Surgical instrument for ablation and aspiration
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising;
- a shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft defining an aspiration lumen having a diameter;
a conductive member disposed at said distal end of said shaft across said aspiration lumen and forming an active electrode, said conductive member having at least one opening therethrough communicating with the aspiration lumen such that material may be aspirated through said active electrode, said at least one opening being individually smaller than said lumen diameter to avoid clogging of aspirated material downstream of said at least one opening, said conductive member having an ashtray shape;
a first conductor connected to said conductive member;
a return electrode disposed around said shaft proximally from said active electrode; and
a second conductor connected to said return electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical aspiration instrument that permits aspiration of an area being treated by the instrument. The instrument is coupled at a proximal end to a power source and includes an energy application surface area at a distal end. The power source supplied energy to the energy application surface area such that the distal end of the instrument may apply energy to the treatment area to modify the characteristics of biological material, such as biological tissue in the area. An aspiration lumen is formed through the instrument with an opening through the energy application surface area. The energy application surface area is configured to reduce blockage of the opening. Accordingly, aspiration may be performed simultaneously with electrosurgical treatment whereby unwanted matter such as by-products, biological debris and excess fluid is removed from the treatment area. The electrosurgical aspiration instrument also permits both functions to be performed at different times, with the advantage of not requiring instruments to be switched on during the treatment procedure or removed from the treatment site.
336 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising;
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a shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft defining an aspiration lumen having a diameter;
a conductive member disposed at said distal end of said shaft across said aspiration lumen and forming an active electrode, said conductive member having at least one opening therethrough communicating with the aspiration lumen such that material may be aspirated through said active electrode, said at least one opening being individually smaller than said lumen diameter to avoid clogging of aspirated material downstream of said at least one opening, said conductive member having an ashtray shape;
a first conductor connected to said conductive member;
a return electrode disposed around said shaft proximally from said active electrode; and
a second conductor connected to said return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A surgical instrument for use with a power source, comprising:
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a shaft having distal and proximal ends, said shaft defining an aspiration lumen having a diameter and having an opening at said distal end;
a conductive member disposed at said distal end of said shaft across said aspiration lumen to define an energy application plane across said lumen opening and forming an active electrode, said conductive member having at least one opening therethrough communicating with the aspiration lumen such that material may be aspirated through said active electrode across said energy application plane, said at least one opening being individually smaller than said lumen diameter to avoid clogging of aspirated material downstream of said at least one opening, said active electrode having an ashtray shape and having a mechanical treatment surface for the mechanical removal of tissue at a surgical site;
a first conductor adapted for coupling to the power source and connected to said conductive member;
a return electrode disposed around said shaft proximally from said active electrode; and
a second conductor connected to said return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification