Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treatment and removal of tissue
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical probe comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end portion;
a return electrode formed into a coil having a plurality of turns and defining a lumen therethrough, said return electrode supported by said shaft distal end portion and wherein a gap exists between a plurality of the turns of the return electrode coil;
an active electrode disposed through said lumen and projecting distally beyond said coil, said active electrode supported by said shaft distal end portion;
a spacer disposed around said active electrode and supported by said shaft distal end portion, whereby said active electrode is insulated from said return electrode; and
an electrically conductive fluid delivery element adapted to deliver an electrically conductive fluid in the vicinity of said active electrode and between the gaps between turns of the return electrode coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for ablating, severing, cutting, shrinking, coagulating, or otherwise modifying a target tissue to be treated. In a method for treating a target tissue, an active electrode of an electrosurgical probe is positioned in at least close proximity to the target tissue in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode and a return electrode, wherein, the high frequency voltage is sufficient to volumetrically remove (ablate), sever, or modify at least a portion of the target tissue. The probe comprises a multi-lumen shaft having a plurality of internal lumens, and a return electrode coil oriented substantially parallel to the shaft distal end. The active electrode may be in the form of a metal disc, a hook, or an active electrode coil. In the latter embodiment, the active electrode coil is typically arranged substantially orthogonal to the return electrode coil. Methods of making an active electrode coil, a return electrode coil, and an electrosurgical probe are also disclosed.
531 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical probe comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end portion; a return electrode formed into a coil having a plurality of turns and defining a lumen therethrough, said return electrode supported by said shaft distal end portion and wherein a gap exists between a plurality of the turns of the return electrode coil; an active electrode disposed through said lumen and projecting distally beyond said coil, said active electrode supported by said shaft distal end portion; a spacer disposed around said active electrode and supported by said shaft distal end portion, whereby said active electrode is insulated from said return electrode; and an electrically conductive fluid delivery element adapted to deliver an electrically conductive fluid in the vicinity of said active electrode and between the gaps between turns of the return electrode coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electrosurgical probe comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end portion; a return electrode formed into a coil and defining a lumen therethrough, said return electrode supported by said shaft distal end portion; an active electrode disposed through said lumen and projecting distally beyond said coil, said active electrode supported by said shaft distal end portion; a spacer disposed around said active electrode and supported by said shaft distal end portion, whereby said active electrode is insulated from said return electrode; an electrically conductive fluid delivery element adapted to deliver an electrically conductive fluid in the vicinity of said active electrode; and wherein the return electrode coil is wound in a proximal direction from a length of wire having a distal terminus, and the wire distal terminus is arranged within the return electrode coil lumen.
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Specification