Electrosurgical device with floating-potential electrode and methods of using the same
First Claim
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1. A monopolar electrosurgical probe comprising:
- (a) an elongate shaft having an insulated proximal portion forming a handle and an exposed conductive portion disposed in a distal tip region;
(b) at least one lumen disposed along the length of said shaft, said lumen having a first port disposed at the proximal end of said shaft and a second port disposed at the distal end of said shaft;
(c) at least one active electrode located at or near the distal tip of said shaft, said active electrode connected via cabling disposed within said handle to a power supply;
(d) at least one conductive member disposed at the distal end, wherein said conductive member comprises a floating potential electrode that is not connected to any power supply, said floating potential electrode having a first portion mounted in close proximity to said active electrode and a second portion extended a distance from said active electrode and positioned in a region of low electric potential so as to concentrate the power in the vicinity of the active electrode and increase the energy density in the region surrounding the active electrode; and
(e) a dielectric member disposed between each active electrode and floating potential electrode.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to electrosurgical probes suitable for tissue vaporization and cutting of tissue structures, more particularly for performing electrosurgical cutting, ablation (volumetric tissue vaporization), coagulating and/or modification within a body tissue, cavity or vessel or on the surface of a patient. The system and method of the present invention optionally include structure for irrigation and/or aspiration of the surgical site and therefore may be used in relatively dry environments such as in the context of oral, otolaryngological, laparoscopic, and dermatologic procedures.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A monopolar electrosurgical probe comprising:
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(a) an elongate shaft having an insulated proximal portion forming a handle and an exposed conductive portion disposed in a distal tip region; (b) at least one lumen disposed along the length of said shaft, said lumen having a first port disposed at the proximal end of said shaft and a second port disposed at the distal end of said shaft; (c) at least one active electrode located at or near the distal tip of said shaft, said active electrode connected via cabling disposed within said handle to a power supply; (d) at least one conductive member disposed at the distal end, wherein said conductive member comprises a floating potential electrode that is not connected to any power supply, said floating potential electrode having a first portion mounted in close proximity to said active electrode and a second portion extended a distance from said active electrode and positioned in a region of low electric potential so as to concentrate the power in the vicinity of the active electrode and increase the energy density in the region surrounding the active electrode; and (e) a dielectric member disposed between each active electrode and floating potential electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A monopolar electrosurgical probe comprising:
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(a) an elongate shaft having an insulated proximal portion forming a handle and an exposed conductive portion disposed in a distal tip region; (b) at least one active electrode located at the distal tip of said shaft and connected via cabling disposed within said handle to a power supply, said active electrode having an angled distal surface forming a plurality of parallel ribs separated by grooves; (c) at least one conductive member disposed at the distal end, wherein said conductive member comprises a floating potential electrode comprising an annular ring surrounding said at least one active electrode and not connected to any power source, said annular ring having a plurality of radial slots formed in the distal surface that allow for improved irrigation of the region surrounding the probe distal tip and increase the current density at the floating electrode distal surface, wherein said floating potential electrode further comprises a first portion mounted in close proximity to said active electrode and a second portion extended a distance from said active electrode and positioned in a region of low electric potential so as to concentrate the power in the vicinity of the active electrode and increase the energy density in the region surrounding the active electrode; (d) a dielectric member disposed between each active electrode and floating potential electrode; and (e) at least one irrigation lumen disposed along the length of said shaft configured to supply an irrigant to the distal tip region, said lumen comprising a first irrigation inlet port disposed at the proximal end of said shaft for receiving the irrigant and a second irrigation outlet port disposed at the distal end of said shaft, between said floating and active electrodes, for delivering the irrigant to the distal tip region so as to bathe said active and floating potential electrodes in the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification