Monopolar electrosurgical Instruments
First Claim
1. An instrument for carrying out monopolar electrosurgical procedures upon tissue within a body in contact with a return ground by insertion of said instrument through minimal size openings to access said tissue, comprising:
- an elongate shaft of length along a given axis suited for accessing said tissue, having a working end, a grasping end and an exterior surface of configuration exhibiting a first principal cross-sectional dimension permitting the slidable insertion thereof through said opening into said body, said shaft being formed of an electrically insulative material;
an electrically conductive working tip assembly supported at said working end responsive to an applied current at predetermined frequency for surgical application thereof to select portions of said tissue;
an electrical terminal supported at said shaft grasping end, having an input connectable with a source of said current and an output;
an electrical conductor supported within said shaft, extending therealong in current transfer communication between said electrical terminal output and said working tip and having a second principal cross-sectional dimension substantially less than said first principal cross sectional dimension selected as effective to convey said applied current to said working tip and to lower capacitive coupling between said conductor and said tissue adjacent said exterior shaft surface to an extent substantially atraumatic to said adjacent tissue; and
an electrically conductive shield disposed within and co-extruded with said shaft in substantially spaced surrounding relationship and substantially coextensive with said electrical conductor, said shield being fabricated from a flexible metal wire braided cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monopolar electrosurgical instrument for utilization with endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures. The instrument is structured so as to substantially eliminate the adverse effects occasioned by capacitive coupling between the instrument and tissue adjacent thereto within the body being operated upon. Capacitive coupling is controlled through the implementation of the shaft structure itself with an electrically insulative polymeric material of low dielectric constant which is combined with a current conductor centrally disposed therein which is of minimum diameter effective to carry requisite current to a working tip. A shield arrangement may be provided such as a coextruded electrically conductive wire mesh surmounting the internally disposed electrical conductor. This shield, in one embodiment may be coupled with return ground employing electrical connectors which assure proper coupling with source and ground.
253 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An instrument for carrying out monopolar electrosurgical procedures upon tissue within a body in contact with a return ground by insertion of said instrument through minimal size openings to access said tissue, comprising:
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an elongate shaft of length along a given axis suited for accessing said tissue, having a working end, a grasping end and an exterior surface of configuration exhibiting a first principal cross-sectional dimension permitting the slidable insertion thereof through said opening into said body, said shaft being formed of an electrically insulative material; an electrically conductive working tip assembly supported at said working end responsive to an applied current at predetermined frequency for surgical application thereof to select portions of said tissue; an electrical terminal supported at said shaft grasping end, having an input connectable with a source of said current and an output; an electrical conductor supported within said shaft, extending therealong in current transfer communication between said electrical terminal output and said working tip and having a second principal cross-sectional dimension substantially less than said first principal cross sectional dimension selected as effective to convey said applied current to said working tip and to lower capacitive coupling between said conductor and said tissue adjacent said exterior shaft surface to an extent substantially atraumatic to said adjacent tissue; and an electrically conductive shield disposed within and co-extruded with said shaft in substantially spaced surrounding relationship and substantially coextensive with said electrical conductor, said shield being fabricated from a flexible metal wire braided cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An monopolar electrosurgical instrument for carrying out surgical procedures upon tissue within a body in contact with a return ground by insertion through access openings of minimal size, comprising:
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an elongate shaft of length along a central axis suited for accessing said tissue, having a working end, a grasping end, an external surface of a configuration exhibiting a first principal cross-sectional dimension permitting a slidable insertion thereof through said opening into said body, said shaft being formed of an electrically insulative material and having a first elongate cavity disposed therein of second principal cross-sectional dimension; an electrically conductive working tip assembly secured to said working end, reciprocally actuable to surgically engage said tissue and responsive to an applied current at predetermined frequency for surgical application thereof to select portions of said tissue; a hand engageable handle coupled with said shaft at said grasping end and having a movable component with a drive portion generally reciprocally movable in correspondence with movement of said movable component; a generally cylindrical elongate driveshaft formed of an electrically insulating material, having an outwardly disposed surface extending about a longitudinal axis at a third principal cross-sectional dimension, slidably positioned within said first elongate cavity and extending between a forward end connected in reciprocal drive relationship relative to said working tip and a rearward portion connected in reciprocally driven relationship with said handle movable component drive portion; an electrical terminal supported at said handle, having an input connectable with a source of said current and an output; and an electrical conductor supported concentrically within said driveshaft, extending therealong in current transfer communication between said electrical terminal output and said electrically conductive working tip. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An instrument for carrying out monopolar electrosurgical procedures upon tissue within a body in contact with a return ground by insertion of said instrument through minimal size openings to access said tissue, comprising:
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an elongate shaft of length along a central axis suited for accessing said tissue, having a working end, a grasping end, an external surface of a configuration exhibiting a first principal cross-sectional dimension permitting a slidable insertion thereof through said opening into said body, said shaft being formed of an electrically insulative material and having an elongate cavity disposed therein of second principal cross-sectional dimension; an electrically conductive working tip assembly supported at said working end, reciprocally actuable to surgically engage said tissue and responsive to an applied current at predetermined frequency for surgical application thereof to select portions of said tissue; a hand engageable handle coupled with said shaft at said grasping end and having a movable component with a drive portion generally reciprocally movable in correspondence with movement of said movable component; an elongate draftshaft formed of electrically conductive material, having an outwardly disposed surface extending about a longitudinal axis at a third principal cross-sectional dimension, slidably positioned within said elongate cavity and extending between a forward end connected in current transfer and reciprocal drive relationship with said working tip and a rearward portion connected in reciprocally driven relationship with said handle movable component drive portion; an electrically conductive shield located within said shaft outwardly of said cavity and inwardly of said shaft outwardly disposed external surface, in spaced surrounding relationship and substantially coextensive with said cavity Said shield being fabricated from a flexible metal wire braided cylinder; an electrical terminal assembly supported at said handle, having a first input connectable with a source of said current said source being remotely located form said instrument and deriving said return ground, a second input connectable with said return ground, having a first output connecting said drive shaft in current transfer relationship with said first input, and a second output connecting said second input with said shield. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An instrument for carrying out monopolar electrosurgical procedures upon tissue within a body in contact with a return ground by insertion of said instrument through minimal size openings to access said tissue, comprising:
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an elongate shaft of length along a given axis suited for accessing said tissue, having a working end, a grasping end and an exterior surface of configuration exhibiting a first principal cross-sectional dimension permitting the slidable insertion thereof through said opening into said body, said shaft being formed of an electrically insulative material and having a first elongate cavity disposed therein; an electrically conductive working tip assembly supported at said working end responsive to an applied current at predetermined frequency for surgical application thereof to select portions of said tissue; an electrical terminal supported at said shaft grasping end, having an input connectable with a source of said current and an output; an electrical conductor supported within said shaft, extending therealong in current transfer communication between said electrical terminal output and said working tip and having a second principal cross-sectional dimension substantially less than said first principal cross sectional dimension selected as effective to convey said applied current to said working tip and to lower capacitive coupling between said conductor and said tissue adjacent said exterior shaft surface to an extent substantially atraumatic to said adjacent tissue; a stationary insert formed of a polymeric electrically insulative material, having an outwardly disposed surface supporting a metallic, electrically conductive shield and located within said first cavity; and said electrical conductor is located within said stationary insert. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An monopolar electrosurgical instrument for carrying out surgical procedures upon tissue within a body in contact with a return ground by insertion through access openings of minimal size, comprising:
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an elongate shaft of length along a central axis suited for accessing said tissue, having a working end, a grasping end, an external surface of a configuration exhibiting a first principal cross-sectional dimension permitting a slidable insertion thereof through said opening into said body, said shaft being formed of an electrically insulative material and having a first elongate cavity disposed therein of second principal cross-sectional dimension; an electrically conductive working tip assembly supported at said working end, reciprocally actuable to surgically engage said tissue and responsive to an applied current at predetermined frequency for surgical application thereof to select portions of said tissue; a hand engageable handle coupled with said shaft at said grasping end and having a movable component with a drive portion generally reciprocally movable in correspondence with movement of said movable component; an elongate driveshaft formed of an electrically insulating material, having an outwardly disposed surface extending about a longitudinal axis at a third principal cross-sectional dimension, slidably positioned within said first elongate cavity and extending between a forward end connected in reciprocal drive relationship with said working tip and a rearward portion connected in reciprocally driven relationship with said handle movable component drive portion; an electrical terminal supported at said handle, having an input connectable with a source of said current and an output; an electrical conductor supported within said driveshaft, extending therealong in current transfer communication between said electrical terminal output and said electrically conductive working tip, wherein said electrical conductor has a fourth principal cross-sectional dimension selected as effective to convey said applied current to said electrically conductive working tip and to lower capacitive coupling between said conductor and said tissue adjacent said shaft external surface to an extent substantially atraumatic to said adjacent tissue; a shaft connector mounted upon said handle movable component at said drive portion, configured for receiving and retaining said driveshaft rearward portion and through which said electrical conductor extends; and said electrical terminal is supported upon said handle movable component, is movable therewith and is connected with said electrical conductor as it extends through said shaft connector. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification