Electrosurgical scalpel and methods for tissue cutting
First Claim
1. A method for applying electrical energy to a target site on a body structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
- providing a return electrode and an electrode terminal electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source;
directing an electrically conductive fluid to the target site along a fluid path;
positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent to the body structure so that the electrode terminal is brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the target site in the presence of the electrically conductive fluid;
positioning the return electrode at the target site so that the return electrode does not contact the body structure;
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the electrode terminal, through the region of the target site, and to the return electrode; and
translating the electrode terminal relative to the body structure to cut through a portion of the body structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to cut or incise structures in a patient'"'"'s body. The electrosurgical systems and methods are particularly useful for removing tissue or ligaments from a patient'"'"'s joint, such as the patellar ligament in the knee, in dermatological procedures, i.e., surface treatment of the patient'"'"'s outer skin, such as the removal of pigmentations, vascular lesions (e.g., leg veins), scars, tattoos, etc., and in procedures for removing tissue in regions of the head and neck. The method of the present invention comprises positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent the target tissue so that one or more electrode terminal(s) are brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the target site in the presence of electrically conductive fluid. High frequency voltage is then applied between the electrode terminal(s) and one or more return electrode(s) and the electrode terminal(s) are translated, reciprocated or otherwise manipulated to cut through a portion of the tissue. The present invention volumetrically removes the tissue along the cutting pathway in a cool ablation process that minimizes thermal damage to surrounding tissue.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for applying electrical energy to a target site on a body structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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providing a return electrode and an electrode terminal electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source;
directing an electrically conductive fluid to the target site along a fluid path;
positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent to the body structure so that the electrode terminal is brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the target site in the presence of the electrically conductive fluid;
positioning the return electrode at the target site so that the return electrode does not contact the body structure;
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the electrode terminal, through the region of the target site, and to the return electrode; and
translating the electrode terminal relative to the body structure to cut through a portion of the body structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
positioning the probe such that the electrode terminals are located on either side of a ligament;
translating the probe along the ligament to remove or cut tissue along either side of the ligament; and
removing the ligament from the patient'"'"'s body.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein the ligament is the patellar ligament.
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11. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrode terminals each have an edge, the method comprising positioning the probe such that the edges of the electrode terminals are substantially parallel with the ligament and translating the probe along the ligament to cut tissue on either side of the ligament.
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12. A method for cutting tissue at a target site comprising:
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providing a return electrode and an electrode terminal electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source;
positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent to the tissue so that the electrode terminal is brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the tissue at the target site;
positioning the return electrode at the target site so that the return electrode does not contact the tissue;
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the electrode terminal, through the region of the target site, and to the return electrode;
translating the electrode terminal along a cutting path such that the tissue is volumetrically removed along the cutting path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
locating electrically conductive fluid between the electrode terminal and the tissue; and
applying sufficient voltage to the electrode terminal in the presence of the electrically conductive fluid to vaporize at least a portion of the fluid between the electrode terminal and the tissue.
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14. The method of claim 13 further comprising accelerating charged particles from the vaporized fluid to the tissue to cause dissociation of the molecular bonds within the tissue.
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15. A method for applying electrical energy to a target site on a body structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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providing a return electrode and a plurality of electrode terminals electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source, wherein the electrode terminals each have an edge, the terminals being positioned such that the edges are linear;
positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent to the body structure so that the electrode terminals are brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the target site in the presence of electrically conductive fluid;
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminals and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the electrode terminals, through the region of the target site, and to the return electrode; and
translating the electrode terminals in the direction of the edges to produce a cutting effect along the body structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for applying electrical energy to a target site on a body structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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providing a return electrode and an electrosurgical probe having at least two spaced electrode terminals electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source positioning the electrosurgical probe such that the electrode terminals are located on either side of a ligament in the presence of electrically conductive fluid;
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminals and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the electrode terminals, through the region of the target site, and to the return electrode;
translating the probe along the ligament to remove or cut tissue along either side of the ligament; and
removing the ligament from the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for applying electrical energy to a target site on a body structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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providing a return electrode and an electrode terminal electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source;
positioning a distal portion of an electrosurgical probe adjacent to the body structure so that the electrode terminal is brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the target site;
immersing the distal portion of the electrosurgical probe in a cavity at least partially filled with the electrically conductive fluid;
positioning the return electrode at the target site so that the return electrode does not contact the body structure;
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the electrode terminal, through the region of the target site, and to the return electrode; and
translating the electrode terminal relative to the body structure to cut through a portion of the body structure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
positioning the probe such that the electrode terminals are located on either side of a ligament;
translating the probe along the ligament to remove or cut tissue along either side of the ligament; and
removing the ligament from the patient'"'"'s body.
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37. The method of claim 36 wherein the ligament is the patellar ligament.
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38. The method of claim 36 wherein the electrode terminals each have an edge, the method comprising positioning the probe such that the edges of the electrode terminals are substantially parallel with the ligament and translating the probe along the ligament to cut tissue on either side of the ligament.
Specification