System and method for electrosurgical cutting and ablation
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical system for use with a high frequency power supply and an electrically conducting fluid supply, the system comprising:
- an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an active electrode disposed near the distal end, and a connector near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the active electrode to the electrosurgical power supply; and
a return electrode adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrosurgical power supply;
wherein the active and return electrodes are configured, upon the application of a sufficiently high frequency voltage therebetween, to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the active electrode and induce the discharge of energy from the vapor layer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical probe (10) comprises a shaft (13) having an electrode array (58) at its distal end and a connector (19) at its proximal end for coupling the electrode array to a high frequency power supply (28). The shaft includes a return electrode (56) recessed from its distal end and enclosed within an insulating jacket (18). The return electrode defines an inner passage (83) electrically connected to both the return electrode and the electrode array for passage of an electrically conducting liquid (50). By applying high frequency voltage to the electrode array and the return electrode, the electrically conducting liquid generates a current flow path between the return electrode and the electrode array so that target tissue may be cut or ablated. The probe is particularly useful in dry environments, such as the mouth or abdominal cavity, because the electrically conducting liquid provides the necessary return current path between the active and return electrodes.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical system for use with a high frequency power supply and an electrically conducting fluid supply, the system comprising:
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an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an active electrode disposed near the distal end, and a connector near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the active electrode to the electrosurgical power supply; and a return electrode adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrosurgical power supply; wherein the active and return electrodes are configured, upon the application of a sufficiently high frequency voltage therebetween, to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the active electrode and induce the discharge of energy from the vapor layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrosurgical probe for applying high frequency electrical energy to a tissue structure at a target site in the presence of electrically conducting fluid, the probe comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode terminal having a tissue treatment portion disposed at or near the distal end of the shaft; a return electrode coupled to the shaft and having an exposed fluid contact surface; and at least one connector disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrode terminal to a high frequency voltage source; and wherein the return electrode is spaced from the electrode terminal, and the return electrode and electrode terminal are configured such that, when the tissue treatment portion of the electrode terminal is brought adjacent a tissue structure in contact with electrically conductive fluid, and high frequency electrical energy is applied to the electrode terminal, the high frequency electrical energy is sufficient to effect the molecular breakdown of the tissue structure and to convert solid tissue cells at the target site directly into gaseous products of ablation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electrosurgical probe for applying high frequency electrical energy to a tissue structure at a target site in the presence of electrically conducting fluid, the probe comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end with a distal tip; at least one electrode having a tissue treatment portion disposed at or near the distal end of the shaft; a return electrode on the shaft and having an exposed fluid contact surface spaced from the tissue treatment portion of the electrode terminal; and at least one connector disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrode terminal to a high frequency voltage source; wherein the return electrode is spaced from the electrode terminal, and the return electrode and electrode terminal are configured such that, when the tissue treatment portion of the electrode terminal is brought adjacent a tissue structure in contact with electrically conductive fluid, and high frequency electrical energy is applied to the electrode terminal, electric fields are established between the electrode terminal and the tissue structure at the target site, the electric fields being sufficient to cause the breakdown of tissue through molecular dissociation or disintegration. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An electrosurgical probe for applying high frequency electrical energy to a tissue structure at a target site, the probe comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; means, coupled to the shaft, for applying high frequency voltage to the target site in the presence of electrically conducting fluid such that at least a portion of the electrically conducting fluid is vaporized. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. An electrosurgical probe for applying high frequency electrical energy to a tissue structure at a target site, the probe comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; means, coupled to the shaft, for applying a sufficient high frequency voltage to the target site in the presence of electrically conducting fluid to cause the breakdown of tissue through molecular dissociation or disintegration.
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Specification