Fluid cooled electrosurgical cauterization system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the temperature of an energy delivering, cauterizing electrode, comprising:
- providing an elongate electrosurgical probe member having disposed at a distal portion of an outer surface thereof at least one energy delivering cauterization electrode, the probe member having a fluid delivering lumen associated therewith and being in electrical communication with an electrosurgical generator unit;
delivering electrosurgical energy from the generator unit through the probe member to the energy delivering electrode and adjacent tissue;
measuring the temperature of the energy delivering electrode and generating a signal representative thereof;
comparing the measured temperature of the energy delivering electrode to a predetermined maximum temperature value and generating a signal representative of the difference between the measured temperature and the predetermined temperature;
passing a fluid through the lumen at a selected flow rate to regulate the temperature of the energy delivering electrode; and
adjusting the rate of flow of the fluid through the lumen of the probe member based on the difference between measured temperature and the predetermined temperature to maintain the measured temperature at or below the predetermined temperature.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical probe is disclosed which provides the ability to both cut and cauterize tissue. The probe includes at least one cauterization electrode mounted upon a distal portion of the electrode and adapted to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. Further, a central lumen is disposed within the probe. The lumen is adapted to accommodate the flow of fluid from a remote source to tissue through an outlet port in the distal end of the probe. Also, the lumen houses a cutting electrode which is selectively deployable. Both cauterization and coagulation can be conducted in a bipolar mode. The flow of fluid through the lumen serves to limit the heat transfer from the cauterization electrode to adjacent tissue to an extent sufficient to prevent the sticking of tissue to the probe. A feedback system is also provided to optimize the electrode temperature.
802 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the temperature of an energy delivering, cauterizing electrode, comprising:
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providing an elongate electrosurgical probe member having disposed at a distal portion of an outer surface thereof at least one energy delivering cauterization electrode, the probe member having a fluid delivering lumen associated therewith and being in electrical communication with an electrosurgical generator unit; delivering electrosurgical energy from the generator unit through the probe member to the energy delivering electrode and adjacent tissue; measuring the temperature of the energy delivering electrode and generating a signal representative thereof; comparing the measured temperature of the energy delivering electrode to a predetermined maximum temperature value and generating a signal representative of the difference between the measured temperature and the predetermined temperature; passing a fluid through the lumen at a selected flow rate to regulate the temperature of the energy delivering electrode; and adjusting the rate of flow of the fluid through the lumen of the probe member based on the difference between measured temperature and the predetermined temperature to maintain the measured temperature at or below the predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for controlling the temperature of an energy delivering, cauterizing electrode, comprising:
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an elongate electrosurgical probe member having a central lumen disposed therein to enable fluid to be conveyed through the probe member for discharge at a distal portion of the probe member, the probe member having at least one energy delivering electrode disposed at a distal portion of the probe member; an electrosurgical generator unit in electrical communication with the probe member for supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrode for delivery to tissue adjacent the electrode; a fluid supply source in communication with the lumen; temperature sensing means associated with the probe member for sensing the temperature of the energy delivering electrode and generating a signal representative of a measured electrode temperature; comparator means for comparing the measured electrode temperature to a predetermined maximum temperature value and generating a signal representative of a difference between the measured electrode temperature and the predetermined maximum temperature value; and a fluid control means for regulating the rate of flow of fluid through the lumen in response to the signal from the comparator means representative of the temperature difference to maintain the measured electrode temperature at or below the predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling the temperature of an energy delivering, cauterizing electrode, comprising:
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an elongate electrosurgical probe member having a central lumen disposed therein to enable fluid to be conveyed through the probe member for discharge at a distal portion of the probe member, the probe member having at least one energy delivering electrode disposed at a distal portion of the probe member; an electrosurgical generator unit in electrical communication with the probe member for supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrode for delivery to tissue adjacent the electrode; a fluid supply source in communication with the lumen; impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of tissue based on the energy applied thereto; impedance comparing means for comparing the measured impedance of tissue to a predetermined maximum impedance value, the impedance comparing means generating a signal representative of the difference between the measured impedance value and the predetermined maximum impedance value; and a fluid control means for regulating a rate of fluid flow through the lumen in response to the signal from the impedance comparing means representative of the impedance difference to maintain the electrode temperature at an acceptable temperature level.
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Specification