Internally located return electrode electrosurgical apparatus, system and method
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
an active electrode disposed on a surface of the distal end portion of the shaft;
a return electrode disposed within the distal end portion of the shaft;
wherein the shaft comprises a conductive cap disposed at a distal end of the shaft and in electrical communication with the return electrode and wherein the cap is spaced sufficiently from the active electrode to minimize generation of an electric arc between the active electrode and the cap;
wherein the shaft comprises an insulating member positioned on the distal end portion of the shaft and preventing direct electrical contact between the active and return electrodes; and
electrical conductors adapted for applying a radio-frequency voltage difference across the active and return electrodes,wherein the active electrode and return electrode define an interconnecting passageway within the distal end portion of the shaft such that the interconnecting passageway is between the active electrode and the return electrode, the interconnecting passageway allowing for electrical communication therein between the active electrode and the return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, and so that upon application of the radio-frequency voltage difference across the active and return electrodes electric fields generated between the active and return electrodes are mostly contained within the shaft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bipolar, plasma-generating electrosurgical apparatus and system wherein the return electrode is enclosed within an electrosurgical shaft, and the active electrode is located on the outside surface of the shaft such that in treating the tissue, the tissue is exposed to plasma generated on the active electrode, but is minimally exposed to electric fields generated between the active and return electrodes. Due to the configuration of the electrodes, electric fields generated between the electrodes are directed away from the target tissue and inwardly towards the return electrode within the shaft, thereby electrical stimulation of neuromuscular structures in the tissue by the electric fields is minimized.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; an active electrode disposed on a surface of the distal end portion of the shaft; a return electrode disposed within the distal end portion of the shaft; wherein the shaft comprises a conductive cap disposed at a distal end of the shaft and in electrical communication with the return electrode and wherein the cap is spaced sufficiently from the active electrode to minimize generation of an electric arc between the active electrode and the cap; wherein the shaft comprises an insulating member positioned on the distal end portion of the shaft and preventing direct electrical contact between the active and return electrodes; and electrical conductors adapted for applying a radio-frequency voltage difference across the active and return electrodes, wherein the active electrode and return electrode define an interconnecting passageway within the distal end portion of the shaft such that the interconnecting passageway is between the active electrode and the return electrode, the interconnecting passageway allowing for electrical communication therein between the active electrode and the return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, and so that upon application of the radio-frequency voltage difference across the active and return electrodes electric fields generated between the active and return electrodes are mostly contained within the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
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10. An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; an active electrode disposed on a surface of the distal end portion of the shaft; a return electrode disposed within the distal end portion of the shaft; wherein the shaft comprises an insulating member positioned on the distal end portion of the shaft and preventing direct electrical contact between the active and return electrodes; and electrical conductors adapted for applying a radio-frequency voltage difference across the active and return electrodes, wherein the active electrode and return electrode define an interconnecting passageway within the distal end portion of the shaft; wherein the shaft comprises a conductive cap disposed at a distal end of the shaft and exposed on an outer surface of the shaft, wherein the return electrode is electrically connected to the conductive cap, wherein the cap is spaced sufficiently from the active electrode to minimize generation of an electric arc between the active electrode and the cap.
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13. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue within a body, comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; an active electrode comprising a tissue-contacting surface on the distal end portion of the shaft; a return electrode recessed within the distal end portion of the shaft; wherein the tissue-contacting surface and the return electrode define an interconnecting passageway within the distal end portion of the shaft such that the interconnecting passageway is between the tissue-contacting surface and the return electrode, the interconnecting passageway allowing for electrical communication therein between the tissue-contacting surface and the return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid; and wherein the shaft comprises an insulator separating the active and return electrodes, wherein the tissue-contacting surface is adapted for generating plasma upon application of a radio frequency voltage across the active and return electrode in the presence of an electrically conducting fluid, and wherein upon application of the radio-frequency voltage across the active and return electrodes electric fields generated between the active and return electrodes are mostly contained within the shaft; and wherein the shaft comprises a return electrode cap disposed at a distal end of the shaft and exposed on an outer surface of the shaft, wherein the return electrode is electrically connected to the return electrode cap at a location sufficiently spaced from the tissue-contacting surface to prevent an electrical circuit between the active electrode and the return electrode cap. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for performing an electrosurgical procedure on a body tissue using plasma, the system comprising:
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an electrosurgical instrument comprising a shaft; an electrically conductive fluid supply having a discharge port on a distal end portion of the shaft; and a radio-frequency voltage supply connected to the electrosurgical instrument, wherein the instrument further comprises; an active electrode on the distal end portion; a return electrode recessed within the shaft; wherein the shaft comprises an electrical insulator separating the active and return electrode; wherein the shaft comprises a conductive cap exposed on a distal end of the shaft, the cap electrically connected to the return electrode and sufficiently spaced from the active electrode to minimize generation of an electric arc between the active electrode and the cap; and a chamber in communication with the active and return electrodes within the shaft, wherein the chamber is defined between the active electrode and the return electrode, and wherein on applying the radio-frequency voltage supply to the active and return electrodes in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, plasma is generated on the active electrode, and electric fields generated between the active and return electrodes are mostly contained within the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue within a body, comprising:
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an elongate shaft, the shaft comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; an active electrode disposed on the distal end portion of the shaft; a return electrode disposed within the distal end portion of the shaft; wherein the shaft comprises an insulating member disposed on the distal end portion of the shaft and separating the active electrode and the return electrode; wherein the shaft comprises a return electrode cap exposed on a distal end of the shaft at a location sufficiently spaced from the active electrode to prevent an electrical circuit between the active electrode and the return electrode cap, wherein the cap is electrically connected to the return electrode; and an interconnecting passageway disposed within the distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the interconnecting passageway is formed between the active electrode and the return electrode and allows for electrical communication therein between the active electrode and the return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, and so that upon application of a radio-frequency voltage difference across the active electrode and the return electrode electric fields generated between the active electrode and the return electrode are mostly contained within the distal end portion of the shaft.
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Specification