Adjustable ferromagnetic coated conductor thermal surgical tool
First Claim
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1. A method for treating tissue, the method comprising:
- selecting a surgical tool, the surgical tool having a thermal element formed by a conductor which passes an oscillating electrical signal from one end of the conductor to an opposing end of the conductor to thereby return the oscillating electrical signal to a power source, the conductor having a ferromagnetic coating disposed on a portion thereof to form a ferromagnetic region;
passing the oscillating electrical signal through the conductor from a position adjacent the one end to a second position adjacent the opposing end to heat the ferromagnetic region to produce a heated ferromagnetic region having a temperature above about 58 degrees Centigrade; and
contacting tissue with the heated ferromagnetic region to thereby treat the tissue with heat produced in the heated ferromagnetic region.
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Abstract
An electrical conductor, such as a wire or catheter, which is coated circumferentially with a ferromagnetic material in a selected region, is fed from a high frequency alternating current source. The ferromagnetic material has a quick response in heating and cooling to the controllable power delivery. The ferromagnetic material can be used for separating tissue, coagulation, tissue destruction or achieving other desired tissue effects in numerous surgical procedures.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for treating tissue, the method comprising:
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selecting a surgical tool, the surgical tool having a thermal element formed by a conductor which passes an oscillating electrical signal from one end of the conductor to an opposing end of the conductor to thereby return the oscillating electrical signal to a power source, the conductor having a ferromagnetic coating disposed on a portion thereof to form a ferromagnetic region; passing the oscillating electrical signal through the conductor from a position adjacent the one end to a second position adjacent the opposing end to heat the ferromagnetic region to produce a heated ferromagnetic region having a temperature above about 58 degrees Centigrade; and contacting tissue with the heated ferromagnetic region to thereby treat the tissue with heat produced in the heated ferromagnetic region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for treating tissue, the method comprising:
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selecting a thermal surgical tool having a handle with a continuous conductor extending therefrom, the continuous conductor having a ferromagnetic layer disposed about a portion of the continuous conductor between a first end portion and a second end portion of the continuous conductor to create a ferromagnetic heated region along the continuous conductor and an exposed, non-ferromagnetic portion on either side of the ferromagnetic heated region; connecting the continuous conductor to a power supply independent of the ferromagnetic layer so that power is passed from the power supply through the handle to the continuous conductor and back through the handle without substantially passing through tissue; contacting tissue with at least a portion of the ferromagnetic heated region while delivering power to the continuous conductor so as to heat the ferromagnetic layer and treat the tissue contacting the ferromagnetic heated region with heat from the ferromagnetic heated region. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for treating tissue, the method comprising:
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selecting a thermal surgical tool having a handle having a thermal element extending out of the handle, the thermal element being formed by a conductor which extends from and returns to the handle so as to conduct an oscillating electrical signal out of and back into the handle, the conductor having a ferromagnetic region with a ferromagnetic layer which extends along a portion of the conductor extending outside the handle and wherein the conductor is not covered by the ferromagnetic layer on either side of the ferromagnetic region on the portion of the conductor extending outside the handle; contacting tissue with the ferromagnetic region; and passing an oscillating electrical signal through the conductor out of the handle, through the ferromagnetic region, and back into the handle to thereby heat and maintain the ferromagnetic layer at a temperature at least sufficient to cause endothelial vascular welding when the ferromagnetic region is contacting the tissue to be treated. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for treating tissue, the method comprising:
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selecting a thermal surgical tool having a handle, a continuous conductor having a section extending from the handle and returning to the handle, the continuous conductor having an outer surface and a layer of ferromagnetic material disposed along the outer surface for only a portion of the section extending from the handle to form a heatable ferromagnetic region along said portion of the continuous conductor; delivering an oscillating electrical signal to the continuous conductor independent of the layer of ferromagnetic material to thereby heat the heatable ferromagnetic region; and contacting tissue with the heatable ferromagnetic region that is heated to treat the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification