Pen-type electrosurgical instrument

• US 7,166,105 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoey, Michael F., Mulier, Peter M. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US11/230,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1417 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

An electrocautery device is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the electrocautery electrode/tip is provided with a hollow, conductive tube terminating at its distal end in a ball point type tip. Fluid, preferably conductive fluid, is applied to the proximal end of the hollow electrode/tip, and expelled from the distal end thereof during electrocautery. The ball point distal tip allows the distal tip to be directly applied to the tissue and “rolled” or slid along the tissue. This allows the distal tip to be moved across the tissue without dragging or snagging on the tissue. In addition, the conductive fluid expelled from the distal tip further lubricates the distal tip as it moves across the tissue. If conductive fluid is used, the conductive fluid emanating from the electrode/tip conducts the RF electrocautery energy away from the distal tip so that it is primarily the fluid, rather than the distal tip that actually accomplishes the cauterizing of tissue. That is, the fluid serves as a “virtual” electrocautery electrode. Since it is the fluid, rather than the distal tip that cauterizes, coagulates and ablates, no burns or perforations are made to the tissue, reducing the amount of debris at the site. Also, the flow of fluid through the electrode/tip tends to keep the distal tip clean and cool.

Claims

1. A pen-type electrosurgical instrument to simultaneously provide radio-frequency energy and a fluid to treat tissue during surgery, the instrument comprising:

a handle;

a tube distal to the handle, the tube having a distal end;

an electrode tip retained by the tube, at least a portion of the electrode tip distal to the distal end of the tube, the portion of the electrode tip distal to the distal end of the tube comprising a spherical surface;

a lumen connectable to a source of fluid;

at least one fluid exit in fluid communication with the lumen, the fluid exit adjacent the electrode tip; and

a terminal in electrical communication with the electrode tip, the terminal connectable to a source of radio-frequency energy.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the fluid exit is at the distal end of the tube.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the fluid exit is between the electrode tip and the tube.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the fluid exit is defined by a surface portion of the electrode tip.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the fluid exit is defined by a surface portion of the tube.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the fluid exit is adjacent to the spherical surface.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the spherical surface of the electrode tip is provided by a surface portion of a ball.

8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the ball has a diameter in the range of about 1 mm to 5 mm.

9. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the spherical surface has a radius in the range of about 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip comprises a ball.

11. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip comprises a metal.

12. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip comprises an electrically conductive material.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip comprises stainless steel.

14. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip is porous.

15. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip is non-porous.

16. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip is configured to roll along a tissue surface.

17. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip is configured to slide along a tissue surface.

18. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrode tip is in the tube.

19. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electrode tip is enclosed by the tube.

20. The instrument of claim 1, wherein at least a distal portion of the tube is electrically conductive.

21. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises metal.

22. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises stainless steel.

23. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tube is hollow.

24. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tube is cylindrical.

25. The instrument of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tube is electrically insulated.

26. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises an electrically insulative material.

27. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the lumen is at least in a portion of the tube proximal to the distal end of the tube.

28. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to facilitate a user holding the instrument like a pen.

29. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to facilitate a user manipulating the instrument like a pen.

30. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the tube is configured to manipulate the electrode tip like a pen tip in response to a manipulation of the handle.

31. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle and the tube are configured to facilitate a user manipulating the electrode tip like a pen tip.

32. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a portion of the lumen is provided by the tube.

33. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the lumen is connectable to the source of fluid with a fluid input line.

34. The instrument of claim 1, wherein:

a portion of the lumen is provided by a fluid input line; and

electrical communication between the terminal and the electrode tip is provided by a wire.

35. The instrument of claim 34, wherein a portion of the fluid input line and a portion of the wire are contained in the handle.