Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods

• US 7,976,544 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Salient Surgical Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Oyola, Arnold E., Lipson, David, Flanagan, David J., McClurken, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOOD, SAMANTHA M
• Application Number:
  US10/517,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,980 Days
• Field of Search: 606 51- 52
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00035 with return means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• 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 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00809 : measured thermochromatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1417 : Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1422 : Hook
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/035 : preventing further rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation

Abstract

Surgical devices, systems and methods for treating tissue are provided. An exemplary surgical device comprises a tip portion including first and second jaws each having a tissue grasping surface, at least one of the jaws being movable toward the other jaw. The tissue grasping surface of each jaw has includes an electrically insulative surface. The device also includes first and second electrodes connectable to different terminals of an RF generator to generate electrical current flow therebetween, with each of the electrodes having an electrode surface. One of the electrode surfaces is located on one of the jaws separated from one edge of the tissue grasping surface, and the other of the electrode surfaces is located on one or the other of the jaws separated from the other edge of the tissue grasping surface. The device also includes at least one fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source.

Claims

1. A fluid-assisted tissue grasping device comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being movable toward the other jaw;

the first jaw having a first jaw tissue grasping surface and the second jaw having a second jaw tissue grasping surface, the tissue grasping surface of each jaw directly opposing each other and comprising an electrically insulative surface;

a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes configured to have opposite polarity when electrically coupled to a radio frequency power source and positioned for an electrical current from the first and second electrodes to flow in tissue grasped between the tissue grasping surfaces substantially parallel to the tissue grasping surfaces and across a width of the tissue grasping surfaces,

the first jaw tissue grasping surface and the second jaw tissue grasping surface being medial to the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first electrode and second electrode being laterally outside the first jaw tissue grasping surface and the second jaw tissue grasping surface so that the first electrode is separated from the tissue grasping surfaces by a first gap for fluid and the second electrode is separated from the tissue grasping surfaces by a second gap for fluid;

at least one fluid delivery passage; and

at least one fluid outlet to receive fluid from the fluid delivery passage and to deliver the fluid to the first and second gaps.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet further comprises a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

at least one of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet is used to provide a fluid onto the first electrode or the second electrode, respectively.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein:

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

5. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the first jaw tissue grasping surface has a first edge opposite a second edge; and

at least one of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet is used to provide a fluid between the first electrode and the first edge of the first jaw tissue grasping surface or between the second electrode and the second edge of the first jaw tissue grasping surface, respectively.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the first jaw has a first side portion opposite a second side portion;

the first electrode being on the first side portion of the first jaw;

the second electrode being on the second side portion of the first jaw;

the first fluid outlet is on the same side portion of the first jaw as the first electrode; and

the second fluid outlet is on the same side portion of the first jaw as the second electrode.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein:

the at least one fluid delivery passage comprises a first fluid delivery passage and a second fluid delivery passage;

the first fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first fluid delivery passage; and

the second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid delivery passage.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein:

at least a portion of one of the first fluid delivery passage and the second fluid delivery passage is defined by the first electrode or the second electrode, respectively.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a hollow structure.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the tissue grasping surface of at least one jaw comprises a hydrophobic surface.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the tissue grasping surface of at least one jaw has one or more serrations.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first jaw comprises a first jaw support structure beneath the first jaw tissue grasping surface, the first jaw support structure having a first side portion opposite a second side portion;

the first electrode being along the first side portion of the first jaw support structure; and

the second electrode being along the second side portion of the first jaw support structure.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein:

at least one jaw comprises a support structure beneath the tissue grasping surface; and

the support structure provides a heat sink for transferring heat away from the tissue grasping surface.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one stand-off overlying at least a portion of one of the first electrode and the second electrode, the stand-off to inhibit tissue from physically contacting the electrode.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a tissue treatment indicator which provides an output related to the level of treatment of tissue.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a cutting mechanism.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second gaps is configured to receive a portion of a fluid expelled from the fluid outlet therein.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second gaps is configured to provide a fluid flow channel for the fluid along a length of the tissue grasping surfaces.