Electrosurgical mode conversion system

• US 7,175,621 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Surginetics, LLC
• Inventors: Heim, Warren P., Brassell, James L., Olichney, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/723,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 34, 606/41, 606 48- 50
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00119 with metal oxide nitride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage

Abstract

A surgical system that applies electrical energy to obtain predetermined surgical effects while improving the control of the application of the energy that is supplied by electrosurgical generators. In one embodiment, a surgical assembly interfaces with and receives power from an electrosurgical generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure. This surgical assembly may employ a shunt circuit between its power and return lines for providing in effect a voltage limitation and/or to allow a constant power electrosurgical generator to execute an at least substantially constant voltage electrosurgical technique. The electrosurgical assembly may also include a return coupler for directing energy from the patient back to the electrosurgical generator, which in turn may include a dielectric material which interfaces with the patient and which at least initially conveys the return energy via one or more electric fields versus conduction.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical assembly which interfaces with a generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure and which comprises:

an output assembly which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator;

an active electrosurgical element which is operatively interconnected with said output assembly and which interacts with a first portion of a patient during said first electrosurgical procedure;

a return path element which interacts with a second portion of said patient during said first electrosurgical procedure and which is mechanically interconnected with said active electrosurgical element to define a bipolar configuration, wherein said first and second portions are different, and wherein said return path element comprises a first dielectric component which interfaces with said patient; and

a return assembly which is operatively interconnected with said return path element and further which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator,

wherein said return path element further comprises a first return conductor which interfaces with said first dielectric component in such a manner that energy is returned to said generator first through said first dielectric component and then to said first return conductor,

wherein said first dielectric component is defined by a first tube,

wherein said first return conductor is defined by a second tube, and

wherein said first and second tubes are disposed in end-to-end relation.

2. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said generator comprises an outlet connector and a return connector, said output assembly comprises an output plug which is detachably interconnectable with said output connector and an output line which is disposed between said output plug and said active electrosurgical element, and said return assembly comprises a return plug which is detachably interconnectable with said return connector and a return line which is disposed between said return plug and said return path element.

3. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said active electrosurgical element comprises at least one active electrode, wherein each said electrode has at least one patient interface surface, and wherein each said patient interface surface is selected from the group consisting of a curved surface and a flat surface.

4. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said active electrosurgical element is selected from the group consisting of one or more blades, hooks, balls, spatulas, loops, pins, wireforms, tubes, and tubes with fluid passageways.

5. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a first material having a dielectric product greater than about 2,000, wherein said dielectric product is a dielectric constant of said first material, multiplied by a dielectric strength of said first material.

6. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said first material is selected from the group consisting of alumina, diamond, boron nitride, polyimide, polyester, parylene, barium titanate, titanium dioxide, Teflon, and polycarbonate.

7. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a first material having a dielectric product greater than about 4,000, wherein said dielectric product is a dielectric constant of said first material, multiplied by a dielectric strength of said first material.

8. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a first material having a dielectric product greater than about 8,000, wherein said dielectric product is a dielectric constant of said first material, multiplied by a dielectric strength of said first material.

9. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a first material having a dielectric constant greater than about 10.

10. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first material is selected from the group consisting of ceramics, alumina, titanium dioxide, barium nitrate, and any combination thereof.

11. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a first material having a dielectric constant greater than about 20.

12. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a first material having a dielectric constant greater than about 50.

13. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises a mixture of first and second materials.

14. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an impedance of said return path element is less than about 800 ohms.

15. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an impedance of said return path element is less than about 500 ohms.

16. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an impedance of said return path element is less than about 300 ohms.

17. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an impedance of said return path element is less than about 200 ohms.

18. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said return path element further comprises a first return conductor which interfaces with said first dielectric component in such a manner that energy is returned to said generator first through said first dielectric component and then to said first return conductor, and wherein a wall thickness of said first dielectric component is less than about 0.025 inches.

19. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said return path element further comprises a first return conductor which interfaces with said first dielectric component in such a manner that energy is returned to said generator first through said first dielectric component and then to said first return conductor, and wherein a wall thickness of said first dielectric component is no more than about 0.010 inches.

20. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said return path element further comprises a first return conductor which interfaces with said first dielectric component in such a manner that energy is returned to said generator first through said first dielectric component and then to said first return conductor, and wherein a wall thickness of said first dielectric component is no more than about 0.005 inches.

21. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component withstands voltages exceeding 1,000 volts peak to peak.

22. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component withstands voltages exceeding 2,000 volts peak to peak.

23. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component withstands voltages exceeding 5,000 volts peak to peak.

24. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said return path element comprises a capacitor.

25. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an inductor disposed in series with said return path element.

26. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for offsetting an impedance of said return path element.

27. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for allowing energy transfer from said patient to said electrosurgical generator by electric fields, wherein said means for allowing comprises said return path element.

28. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second portion of said patient is selected from the group consisting of body tissue and at least one conductive liquid.

29. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said electrosurgical assembly comprises a probe, wherein said probe comprises first and second longitudinal segments, wherein said active electrosurgical element is disposed within said first longitudinal segment and said return path element is disposed within said second longitudinal segment, wherein said active electrosurgical element is electrically isolated from said return path element, and wherein said first dielectric component defines a perimeter of said probe along said second longitudinal segment.

30. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a configuration of said electrosurgical assembly allows said first electrosurgical procedure to be selected from the group consisting of cutting, coagulation, desiccation, fulguration, ablation, and tissue shrinkage.

31. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a shunt circuit between said output and return assemblies.

32. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first dielectric component comprises at least about 50 wt % barium titanate.

33. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first tube has a wall thickness of no more than about 0.25 inches and a surface area which is within a range of about 0.007 in.sup.2 to about 1 in.sup.2.

34. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first tube has a minimum wall thickness that is at least about 0.0005 inch.