Cooled, non-sticking electrosurgical devices

• US 6,503,248 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Seedling Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Levine, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/702,006
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/46, 606/48-52, 607/105
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar

Abstract

An electrosurgical device has an electrode and a heat pipe to conduct heat from the electrodes where substantially all heat conducted from the electrode through the heat pipe is dissipated along the length of the heat pipe. The heat pipe can have a thermal time constant less than 60 seconds and preferably less than 30 seconds.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device comprising:

an electrode; and

a heat pipe for conducting heat from the electrode, substantially all heat conducted from the electrode through the heat pipe being dissipated along the length of the heat pipe.

2. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises an outer surface having a nickel plated layer.

3. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises an outer surface having a gold plated layer.

4. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe comprises a sheath.

5. The electrosurgical device of claim 4 wherein the sheath comprises heat shrink tubing.

6. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe has a thermal time constant less than 60 seconds.

7. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe has a thermal time constant less than 30 seconds.

8. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe comprises a surface area between approximately 11.0 cm² and 15.0 cm².

9. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe comprises a diameter of about 3 mm and a length between approximately 9 cm and 11.5 cm.

10. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the heat pipe extends from a handle.

11. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 in a bipolar instrument.

12. A method for using an electrosurgical device comprising:

providing an electrosurgical device having an electrode and a heat pipe for conducting heat from the electrode;

placing the electrode against a surgical site;

applying electrical power to the electrode to heat the surgical site; and

dissipating heat from the electrode through the heat pipe, substantially all heat conducted from the electrode through the heat pipe being dissipated along the length of the heat pipe.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising cauterizing a surgical site.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising cutting a surgical site.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising coagulating a surgical site.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising supplying the electrical energy through bipolar electrodes.