Diathermy coagulation and ablation apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator for facilitating diathermy of tissue with a radio frequency electrical current from the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
- a core having an exterior surface;
a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface of said core, said protrusions comprising a plurality of knurls disposed on said exterior surface of said core, each of said knurls terminating in at least one of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points; and
a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core for positioning said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points relative to the tissue to facilitate diathermy, said positioning means comprising an active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for facilitating diathermy coagulation or ablation of tissue by the application of an electrical current to tissue is connectable to an electrosurgical generator having an active lead and a return lead, and has both monopolar and bipolar embodiments. A preferred monopolar embodiment includes a shaft and a knurled active electrode rotatably secured to the shaft. A preferred bipolar embodiment includes a knurled active electrode separated by an insulator from a return electrode, with the active and return electrodes rotatably secured to a shaft by axles. The shafts may be Y-shaped, crook-shaped, or otherwise. The active electrodes have a plurality of discrete electrically conductive discharge points for applying the electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, the discharge points preferably being formed as knurl peaks. The active electrode may be formed of a stick-resistant metal, may be covered in part or whole by a nonstick coating, and may be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes.
492 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator for facilitating diathermy of tissue with a radio frequency electrical current from the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
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a core having an exterior surface; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface of said core, said protrusions comprising a plurality of knurls disposed on said exterior surface of said core, each of said knurls terminating in at least one of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points; and a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core for positioning said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points relative to the tissue to facilitate diathermy, said positioning means comprising an active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator for facilitating coagulation and ablation of tissue by the application of a radio frequency electrical current from the electrosurgical generator to the tissue, comprising:
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a shaft having a longitudinal axis and comprising an active lead which is electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator; an axle connected to said shaft and angled away from the longitudinal axis of said shaft; a core having an exterior surface, said core rotatably secured to said axle; and a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface of said core and electrically connected to said active lead for connection to the electrosurgical generator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A bipolar apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator having an active lead and a return lead, the bipolar apparatus for facilitating diathermy by the application to tissue of a radio frequency electrical current emanating from the active lead of the electrosurgical generator, the bipolar apparatus comprising:
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a core having an exterior surface, comprising; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface and electrically connectable to the active lead of the electrosurgical generator; an electrically conductive reception member for receiving and returning at least a portion of the radio frequency electrical current discharged from said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points, said electrically conductive reception member disposed on said exterior surface and electrically connected to the return lead; and an insulator disposed between and electrically insulating said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points from said electrically conductive reception member; and a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core, for positioning said exterior surface of said core relative to the tissue, said positioning means comprising a positioning means active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the active lead of the electrosurgical generator, said core being rotatably secured to said positioning means such that successive pluralities of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points rotate into electrical contact with the tissue if an initial plurality of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points is placed in frictional engagement with the tissue and said positioning means is manipulated to roll said core along the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A bipolar apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator having an active lead and a return lead, the bipolar apparatus for facilitating coagulation or ablation of tissue by the application to tissue of a radio frequency electrical current emanating from the active lead of the electrosurgical generator, the bipolar apparatus comprising:
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a shaft having a longitudinal axis; an axle connected to said shaft and angled away from the longitudinal axis of said shaft; a core having an exterior surface, said core rotatably secured to said axle, said core comprising; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface and electrically connected to the active lead; an electrically conductive reception member for receiving and returning at least a portion of the radio frequency electrical current discharged from said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points, said electrically conductive reception member disposed on said exterior surface and electrically connected to the return lead; and an insulator disposed between said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and said electrically conductive reception member.
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26. An apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator for facilitating diathermy of tissue with a radio frequency electrical current from the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
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a core having an exterior surface; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface of said core; and a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core for positioning said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points relative to the tissue to facilitate diathermy, said positioning means comprising an active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator, said core being rotatably secured to said positioning means such that successive pluralities of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points rotate into electrical contact with the tissue if an initial plurality of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points is placed in frictional engagement with the tissue and said positioning means is manipulated to roll said core along the tissue.
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27. An apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator for facilitating diathermy of tissue with a radio frequency electrical current from the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
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a core having an exterior surface; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface of said core; a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core for positioning said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points relative to the tissue to facilitate diathermy, said positioning means comprising an active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator, said core being rotatably secured to said positioning means; and an insulating layer that covers at least a portion of said exterior surface of said core, said insulating layer having perforations aligned with at least a portion of said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points.
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28. An apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator for facilitating diathermy of tissue with a radio frequency electrical current from the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
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a core having an exterior surface; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface of said core; and a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core for positioning said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points relative to the tissue to facilitate diathermy, said positioning means comprising an active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator, said positioning means comprising; a shaft having a longitudinal axis; and an axle connected to said shaft and angled away from the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said core being rotatably secured upon said axle.
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29. A bipolar apparatus connectable to an electrosurgical generator having an active lead and a return lead, the bipolar apparatus for facilitating diathermy by the application to tissue of a radio frequency electrical current emanating from the active lead of the electrosurgical generator, the bipolar apparatus comprising:
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a core having an exterior surface, comprising; a plurality of discrete radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points for applying the radio frequency electrical current to a plurality of discrete tissue locations, said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points disposed on protrusions on said exterior surface and electrically connectable to the active lead of the electrosurgical generator; an electrically conductive reception member for receiving and returning at least a portion of the radio frequency electrical current discharged from said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points, said electrically conductive reception member disposed on said exterior surface and electrically connected to the return lead; and an insulator disposed between and electrically insulating said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points from said electrically conductive reception member; and a positioning means disposed adjacent to said core, for positioning said exterior surface of said core relative to the tissue, said positioning means comprising a positioning means active lead which is electrically connected to said radio frequency electrically conductive discharge points and which is electrically connectable to the active lead of the electrosurgical generator, said positioning means comprising; a shaft having a longitudinal axis; and an axle connected to said shaft and angled away from the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said core being rotatably secured upon said axle.
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Specification