece for generating electrical energy and for transmitting said electrical energy to said resonator assembly in an amount sufficient to enable said tip of the elongated tool to disintegrate unwanted biological material from the patient or to cauterize tissue of the patient at said work site;
means mounted in said handpiece for generating ultrasonic vibrations and for transmitting said vibrations to said resonator assembly to enable said tip of the elongated tool to vibrate to incise unwanted biological material from the patient at said work site;
means for irrigating said work site with fluid to assist in removal of disintegrated biological material;
aspiration means for removing said disintegrated biological material from said work site through said elongated sheath; and
means for viewing said work site from said handpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a surgical apparatus having four general embodiments: (1) the use of an ultrasonic vibrator and a radio frequency generator to simultaneously cut and cauterize tissue, (2) the use of an ultrasonic vibrator to cut tissue coupled with the independent use of a radio frequency generator to cut tissue, (3) the exclusive use of a radio frequency generator to cut and cauterize tissue, and (4) the use of a laser to fulgerate tissue. An aspiration system is preferably combined with these embodiments to facilitate surgery and biopsy.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus for removal of unwanted biological material through a naturally occurring or surgically created opening in the body of a patient comprising:
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a handpiece; an elongated sheath extending from said handpiece, said elongated sheath having a distal end and having a hollow bore therethrough; a resonator assembly disposed within the handpiece and elongated sheath, said resonator assembly including an elongated tool having a tip extending beyond the distal end of the elongated sheath to a work site in the body of a patient; means mounted in said handpiece for generating electrical energy and for transmitting said electrical energy to said resonator assembly in an amount sufficient to enable said tip of the elongated tool to disintegrate unwanted biological material from the patient or to cauterize tissue of the patient at said work site; means mounted in said handpiece for generating ultrasonic vibrations and for transmitting said vibrations to said resonator assembly to enable said tip of the elongated tool to vibrate to incise unwanted biological material from the patient at said work site; means for irrigating said work site with fluid to assist in removal of disintegrated biological material; aspiration means for removing said disintegrated biological material from said work site through said elongated sheath; and means for viewing said work site from said handpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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5. An endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus for removal of unwanted biological material through a naturally occurring or surgically created opening in the body of a patient comprising:
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a handpiece; an elongated sheath extending from said handpiece, said elongated sheath having a distal end and having a hollow bore therethrough; a resonator assembly disposed within the handpiece and elongated sheath, said resonator assembly including an elongated tool having a tip extending beyond the distal end of the elongated sheath to a work site in the body of a patient; means mounted in said handpiece for generating electrical energy and for transmitting said electrical energy to said resonator assembly, in combination with means mounted in the handpiece for generating ultrasonic vibrations and for transmitting said vibrations to said resonator assembly to enable said tip of the elongated tool to vibrate to incise unwanted biological material from the patient at said work site; means extending through said elongated sheath for irrigating said work site with fluid to assist in removal of disintegrated biological material; aspiration means for removing said disintegrated biological material from said work site through said elongated sheath; and means extending through said elongated sheath for viewing said work site from said handpiece. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the fluid detection means includes electrical means coupled to the fluid passage for sensing the electrical capacitance in the fluid passage and terminating such supplied alternating current when the capacitance is above a predetermined level to indicate that fluid is not present.
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14. An endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus for the removal of unwanted biological material through a natural occurring or surgically created opening in the body of a patient comprising:
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a handpiece; an elongated sheath extending from said handpiece, said elongated sheath having a distal end and having a hollow bore therethrough; a resonator assembly disposed within the handpiece and elongated sheath, said resonator assembly including an elongated tool having a tip extending beyond the distal end of the elongated sheath to a work site in the body of a patient; laser means extending through said elongated sheath to beyond the distal end thereof for fulgurating unwanted biological material with laser energy from the patient at said work site; means mounted in said handpiece for generating ultrasonic vibrations and for transmitting said vibrations to said tip of the resonator to enable said elongated tool to vibrate to incise unwanted biological material from the patient at said work site; means for irrigating said work site with fluid to assist in removal of disintegrated biological material; aspiration means for removing said disintegrated biological material from said work site through said elongated sheath; and means extending through said elongated sheath for viewing said work site from said handpiece. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification