Temperature indicating electrosurgical apparatus and methods
First Claim
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1. An electrosurgical device for use with a power supply, comprising:
- a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion;
an electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode disposed near the shaft distal end portion and adapted to be electrically coupled to a first pole of the power supply;
a connector fixedly engaged to the shaft proximal end portion adapted to couple the device to the power supply; and
at least one temperature-indicating element disposed on an exterior of at least one of the electrode assembly and the shaft to be responsive to temperature changes adjacent to the device, wherein the temperature-indicating element undergoes a change in chromatic appearance over a pre-determined temperature range and wherein said at least one temperature-indicating element is a discrete section disposed axially proximal to said at least one active electrode.
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Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for monitoring temperature at a region near a surgical site during a procedure. A temperature-indicating element of an electrosurgical device comprises an indicator composition adapted to undergo a change in appearance in response to a pre-defined temperature range. The change in appearance of the temperature-indicating element indicates to the operator of the device a temperature condition at the working end of the device.
523 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical device for use with a power supply, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion; an electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode disposed near the shaft distal end portion and adapted to be electrically coupled to a first pole of the power supply; a connector fixedly engaged to the shaft proximal end portion adapted to couple the device to the power supply; and at least one temperature-indicating element disposed on an exterior of at least one of the electrode assembly and the shaft to be responsive to temperature changes adjacent to the device, wherein the temperature-indicating element undergoes a change in chromatic appearance over a pre-determined temperature range and wherein said at least one temperature-indicating element is a discrete section disposed axially proximal to said at least one active electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A medical device for use with an energy delivery unit, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion; an energy delivery assembly comprising at least one energy delivery element disposed near the shaft distal end portion, and an energy delivery return element disposed on said shaft distal end portion and spaced from said energy delivery element and adapted to be coupled to the energy delivery unit, said energy delivery element adapted to generate a tissue ablating plasma when a voltage difference is applied to said energy delivery element in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid; a connector fixedly engaged to the shaft proximal end portion and adapted to couple the device to the energy delivery unit; and a first means for providing a visual indication of a particular temperature or range of temperatures in a region adjacent a portion of the shaft and wherein at least a portion of said first means is disposed between said at least one energy delivery element and said return clement. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification