High efficiency electrosurgical ablator with electrode subjected to oscillatory or other repetitive motion

• US 7,166,103 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated, Electrosurgery Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Electrosurgery Associates LLC
• Inventors: Van Wyk, Robert A., Carmel, Yuval, Shkvarunets, Anatoly
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US10/211,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606 45- 50, 606/170, 606/171, 606/180, 607/101, 607/104, 607/105, 604/22, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

A high efficiency electrosurgical ablator which is subjected to a combined oscillatory and mechanical debridement motion during resection of tissue is disclosed. 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 electrode is subjected to an oscillatory or other repetitive motion created by an element located within the ablator assembly. The ablator electrode is further connected to a suction assembly that supplies suction from an external source.

Claims

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

positioning an active electrode of an electrosurgical probe in the proximity of a tissue to be treated in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, said active electrode being substantially covered by an insulator and having a plurality of ribs individually protruding through and surrounded by said insulator, such that the electrode is exposed to said electrically conductive fluid only at an end portion of each of the ribs;

applying a high frequency voltage to said active electrode and simultaneously imparting a repetitive motion having an amplitude of about 0.5 to about 5 millimeters to said active electrode to manage the formation of bubbles at said electrode to minimize unproductive non-sparking time by removing spent bubbles from said active electrode;

manually activating a suction assembly for supplying adjustable suction from an external source, said suction being applied without automatic interruption through a passage in said probe, said passage terminating at the tip of said probe at a location spaced away from said active electrode; and

effecting ablation of at least a portion of said tissue to be treated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said repetitive motion comprises an oscillatory motion.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of imparting a mechanical debridement motion to said active electrode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said suction is manually adjusted by manually controlling the opening or closing of said passage of said suction assembly, said passage allowing flow of debris from said tissue to be removed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said oscillatory motion is characterized by an amplitude of about 1 to about 3 millimeters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of activating said suction assembly aspirates debris from ablated tissue through said passage separate from said active electrode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrosurgical probe is a monopolar probe.