Fluid-assisted medical device

• US 7,651,494 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Salient Surgical Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Luzzi, Robert, McClurken, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy D
• Application Number:
  US10/354,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,554 Days
• Field of Search: 606/40, 606/42, 606/41, 606/46, 606 45- 52
• US Class Current: 606/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes

Abstract

The invention provides a medical device that includes a housing, a tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing, a first arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a first electrode, a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm, at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, and a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings. According to the invention, at least one of the first arm or the second arm is translationally moveable, and at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy. The invention also provides a corresponding method for treating blood vessels or other tissues of the body.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical device to treat tissue by moving along a tissue surface in a presence of radio frequency energy and a fluid provided simultaneously from the device, the device comprising:

an end effector comprising a first stationary electrode tip and a second stationary electrode tip which are not movable relative to one another;

the first electrode tip comprising a spherical tissue treating surface;

the second electrode tip comprising a spherical tissue treating surface;

at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the first electrode tip;

at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the second electrode tip;

a first fluid delivery lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the first electrode tip; and

a second fluid delivery lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the second electrode tip.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are parallel.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are in a side-by-side arrangement.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a cutting mechanism.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

the cutting mechanism comprises a sharp edge.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are of substantially a same size.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip are of substantially a same shape.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode tip comprises an exposed surface area for treating tissue;

the second electrode tip comprises an exposed surface area for treating tissue; and

the first electrode tip exposed surface area and the second electrode tip exposed surface area are of substantially a same size.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one first fluid exit is located proximal to the spherical tissue treating surface of the first electrode tip; and

the at least one second fluid exit is located proximal to the spherical tissue treating surface of the second electrode tip.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the at least one first and second fluid exits is at least partially defined by the first and second electrode tips, respectively.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the first electrode tip further comprises a plurality of fluid exits to provide fluid to the first electrode tip; and

the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the second electrode tip further comprises a plurality of fluid exits to provide fluid to the second electrode tip.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a proximal fluid delivery lumen in fluid communication with the first fluid delivery lumen and the second fluid delivery lumen.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprises:

the first fluid delivery lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the first electrode tip passing through a first arm; and

the second fluid delivery lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the second electrode tip passing though a second arm.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the end effector comprises a noncoaptive end effector to treat the tissue other than by grasping the tissue.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the fluid comprises an electrically conductive fluid.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the first electrode tip has a diameter less than a diameter of the first fluid delivery lumen, and

the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the second electrode tip has a diameter less than a diameter of the second fluid delivery lumen.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the first electrode tip has a smaller opening area than an opening area of the first fluid delivery lumen, and

the at least one fluid exit to provide fluid to the second electrode tip has a smaller opening area than an opening area of the second fluid delivery lumen.