Inductively heated snare
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermally adjustable surgical tool comprising:
- an applicator and a snare forming a thermal element for receiving oscillating electrical current from a power source, the thermal element comprising a single electrical conductor forming a loop and being at least partially disposed in the applicator, and having at least one ferromagnetic coating covering at least a portion of the single electrical conductor;
wherein the single electrical conductor forms part of a return pathway for the oscillating electrical current distal to the ferromagnetic coating and is configured such that a majority of the oscillating electrical current remains in the thermal element as it passes out of and back into the applicator; and
wherein the at least one ferromagnetic coating is sufficiently thin that the at least one ferromagnetic coating will not fracture when the at least one ferromagnetic coating is heated in air and then immersed in liquid while the at least one ferromagnetic coating is heated.
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Accused Products
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.
300 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A thermally adjustable surgical tool comprising:
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an applicator and a snare forming a thermal element for receiving oscillating electrical current from a power source, the thermal element comprising a single electrical conductor forming a loop and being at least partially disposed in the applicator, and having at least one ferromagnetic coating covering at least a portion of the single electrical conductor; wherein the single electrical conductor forms part of a return pathway for the oscillating electrical current distal to the ferromagnetic coating and is configured such that a majority of the oscillating electrical current remains in the thermal element as it passes out of and back into the applicator; and wherein the at least one ferromagnetic coating is sufficiently thin that the at least one ferromagnetic coating will not fracture when the at least one ferromagnetic coating is heated in air and then immersed in liquid while the at least one ferromagnetic coating is heated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A thermally adjustable surgical tool comprising:
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an electrical conductor; a ferromagnetic coating covering a portion of the electrical conductor to form a heating region along the portion of the electrical conductor coated with the ferromagnetic coating of the electrical conductor; a power source disposed in electrical communication with the electrical conductor configured to deliver an oscillating current to the electrical conductor to thereby generate heat in the ferromagnetic coating; and a tube configured to contain the electrical conductor, the portion of the electrical conductor coated with the ferromagnetic coating being deployable from the tube; wherein the heating region is configured to contact tissue and thereby treat the tissue with the heat generated in the ferromagnetic coating without passing a substantial amount of the oscillating current through the tissue; and wherein the ferromagnetic coating is sufficiently thin to not fracture when exposed to a temperature differential sufficiently large to cause a ferrite bead to fracture. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A surgical tool comprising:
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an applicator; an electrical conductor having a distal end forming a loop and two arms extending away from the loop; and a ferromagnetic coating covering only the distal end of the electrical conductor forming the loop so as to form a substantially semi-circular ferromagnetic coating along the loop; wherein the two arms are extendable from or extending from the applicator, and wherein the arms are not covered by a ferromagnetic coating; and wherein the ferromagnetic coating will not fracture when repeatedly heated and immersed in liquid while still hot. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A thermal surgical tool comprising:
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an applicator; a flexible electrical conductor at least partially disposable within the applicator; an arcuate ferromagnetic coating covering a portion of the flexible electrical conductor; and a non-stick coating covering at least the arcuate ferromagnetic coating; and wherein the arcuate ferromagnetic coating, when heated, is movable between air and liquid without causing fracturing of the arcuate ferromagnetic coating. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A thermal surgical tool comprising:
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an electrical conductor forming a loop and having a first section and second section; a thermally adjustable ferromagnetic coating covering a portion of the electrical conductor between the first section and second section; wherein the electrical conductor is at least partially disposable within a tube and the loop formed by the electrical conductor has a first width when disposed within the tube; wherein the electrical conductor is deployable from the tube and the loop has a second width when deployed from the tube; wherein the first width is less than the second width; wherein a portion of the first section or the second section not covered with the thermally adjustable ferromagnetic coating is located outside the tube when the electrical conductor is deployed; and wherein the adjustable ferromagnetic material, when heated, is movable between air and liquid without causing the thermally adjustable ferromagnetic coating to crack. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A thermal surgical tool comprising:
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a conductor having a first section and a second section, a portion of the electrical forming a loop; a ferromagnetic coating covering a portion of the conductor between the first section and the second section; and a power source attached to the conductor independent of the ferromagnetic coating such that passing electrical energy through the conductor heats the ferromagnetic coating; wherein the conductor is at least partially disposed within an applicator; and wherein substantially all the electrical energy delivered to the conductor flows through the conductor and is substantially contained within the conductor and the ferromagnetic coating; and wherein the ferromagnetic coating, when heated, 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. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification