Method of using a multimodality probe with extendable bipolar electrodes

• US 5,441,498 A
• Filed: 09/08/1994
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Surgical Products II Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Envision Surgical Systems
• Inventors: Perkins, Rodney C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/302,550
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 606/14-16, 606/42, 606/45-52, 604/35
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/28 for heating a thermal probe or absorber
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2918 flexible handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

A surgical probe, and procedure using the same, enabling a surgeon to cut body tissue by delivering energy, such as a laser beam, to the body tissue and without removing the instrument to cauterize the body tissue by direct application of electric current. The surgical probe includes an elongated member having a fiber optic positioned on a longitudinal axis of the elongated member and pair of elongated electrodes that span an entire length of the elongated member. The elongated electrodes slide lengthwise in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. During cutting procedures, the distal ends of the electrodes are in a retracted position not beyond the distal end of the elongated member, and during cauterization procedures, the distal ends of the electrodes are in an extended position beyond the distal end of the elongated member. In a preferred embodiment, the distal ends of the electrodes are pre-bent so as to converge toward each other as they are extended beyond the distal end of the elongated member.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical method for treating body tissue using a probe, said probe including an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning the distal end of the elongated member near body tissue to be treated, the elongated member further including a pair of elongated electrodes, each electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated electrodes being slidably secured to the elongated member so as to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the elongated member, and an energy delivery device secured to the elongated member, the energy delivery device being operably attached to the elongated member for communicating energy to the distal end of the elongated member;

treating body tissue by communicating energy from the energy delivery device to the distal end of the elongated member;

sliding the pair of elongated electrodes from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the distal ends of the elongated electrodes, when in the extended position, extend beyond the distal end of the elongated member;

placing the distal ends of the elongated electrodes in the extended position in contact with the body tissue to be treated; and

applying an electric potential to the distal ends of the elongated electrodes in order to cauterize the body tissue by applying an electric current.

2. The method of surgical procedure of claim 1, said elongated member further includes an irrigation lumen within the elongated member, and said method further comprising the step of:

irrigating a region near the tissue to be treated utilizing the irrigation lumen.

3. The method of surgical procedure of claim 1, said elongated member further includes an aspirating lumen within the elongated member, and said method further comprising the step of:

aspirating a region near the tissue to be treated utilizing the aspirating lumen.