Fluid-assisted electrosurgical device

• US 8,632,533 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Greeley, Roger D., Earles, Donald, Flanagan, David, Bloom, Eliot, Conley, Brian, Barry, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US12/710,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/33, 606/37, 606/39, 606/40, 606/41, 606/45, 606/48, 606/50
• US Class Current: 606/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1415 multiple blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation

Abstract

The invention provides an electrosurgical device and methods of use thereof. The device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one fluid outlet. In one embodiment, the first electrode has a distal portion with an electrically conductive spherical surface, the second electrode has a distal portion with an electrically conductive spherical surface, and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a blade portion.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device to treat tissue in a presence of radio frequency energy and a fluid provided from the device, the device comprising:

a distal portion comprising a first electrode tip, a second electrode tip and at least one fluid outlet;

the first electrode tip comprising a first electrode having a distal portion with an electrically conductive, at least substantially spherical surface;

the second electrode tip comprising a second electrode having a distal portion with an electrically conductive, at least substantially spherical surface;

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode having a blade portion,

the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to be electrically coupled to a bipolar power output; and

the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode having the blade portion is configured to be electrically coupled to a monopolar power output; and

the blade portion extends longitudinally along the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, and

wherein the blade portion has a cutting edge.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the blade portion extends froma proximal portion to the distal portion of the first or second electrode.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet further comprises at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first electrode and at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second electrode.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first electrode is proximal to a distal end of the first electrode; and

the at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second electrode is proximal to a distal end of the second electrode.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the first electrode is at least partially defined by the first electrode; and

the at least one fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second electrode is at least partially defined by the second electrode.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode is laterally spaced from the second electrode.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode is carried by a first tubing segment; and

the second electrode is carried by a second tubing segment.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein:

the first tubing segment is electrically conductive; and

the second tubing segment is electrically conductive.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein:

the electrically conductive first tubing segment is in electrical contact with the first electrode; and

the electrically conductive second tubing segment is in electrical contact with the second electrode.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode is connected at a distal end of a first tubing segment; and

the second electrode is connected at a distal end of a second tubing segment.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein:

the first electrode is mechanically joined to the first tubing segment; and

the second electrode is mechanically joined to the second tubing segment.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein:

the first electrode is welded to the first tubing segment; and

the second electrode is welded to the second tubing segment.

3. The device of 1 wherein:

the cutting edge is an electrosurgical cutting edge.

4. The device of 1 wherein:

the blade portion has opposing sides;

the blade portion narrows as the opposing sides approach the cutting edge.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

at least one of the opposing sides comprises a planar surface.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein:

at least one of the opposing sides comprises a concave surface.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein:

at least one of the opposing sides comprises a convex surface.

18. An electrosurgical device comprising:

a distal portion comprising a first electrode tip, a second electrode tip and at least one fluid outlet;

the first electrode tip comprising a first electrode having a blade portion;

the second electrode tip comprising a second electrode having a blade portion;

each of the first and second electrodes configured to be electrically coupled to a bipolar energy source by first and second bipolar electrical connectors in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes, respectively;

at least one of the first or second electrodes configured to be electrically coupled to a monopolar energy source by a monopolar electrical connector in electrical communication with at least one of the first or second electrodes,

the blade portions extend longitudinally along the first and second electrodes, and

wherein the blade portions have a cutting edge.