Electrosurgical instrument with vibration
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument providing ultrasonic energy, comprising:
- (a) a housing having a device for generating ultrasonic energy, (b) a handpiece for holding an electrosurgical electrode, said handpiece being mounted to the housing, (c) means for supplying electrosurgical currents to the handpiece and via the handpiece to the electrode, (d) means for activating the device for generating ultrasonic energy such that ultrasonic energy is imparted to the electrode while electrosurgical currents can be applied to the electrode, wherein, the device for generating ultrasonic energy comprises an unbalanced motor mounted in the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination electrosurgical instrument and vibratory device provides simultaneous transmission of radiofrequency energy and vibratory ultrasonic energy via a simple efficient handpiece attachment enabling a surgeon to modulate all types of tissues with different degrees of effectiveness. The combination of the invention enhances the proven effectiveness of both radiofrequency and ultrasonic technology. In a preferred embodiment, a small unbalanced motor that vibrates when activated is used to cause an electrosurgical handpiece containing the electrosurgical electrode to vibrate as a whole and to transmit to the electrode ultrasonic energy. The invention is of especial value when applied to skin resurfacing, but will also be of value for tissue modulation, coagulation, hemostasis and other electrosurgical procedures.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical instrument providing ultrasonic energy, comprising:
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(a) a housing having a device for generating ultrasonic energy, (b) a handpiece for holding an electrosurgical electrode, said handpiece being mounted to the housing, (c) means for supplying electrosurgical currents to the handpiece and via the handpiece to the electrode, (d) means for activating the device for generating ultrasonic energy such that ultrasonic energy is imparted to the electrode while electrosurgical currents can be applied to the electrode, wherein, the device for generating ultrasonic energy comprises an unbalanced motor mounted in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An electrosurgical instrument providing ultrasonic energy, comprising:
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(a) a housing having a device for generating ultrasonic energy, (b) a handpiece for holding an electrosurgical electrode, said handpiece being mounted to the housing, (c) means for supplying electrosurgical currents to the handpiece and via the handpiece to the electrode, (d) means for activating the device for generating ultrasonic energy such that ultrasonic energy is imparted to the electrode while electrosurgical currents can be applied to the electrode, wherein the device for generating ultrasonic energy is a DC vibrating motor. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. In combination:
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(a) a handpiece having means at one end for connection to electrosurgical apparatus capable of supplying high frequency RF currents and having at its opposite end means for mounting the electrically-conductive shaft of an electrosurgical electrode and for supplying the high frequency currents to said electrode;
(b) means for generating ultrasonic energy such that ultrasonic energy is imparted to the electrode while electrosurgical currents can be applied to the electrode. (c) wherein the means for generating ultrasonic energy comprises a fractional-horsepower DC unbalanced motor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical procedure for a patient, comprising the steps:
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(a) providing electrosurgical apparatus connected to a handpiece holding an electrosurgical electrode, (b) providing a source of ultrasonic energy that can be imparted to the electrosurgical electrode, wherein the source of ultrasonic energy comprises a fractional-horsepower unbalanced motor rotating at a speed that will impart ultrasonic vibrations to the handpiece, (c) applying the electrosurgical electrode to a surgical site of patient while activating the electrosurgical apparatus and the source of ultrasonic energy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification