Electrosurgical instrument and system
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical system including:
- an electrosurgical instrument, andan electrosurgical generator,the electrosurgical instrument including;
at least first, second and third electrodes, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween,the first electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute an active electrode,the second electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a first return electrode, andthe third electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a second return electrode,the electrosurgical generator including;
a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform,first, second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument,a switch, anda controller, the controller being such that;
when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections, and thereby the first and second electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the second electrode is the return electrode, andwhen a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections, and thereby, the first and third electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the third electrode is the return electrode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the instrument having a longitudinal axis and including at least first, second and third electrodes. The electrodes are spaced from each other by one or more insulating members therebetween, the spacing between the first and third electrodes being greater than that between the first and second electrodes. The electrosurgical generator includes a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform and has first second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument. The generator further includes a switching means, and a controller, the controller being such that when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and hence the first and second electrodes. When a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and hence the first and third electrodes.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical system including:
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an electrosurgical instrument, and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including; at least first, second and third electrodes, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween, the first electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute an active electrode, the second electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a first return electrode, and the third electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a second return electrode, the electrosurgical generator including; a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform, first, second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument, a switch, and a controller, the controller being such that; when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections, and thereby the first and second electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the second electrode is the return electrode, and when a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections, and thereby, the first and third electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the third electrode is the return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrosurgical system including;
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an electrosurgical instrument, and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including at least first, second and third electrodes, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween, the first electrode having a characteristic such that during operation of the electrosurgical instrument the first electrode acts as an active electrode, the third electrode having a characteristic such that during operation of the electrosurgical instrument the third electrode acts as a return electrode, and the second electrode having a characteristic such that during operation of the electrosurgical instrument the second electrode can act as either an active electrode or a return electrode, the electrosurgical generator including; a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform, first, second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes, respectively, of the electrosurgical instrument, a switch, and a controller, the controller being such that; in one mode of operation of the generator, when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections, and thereby, the first and second electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode and the second electrode is the return electrode, and in another mode of ration of the generator, when a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switch directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and between the second and third output connections, and thereby, between the first and third electrodes and between the second and third electrodes, such that the first electrode is the active electrode, the second electrode is an additional active electrode and the third electrode is the return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification