Bipolar electrosurgical trocar
First Claim
1. A method for electrosurgically penetrating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- A. providing an electrosurgical tissue-penetrating probe having a stylet with an electrically conductive tissue penetrating edge at a distal end thereof adapted for delivering electrosurgical energy to adjacent tissue, the tissue-penetrating edge having spring means for increasing the diameter of the tissue-penetrating edge in contact with tissue when the tissue-penetrating edge is in the extended position and protrudes from the housing member, and the tissue-penetrating probe further having a return electrode disposed on a housing for the styler electrically isolated from the tissue penetrating edge of the stylet, the return electrode adapted to receive the electrical current delivered to the tissue by the edge; and
B. delivering electrical energy to tissue adjacent the tissue penetrating edge of the stylet while forcing the stylet through the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an electrosurgical tissue penetrating probe (e.g., a trocar) for use with surgical procedures such as a laproscopy. The trocar has a stylet disposed within the housing member, having an active electrode disposed on a distal end thereof to deliver electrosurgical energy to the target tissue in contact with the stylet. A return electrode is disposed on the housing member to form part of a return electrical path to the delivery electrosurgical energy. The invention also provides an electrosurgical trocar system having an impedance monitor and associated power regulating circuitry to control the amount of electrosurgical energy delivered to tissue so that the measured tissue impedance is maintained within a preselected range.
631 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for electrosurgically penetrating tissue, comprising the steps of:
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A. providing an electrosurgical tissue-penetrating probe having a stylet with an electrically conductive tissue penetrating edge at a distal end thereof adapted for delivering electrosurgical energy to adjacent tissue, the tissue-penetrating edge having spring means for increasing the diameter of the tissue-penetrating edge in contact with tissue when the tissue-penetrating edge is in the extended position and protrudes from the housing member, and the tissue-penetrating probe further having a return electrode disposed on a housing for the styler electrically isolated from the tissue penetrating edge of the stylet, the return electrode adapted to receive the electrical current delivered to the tissue by the edge; and B. delivering electrical energy to tissue adjacent the tissue penetrating edge of the stylet while forcing the stylet through the tissue.
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2. A bipolar electrosurgical trocar system, comprising:
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an elongate hollow housing member having an open distal end and a return electrode associated with a tissue contacting portion of the distal end thereof; an elongate stylet, having at a distal end thereof an electrically conductive tissue-penetrating edge electrically isolated from the return electrode, the stylet adapted for axial movement within the housing member between an extended position in which the edge protrudes from the open distal end of the housing member, and a retracted position in which the edge is disposed within the housing member, the tissue-penetrating edge having spring means for increasing the diameter of the tissue-penetrating edge in contact with tissue when the tissue-penetrating edge is in the extended position and protrudes from the housing member; handle means, adjacent a proximal end of the housing member, for manipulating the trocar and for controlling axial displacement of the stylet; active current communication means associated with the trocar for communicating electrical energy through the trocar from a power source to the tissue-penetrating edge of the stylet for discharge through the edge to the tissue to be penetrated by the tissue-penetrating edge; return current communication means associated with the trocar for communicating the electrical energy delivered to the tissue by the tissue-penetrating edge from the return electrode to the power source; impedance measurement means, in circuit with the active communication means and return communication means, for measuring the electrical impedance of the tissue based upon the current within the tissue and generating a signal representative of tissue impedance; and a power control means, in circuit with the impedance measurement means and the remote power source, for regulating the electrosurgical energy delivered to the tissue from the tissue-penetrating edge in response to a signal from the impedance measurement means to maintain a measured tissue impedance to within a preselected range. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A monopolar electrosurgical tissue-penetrating device comprising:
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an elongate hollow housing member having an open distal end; an elongate stylet, having at a distal end thereof an electrically conductive tissue-penetrating edge electrically isolated from a remote electrode, the stylet adapted for axial movement within the housing member between an extended position in which the edge protrudes from the open distal end of the housing member, and a retracted position in which the edge is disposed within the housing member, the tissue-penetrating edge having spring means for increasing the diameter of the tissue-penetrating edge in contact with tissue when the tissue-penetrating edge is in the extended position and protrudes from the housing member; handle means, adjacent a proximal end of the housing member, for manipulating the device and for controlling axial displacement of the stylet; and active current communication means associated with the device for communicating electrical energy through the device from a power source to the tissue-penetrating edge for discharge through the tissue-penetrating edge to the tissue to be penetrated by the edge.
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5. A bipolar electrosurgical tissue-penetrating device, comprising:
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an elongate hollow housing member having an open distal end and a return electrode associated with a tissue contacting portion of the distal end thereof; an elongate stylet, having at a distal end thereof an electrically conductive spring electrode assembly having a tissue-penetrating edge and being electrically isolated from the return electrode, the stylet adapted for axial movement within the housing member between an extended position in which the spring electrode assembly expands to a diameter greater than its diameter within the housing member and protrudes from the open distal end of the housing member, and a retracted position in which the spring electrode assembly is confined within the housing member and is in a non-expanded condition; handle means, adjacent a proximal end of the housing member, for manipulating the device and for controlling axial displacement of the stylet; active current communication means associated with the device for communicating electrical energy through the device from a power source to the spring electrode assembly for discharge through the spring electrode assembly to the tissue to be penetrated by the tissue-penetrating edge; and return current communication means, associated with the device and electrically isolated from the active current communication means, for communicating the electrical energy from the current electrode to the power source. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification