Vibrating electrosurgical ablator

• US 6,921,398 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrosurgery Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Electrosurgery Associates LLC
• Inventors: Van Wyk, Robert A., Carmel, Yuval, Shkvarunets, Anatoly
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/159,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/46, 606 48- 50, 607/101, 607/102, 607/104, 607/105, 601/2
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00208 actively driven, e.g. by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1213 creating an arc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes

Abstract

A high efficiency electrosurgical ablator which is subjected to a fast and slight oscillatory motion during resection of tissue. The electrosurgical ablator is positioned in the proximity of the tissue to be treated in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is applied to the electrode of the ablator, and the ablator is subjected to a vibratory motion created by, for example, a mechanical or electromechanical oscillator or a piezoelectric element. The vibratory motion permits more tissue to become available in the destructive, sparking zone, thereby increasing the efficiency of operation.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an electrosurgical procedure comprising the steps of:

providing a single active electrode of a monopolar electrosurgical probe;

providing an electrically conductive fluid in the proximity of a tissue to be treated;

positioning said single active electrode in a first region located in the proximity of said tissue to be treated in the presence of said electrically conductive fluid;

applying a high frequency voltage to said single active electrode to generate an electric field and current adjacent said single active electrode;

effecting ablation of at least a portion of said tissue to be treated in said first region; and

imparting a vibratory motion of about 2 to about 5,000 oscillations per second to said single active electrode so as to rapidly and alternately reposition said single active electrode between said first region and a second region located in the proximity of said tissue to be treated in the presence of said electrically conductive fluid, to manage the formation of bubble formation bubbles at said single active electrode to facilitate tissue vaporization in said electrically conductive fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of imparting a vibratory motion to said active electrode includes connecting said active electrode electromechanically to an oscillator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of imparting a vibratory motion to said active electrode includes connecting said active electrode electromechanically to a piezoelectric element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of imparting a vibratory motion to said active electrode includes connecting said active electrode electromechanically to a gear mechanism.

5. A method of reducing the non-sparking time of a mononopolar electrosurgical ablator for use in a monopolar electrosurgical procedure, said method comprising:

providing an electrically conductive fluid in the proximity of a tissue to be treated;

positioning an a single active electrode of said monopolar electrosurgical ablator in a first region of said tissue to be treated in the presence of said electrically conductive fluid;

applying a high frequency voltage to said single active electrode to generate an electric field and current adjacent said first region;

imparting a vibratory motion to said single active electrode so as to rapidly and alternately reposition said single active electrode between said first region and a second region located in the proximity of said tissue to be treated in the presence of said electrically conductive fluid; and

applying a high frequency voltage to said single active electrode to generate an electric field and current adjacent said second region and to manage bubble formation at said single active electrode to facilitate tissue vaporization in said electrically conductive fluid.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of imparting a vibratory motion to said active electrode includes connecting said active electrode to an oscillator.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of imparting a vibratory motion to said active electrode further includes connecting said active electrode to a piezoelectric element.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of imparting a vibratory motion to said active electrode includes connecting said active electrode to a gear mechanism.