Cartilage treatment probe
First Claim
1. A method of treating chondromalacia comprising:
- positioning an electrically conductive surface of a head of an instrument adjacent to a cartilage surface, the head being pivotable relative to a shaft of the instrument;
moving the shaft relative to the cartilage surface, whereby moving the shaft relative to the cartilage surface causes the head to pivot relative to the cartilage surface; and
applying electrical energy to the electrically conductive surface to treat chondromalacia.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument for ablating cartilage while limiting collateral damage includes a non-conducting head with a small electrically conductive surface. The head of the instrument is coupled to a shaft by a flexible portion. The flexible portion biases the electrically conductive surface towards a tissue surface. The head is pivotably coupled to the shaft such that the electrically conductive surface is oriented substantially parallel to the tissue surface as the head slides across the tissue surface. A method of performing electrosurgery includes positioning the electrically conductive surface adjacent to the tissue surface, and sliding the shaft across the tissue surface with the head pivoting such that the electrically conductive surface is oriented substantially parallel to the tissue surface.
194 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of treating chondromalacia comprising:
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positioning an electrically conductive surface of a head of an instrument adjacent to a cartilage surface, the head being pivotable relative to a shaft of the instrument; moving the shaft relative to the cartilage surface, whereby moving the shaft relative to the cartilage surface causes the head to pivot relative to the cartilage surface; and applying electrical energy to the electrically conductive surface to treat chondromalacia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification