Inductively heated multi-mode surgical tool

• US 8,372,066 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Domain Surgical, Inc (OmniGuide Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Domain Surgical, Inc (OmniGuide Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Manwaring, Kim, McNally, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US12/647,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 606/47, 606/113, 607/103
• US Class Current: 606/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00141 continuous, e.g. wave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0013 non-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• 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 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 : with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 : with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00958 : for switching between different working modes of the main function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 : Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 : On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

Thermal, electrosurgical and mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using monopolar incising waveforms.

Claims

1. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

an electrosurgical electrode for treating tissue by passing electrical energy through the tissue; and

a thermal surgical element for generating heat and conducting said heat from the thermal element to tissue to thereby treat the tissue, the thermal surgical element comprising;

an elongate conductor for receiving electrical energy; and

a ferromagnetic coating disposed circumferentially about the elongate conductor;

wherein delivering electrical energy to the elongate conductor causes the ferromagnetic coating to heat to a temperature of between about 40 degrees Centigrade and below a Curie temperature of the thermal surgical element;

wherein the elongate conductor of the thermal surgical element is also the electrosurgical electrode; and

wherein the ferromagnetic coating, when heated, is movable between air and liquid without causing fracturing of the ferromagnetic coating.

2. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical electrode is a monopolar electrode.

3. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising a handle, wherein a section of the elongate conductor extends to and from the handle, and wherein the ferromagnetic coating covers less than all of the section of the elongate conductor extending from the handle.

4. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical electrode is configured to operate as a monopolar electrode and wherein the elongate conductor is a wire.

5. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising a single conductive pathway for delivering a multiplexed signal to both the electrosurgical electrode and the thermal surgical element.

6. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 5, wherein the tool further comprises a signal generator for generating a multiplexed signal.

7. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 5, wherein the multiplexed signal further comprises a monopolar signal.

8. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 7, wherein the monopolar signal is between 200 kHz and 2 MHz.

9. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 8, wherein the monopolar signal is between 350 kHz and 800 kHz.

10. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 7, wherein the multiplexed signal further comprises an inductive heating signal.

11. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 10, wherein the inductive heating signal is between 5 MHz and 24 GHz.

12. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 11, wherein the inductive heating signal is between 40 MHz and 928 MHz.

13. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 3, further comprising a catheter, wherein the electrosurgical electrode and the thermal surgical element are disposed upon the catheter.

14. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the catheter is rigid.

15. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the catheter is flexible.

16. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the catheter is configured for aspiration.

17. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the catheter is configured for substance delivery.

18. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the catheter further comprises at least one sensor.

19. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the catheter further comprises means for generating visual feedback.

27. The multimode surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the thermal surgical element is configured to reach a sufficient temperature for self-cleaning when a power source is applied thereto.

28. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to deliver an oscillating current to the thermal surgical element.

29. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 28, further comprising a sensor disposed adjacent the thermal surgical element.

30. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 29, wherein the power source is configured to react to the sensor.

31. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 29, wherein the sensor is configured to measure tissue properties.

32. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 29, wherein the sensor is configured to allow visual observation of tissue.

33. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 28, wherein the power source is configured to measure a temperature indicator of the ferromagnetic coating and adjust an output to maintain a predetermined therapeutic temperature range in tissue.

35. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 31, wherein the sensor is configured to measure transferred heat.

20. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

a tip comprising an electrical conductor forming a physically continuous conductive pathway having an exposed portion that extends to and from the tip;

a ferromagnetic coating covering a first part of the exposed portion of the electrical conductor, the ferromagnetic coating being selected from ferromagnetic coatings which will convert some frequencies of oscillating electrical energy into thermal energy thereby causing the ferromagnetic coating to heat and will pass other frequencies of oscillating electrical energy into tissue;

wherein the heated ferromagnetic coating is moveable between a first environment and a second environment without causing the ferromagnetic coating to fracture even when the first environment and the second environment have a large temperature differential.

21. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 20, further comprising a signal generator for sending a multiplexed signal into the electrical conductor.

22. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 20, wherein the electrical conductor further comprises an electrosurgical electrode.

23. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 22, wherein the electrosurgical electrode is a monopolar electrode.

24. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 20, wherein the ferromagnetic coating is configured to simultaneously disperse thermal energy and oscillating electrical energy into tissue.

34. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 20, further comprising a temperature sensor disposed adjacent the electrical conductor for measuring temperature.

25. A thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tip comprising:

a cable;

a small diameter electrical conductor having a proximal and distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive radiofrequency energy from the cable;

a thin plating of ferromagnetic material disposed circumferentially about the small diameter electrical conductor, wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material is configured with a Curie point sufficiently high to encompass a desired set of therapeutic temperature ranges;

wherein the small diameter electrical conductor further comprises an electrosurgical element configured to receive power from the cable and configured to release radiofrequency energy into nearby tissue; and

wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material, when heated, is movable between air and liquid without causing the thin plating of ferromagnetic material to crack.

26. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 25, wherein the electrosurgical element is a monopolar element.