Electrosurgical electrode for sclerotherapy

• US 5,695,495 A
• Filed: 11/20/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ellman International, Inc. (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ALAN G. ELLMAN, Jon C. Garito
• Inventors: Garito, Jon C., Ellman, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/560,641
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/44, 606/45, 606/46, 606/49, 606/50
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle

Abstract

An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure for treating varicose veins. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active sharpened tip portion at the end of a needle-shaped member capable of penetrating the vein of a patient. The vein-tissue damage is effected with the bare tip and the adjacent portions of the needle are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active tip portion during the surgical procedure.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical electrode for electrosurgical sclerotherapy, comprising:

(a) an electrically-conductive shaft member having a first end for receiving electrosurgical currents and a second end.

(b) said second end having a needle-shaped portion terminating in an active, electrically-conductive, tip portion,

(c) said active tip portion being a sharpened point capable of penetrating the skin of a patient and exposed electrically for applying electrosurgical currents when said shaft member is connected to a source of electrosurgical currents,

(d) said sharpened point having a length of about 0.08-0.2 inches, and a diameter of about 0.012-0.014 inches and being configured to allow a physician to advance the sharpened point proximally into a vein to be treated of the patient,

(e) portions of said needle-shaped portion adjacent said active tip portion being electrically-insulating to prevent contact and passage of electrosurgical currents to adjacent or surrounding tissues.

2. The electrosurgical electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active tip portion extends substantially in-line with the shaft member.

3. An electrosurgical electrode as claimed in claim 2, wherein the needle-shaped portion has a length of about 3/8-11/4 inches.

4. An electrosurgical electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft member is coated with a first electrically-insulating coating at about its center, and the needle-shaped portion is coated with a second electrically-insulating coating that is thinner than the thickness of the first coating up to the active tip portion.

5. An electrosurgical electrode as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second coating has a thickness between about 0.0007 and 0.0013 inches.

6. The combination of claim 1 with electrosurgical apparatus for generating electrosurgical currents at a frequency exceeding 1.5 MHz, said electrosurgical apparatus being connected to the first end of the shaft member.

7. A surgical procedure for treating varicose veins of a patient, comprising the steps:

(a) providing electrosurgical apparatus capable of supplying electrosurgical currents and connected to a handpiece holding an electrosurgical electrode, said electrosurgical electrode, comprising;

(i) an electrically-conductive shaft member having a first end for receiving electrosurgical currents and a second end,

(ii) said second end having a needle-shaped portion terminating in an active, electrically-conductive, tip portion,

(iii) said active tip portion being a sharpened point exposed electrically for applying electrosurgical currents when said shaft member is connected to a source of electrosurgical currents.

(iv) said sharpened point being capable of penetrating the skin of a patient and being configured to allow a physician to advance the sharpened point proximally into a vein to be treated of the patient,

(v) portions of said needle-shaped portion adjacent said sharpened point being electrically-insulating to prevent contact and passage of electrosurgical currents to adjacent or surrounding tissues,

(b) penetrating the skin of a patient and advancing the electrode proximally into the vein to be treated of the patient.

(c) activating the electrosurgical apparatus until the vein lining adjacent the active tip portion is damaged.

8. The procedure of claim 7, wherein the electrosurgical currents are at a frequency exceeding 1.5 MHz.

9. The procedure of claim 7, wherein the sharpened point has a length of about 0.08-0.2 inches, and a diameter of about 0.012-0.014 inches.

10. The procedure of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(d) following step (c), slowly withdrawing the active tip portion from the vein while activating the electrosurgical apparatus to damage further segments of the vein lining.