Electrosurgical system for resection and ablation of tissue in electrically conductive fluids
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical system comprising an electrosurgical probe and an electrosurgical power supply, wherein the electrosurgical probe comprises:
- a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the shaft, said array including a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals disposed over a contact surface; and
a connector near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrode terminals individually to the electrosurgical power supply;
and wherein the electrosurgical power supply comprises;
a multiplicity of current limiting elements for independently limiting power to each of the electrode terminals based on impedance at the electrode terminals; and
a connector which mates with the shaft connector to electrically couple individual ones of said current limiting elements to individual ones of said electrode terminals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical system comprises an electrosurgical probe and an electrosurgical power supply for ablation and resection of soft tissue in the presence of electrically conductive fluids, such as isotonic saline. In one embodiment, the probe includes a shaft having an electrode array with a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals and a return electrode spaced proximally from the electrode array. The power supply includes a plurality of current limiting elements for limiting current based on impedance between the electrode terminals and the return electrode. By applying high frequency voltage to the electrode array, target tissue may be cut or ablated while heat dissipation through low impedance paths, such as saline, is minimized. The power supply has an operating frequency less than 400 kHz, usually about 100 kHz, for limiting current penetration into the tissue.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical system comprising an electrosurgical probe and an electrosurgical power supply, wherein the electrosurgical probe comprises:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the shaft, said array including a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals disposed over a contact surface; and a connector near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrode terminals individually to the electrosurgical power supply; and wherein the electrosurgical power supply comprises; a multiplicity of current limiting elements for independently limiting power to each of the electrode terminals based on impedance at the electrode terminals; and a connector which mates with the shaft connector to electrically couple individual ones of said current limiting elements to individual ones of said electrode terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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12. An electrosurgical apparatus for applying high frequency electrical energy to a tissue structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
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an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft with a proximal end, a distal end and at least one electrode terminal at or near the distal end; an electrosurgical power supply coupled to the electrode terminal for applying a high frequency voltage to the electrode terminal, the power supply having an operating frequency of about 50 kHz to about 300 kHz; and a connector coupling the electrode terminal to the power supply for applying voltage to a tissue structure at the operating frequency. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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24. An electrosurgical system for applying high frequency electrical energy to a tissue structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body comprising:
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an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft with a proximal end, a distal end and at least one electrode terminal at or near the distal end; a return electrode; an electrosurgical power supply coupled to the electrode terminal and the return electrode; and means for applying a high frequency voltage difference between the electrode terminal and the return electrode in the presence of electrically conductive fluid such that electric current flows from the electrode terminal, through the electrically conductive fluid, to the return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification