Electrosurgical hand-held battery-operated instrument
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument comprising a handpiece, a monopolar electrode unit having a single treatment electrode projecting from the handpiece, and a radio-frequency generator within the handpiece, the handpiece including an electrically conductive shield around the generator as a capacitive coupling element between the generator and the surroundings, and wherein the generator has no radio-frequency connections other than a single radio-frequency output connection to the treatment electrode for providing an active output connection between the generator and a patient and, in use, a return path between the generator and the patient provided by said capacitive coupling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument comprises a handpiece, a monopolar electrode unit having a single treatment electrode projecting from the handpiece, a radio-frequency generator and a battery within the handpiece for powering the generator. The generator has a single direct radio-frequency output patient connection through the treatment electrode. The return path between the generator and a patient is through an electrically conductive shield around the generator and forming part of the handpiece, the shield forming a capacitive coupling element between the generator and the surroundings. Preferably, the operating frequency of the generator is 5 MHz or greater.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. An electrosurgical instrument comprising a handpiece, a monopolar electrode unit having a single treatment electrode projecting from the handpiece, and a radio-frequency generator within the handpiece, the handpiece including an electrically conductive shield around the generator as a capacitive coupling element between the generator and the surroundings, and wherein the generator has no radio-frequency connections other than a single radio-frequency output connection to the treatment electrode for providing an active output connection between the generator and a patient and, in use, a return path between the generator and the patient provided by said capacitive coupling.
- 11. An electrosurgical instrument comprising a housing, an active tissue treatment electrode supported relative to the housing and extending externally thereof, thereby to enable manipulation of the active electrode by gripping the housing, an electrosurgical generator located within the housing and having first and second output terminals, the first output terminal being connected to the active electrode, and means providing a capactive coupling path for capacitively coupling the second output terminal to the active electrode when the active electrode is in physical contact with tissue, the capactive coupling providing sufficient flow of alternating current to enable tissue modification by the active electrode, and the coupling path excluding earth or any trailing leads from the instrument.
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18. An electrosurgical instrument comprising a housing, an electrosurgical generator located within the housing, the generator having first and second output terminals, an active tissue treatment electrode supported relative to the housing to enable the active electrode to be manipulated by gripping the housing, the active electrode being connected to the first output terminal of the generator, and a capacitive coupling between the second output terminal and the active electrode enabling a sufficient flow of alternating current along a path which includes only:
- a) the active electrode, b) tissue in the region of the active electrode and c) elements connected to the second output terminal which are integral with the instrument, to enable tissue modification by the active electrode.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of treating a patient using an electrosurgical instrument having an electrosurgical generator which produces a radio frequency output across a pair of output terminals, and an active tissue treatment electrode connected to a first output terminal of the pair of terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
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bringing tissue of the patient into contact with the first output terminal of the generator by bringing the active electrode into physical contact with the tissue; and capacitively coupling the active electrode and a second output terminal of the pair of terminals via tissue in the region of the active electrode, and providing, by virtue of such capacitive coupling, a path for the flow of sufficient alternating current between the active electrode and the second output terminal to enable tissue modification by the active electrode, the path excluding earth and any trialing leads from the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification