Devices for electrosurgery

• US 7,354,438 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Map Technologies LLC (MIN AIK Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Morgan, Roy E., Auge, Wayne K. II, Prakash, N. Mani
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US11/147,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/41, 606/45, 606/49
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/06 caused by chemical reaction , e.g. moxaburners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1213 creating an arc

Abstract

Devices for electrosurgery by means of oxy-hydro combustion. Deleterious effects to tissue are minimized by means of control of acid-base shift reactions, which reactions can further be employed to control oxy-hydro combustion reactions. In one embodiment, radiofrequency energy in electrical connection with electrodes is employed to induce electrolysis in an aqueous salt environment, thereby producing oxygen and hydrogen, with the same energy source employed to initiate a combustion reaction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrosurgery, comprising:

an active electrode;

a return electrode in electrical communication with the active electrode;

an electric current power supply in electrical connection with the active electrode and return electrode, the power supply generating less power than that required to induce plasma ionization;

a shielding component to affect an acid-base throttle effect of oxygen and hydrogen reactions, the shielding component and the active electrode in a variable, moveable relation to each other; and

said active electrode for positioning in close proximity to a source of hydrogen and oxygen to cause combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said electric current power supply comprising a radiofrequency power supply.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said active electrode and power supply induce electrolysis of a portion of the source of hydrogen and oxygen.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said active electrode and power supply initiate a hydrogen and oxygen combustion reaction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source of hydrogen and oxygen comprises an aqueous salt ion solution.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

first and second gas delivery channels disposed within an elongated housing having a proximal and distal end;

first and second gas connectors at the proximal end for connecting the first and second gas delivery channels to a first and second gas source; and

a gas mixing plenum chamber with an inlet and an outlet at the distal end of the elongated housing, the first and second gas delivery channels being in fluid connection with the inlet; and

said active electrode proximal to the gas mixing plenum chamber outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the active electrode and the return electrode are in fixed relation to each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a current between the active electrode and the return electrode is of equal current density.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a current between the active electrode and the return electrode is of unequal current densities.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the active electrode and the return electrode are in a variable, movable relation to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the active electrode is a source of hydrogen.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, said active electrode comprising an alloy that induces release of hydrogen.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an elongated lumen having proximal and distal ends, said active electrode adjustably positionable within and along the long axis of the lumen.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shielding component is a translatable, movable shielding component.

15. An apparatus for electrosurgery, comprising:

an active electrode;

a return electrode in electrical communication with the active electrode, the active electrode and the return electrode in a variable, movable relation to each other;

an electric current power supply in electrical connection with the active electrode and return electrode, the power supply generating less power than that required to induce plasma ionization;

a shielding component to affect an acid-base throttle effect of oxygen and hydrogen reactions; and

said active electrode for positioning in close proximity to a source of hydrogen and oxygen to cause combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

16. An apparatus for electrosurgery, comprising:

an active electrode;

a return electrode in electrical communication with the active electrode;

an electric current power supply in electrical connection with the active electrode and return electrode, the power supply generating less power than that required to induce plasma ionization;

a shielding component to affect an acid-base throttle effect of oxygen and hydrogen reactions;

said active electrode for positioning in close proximity to a source of hydrogen and oxygen to cause combustion of hydrogen and oxygen; and

an elongated lumen having proximal and distal ends, the active electrode adjustably positionable within, and along, a long axis of the lumen.