Electrosurgical cutting device

• US 5,860,976 A
• Filed: 02/21/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Utah Medical Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Utah Medical Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Shirley, Ben D., Billings, R. Gail
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/804,320
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/41-50, 607/116, 607/119, 607/122, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade

Abstract

An improved electrosurgical cutting device for connection to an electrosurgical generator has a non-conductive support member with a peripheral edge and a conducting member, distinct from the support member, disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the support member. The support member extends from a bendable shaft which may be manipulated to create an angled device. The conducting member is in electrical communication with an electrosurgical generator suitable for transmitting sufficient high frequency electrical energy to the conducting member, thereby enabling the conducting member to function as the active outlet in a monopolar circuit. The support member has a configuration that facilitates the manipulation of body tissue either with or without the presence of electrical energy at the conducting member.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical cutting device for communicating electrically with an electrosurgical generator for use in a monopolar circuit comprising:

a generally flat non-conductive support member having a peripheral edge;

a bendable shaft connected to said non-conductive support member, wherein said shaft is bendable by manual manipulation to a desired angle; and

a conducting member, distinct from said support member, configured to function as an active outlet in a monopolar circuit for electrosurgical cutting and disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said support member, said conducting member configured to be in electrical communication with only one pole of the electrosurgical generator to receive high frequency electrical energy from the electrosurgical generator.

2. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said conducting member comprises a wire electrode.

3. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 2 wherein said wire electrode comprises a tungsten wire.

4. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 2 wherein said wire electrode comprises a stainless steel wire.

5. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said conducting member forms a wire loop electrode with said support member filling the center of the loop.

6. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein a portion of said conducting member is internal to said support member.

7. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said support member is composed of a thermally stable material.

8. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said support member is shaped in the form of a paddle with an obverse side, a reverse side, and the peripheral edge.

9. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said support member is composed of ceramic material.

10. The electrosurgical cutting device as in claim 1 wherein said support member is configured to allow the manipulation of body tissue in the absence of electrical energy to said conducting member.

11. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said support member is configured with a groove along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said support member and said conducting member is seated in the groove.

12. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 1 wherein said bendable shaft is comprised of a conductive material and is in electrical communication with said conducting member.

13. An electrosurgical cutting device for communicating electrically with an electrosurgical generator for use in a monopolar circuit comprising:

a non-conductive support member having a peripheral edge;

a bendable, conductive shaft formed of a unitary member and connected to said non-conductive support member, wherein said shaft is bendable by manual manipulation to a desired angle;

a conducting member, distinct from said support member, configured to function as an active outlet in a monopolar circuit for electrosurgical cutting and disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said support member and in electrical communication with said shaft, said conducting member configured to be in electrical communication with only one pole of the electrosurgical generator to receive high frequency electrical energy from the electrosurgical generator; and

an adaptable connector in electrical communication with said shaft, said adaptable connector having a proximal and distal end, said shaft extending from the distal end of said adaptable connector.

14. The electrosurgical device of claim 13 further comprising a handle configured to receive in electrical and mechanical engagement the proximal end of said adaptable connector.

15. The electrosurgical device of claim 13 further comprising a connecting wire which passes through the interior of said handle and allows said adaptable connector to electronically communicate with the electrosurgical generator, thereby allowing the electrosurgical generator to transmit high frequency electrical energy through said adaptable connector and said shaft to said conducting member to enable said conducting member to cut body tissue.

16. The electrosurgical device of claim 13 wherein said support member is composed of thermally stable material.

17. The electrosurgical device of claim 13 wherein said support member is configured to allow the manipulation of body tissue in the absence of electrical energy to said conducting member.

18. The electrosurgical device of claim 13 wherein said support member is configured with a groove along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said support member and said conducting member is seated in the groove.

19. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 13 wherein a portion of said conducting member is internal to said support member.

20. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 13 wherein said conducting member comprises a wire electrode.

21. The electrosurgical cutting device of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said shaft is enclosed within an insulative coating.

22. An electrosurgical cutting device for communicating electrically with an electrosurgical generator for use in a monopolar circuit comprising:

a handle having a proximal end and a distal end;

a bendable, conductive shaft formed of a unitary member and extending from the distal end of said handle, wherein said shaft is bendable by manual manipulation to a desired angle;

a non-conductive, thermally stable support member extending from said shaft, said support member having a peripheral edge, said support member being configured to allow the manipulation of body tissue;

a conducting member, distinct from said support member, configured to function as an active outlet in a monopolar circuit for electrosurgical cutting and disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said support member, said conducting member electrically communicating with said shaft, said shaft configured to be electrically communicating with only one pole of the electrosurgical generator to receive high frequency electrical energy from the electrosurgical generator.

23. The electrosurgical device of claim 22 further comprising a connecting wire which constitutes the means by which said electrosurgical generator electrically communicates with said shaft.

24. The electrosurgical device of claim 22 wherein said support member is configured with a groove along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of said support member and said conducting member is seated in the groove.

25. The electrosurgical device of claim 22 wherein said conducting member comprises a wire electrode.

26. The electrosurgical device of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of said shaft is enclosed within an insulative coating.

27. A method for electrosurgically cutting body tissue comprising the steps of:

disposing a conducting member configured to function as an active outlet in a monopolar circuit for electrosurgical cutting along at least a portion of a peripheral edge of a non-conductive, thermally stable support member;

connecting said support member to a bendable, conductive shaft formed of a unitary member wherein said shaft is bendable by manual manipulation to a desired angle and generally retains the desired angle during operation;

placing said conducting member in electrical communication with said shaft and in electrical communication with only one pole of the electrosurgical generator to receive high frequency electrical energy from the electrosurgical generator;

placing a dispersive pad in electrical communication with an opposing pole of the electrosurgical generator and in contact with body tissue to thereby allow the dispersive pad to function as a dispersive connection in a monopolar circuit; and

positioning said conducting member adjacent to the body tissue to complete the monopolar circuit and to transmit high frequency electrical energy from the electrosurgical generator through the shaft and to the conducting member to thereby cut body tissue.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of enclosing at least a portion of said shaft in an insulative coating.