Medical device having a cooled end effector

• US 6,733,501 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andy Levine
• Original Assignee: Andy Levine
• Inventors: Levine, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US10/289,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/46, 606/48-52, 607/100-102, 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. A medical treatment device comprising:

a heat generating end effector; and

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

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

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

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

5. The 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.

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

7. A method for using a medical treatment device comprising:

providing a medical treatment device having a heat generating end effector and a heat pipe for conducting heat from the end effector;

placing the end effector against a treatment site;

applying power to the end effector to heat the end effector; and

dissipating heat from the end effector through the heat pipe, substantially all heat

conducted from the end effector through the heat pipe being dissipated along the length of the heat pipe.