Fuse-electrode electrosurgical apparatus
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure on a target site, comprising an active electrode assembly electrically connected to a high frequency voltage source, the active electrode assembly including a fuse leg and one or more anchor legs, wherein said fuse leg is electrically connected to the high frequency voltage source and is smaller than the one or more anchor legs, said fuse leg configured, sized, and located such that use of the apparatus causes said fuse leg to break prior to the one or more anchor legs and upon expiration of a predetermined amount of use of said apparatus, thereby disabling said apparatus.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure on a target site, comprising a shaft having a distal end portion, the distal end portion comprising an active electrode including a fuse leg, the fuse leg adapted to break and disable the instrument upon applying a voltage differential between the active electrode and a return electrode for a predetermined amount of time. In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of performing an electrosurgical procedure on a target tissue, comprising: placing an electrosurgical instrument in close proximity to the target tissue, the electrosurgical instrument comprising an active electrode having a pre-selected portion adapted to break and disable the instrument upon applying a voltage differential thereto for a working time; and applying the voltage differential.
680 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. An electrosurgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure on a target site, comprising an active electrode assembly electrically connected to a high frequency voltage source, the active electrode assembly including a fuse leg and one or more anchor legs, wherein said fuse leg is electrically connected to the high frequency voltage source and is smaller than the one or more anchor legs, said fuse leg configured, sized, and located such that use of the apparatus causes said fuse leg to break prior to the one or more anchor legs and upon expiration of a predetermined amount of use of said apparatus, thereby disabling said apparatus.
-
17. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end portion, said distal end portion comprising an active electrode electrically connected to a high frequency voltage source, the active electrode including a fuse leg and one or more anchor legs, wherein said fuse leg is electrically connected to the high frequency voltage source and is smaller than the one or more anchor legs, said fuse leg configured, sized, and located to break prior to the one or more anchor legs and upon applying a voltage differential between said active electrode and a return electrode for a predetermined amount of time, thereby disabling said instrument.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
Specification