Instrument for electrosurgical tissue treatment
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument for applying electrical energy to tissue at a target site, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
- an annular electrode support characterized by an outer support circumferential surface and a tissue-contacting surface having at least one annular cavity characterized by an outer cavity circumferential surface, wherein the entire tissue-contacting surface is located within a single plane; and
at least one active electrode disposed within the at least one annular cavity, the at least one active electrode having a curved configuration; and
at least one recessed region extending through the tissue-contacting surface from a location directly adjacent to the at least one active electrode, the at least one recessed region having a width from the outer cavity circumferential surface to the outer support circumferential surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for applying a high frequency voltage in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid to create a relatively low-temperature plasma for ablation of tissue adjacent to, or in contact with, the plasma. In one embodiment, an electrosurgical probe or catheter is positioned adjacent the target site so that one or more active electrode(s) are brought into contact with, or close proximity to, a target tissue in the presence of electrically conductive fluid. High frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s) to non-thermally generate a plasma adjacent to the active electrode(s), and to volumetrically remove or ablate at least a portion of the target tissue.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical instrument for applying electrical energy to tissue at a target site, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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an annular electrode support characterized by an outer support circumferential surface and a tissue-contacting surface having at least one annular cavity characterized by an outer cavity circumferential surface, wherein the entire tissue-contacting surface is located within a single plane; and at least one active electrode disposed within the at least one annular cavity, the at least one active electrode having a curved configuration; and at least one recessed region extending through the tissue-contacting surface from a location directly adjacent to the at least one active electrode, the at least one recessed region having a width from the outer cavity circumferential surface to the outer support circumferential surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrosurgical instrument for applying electrical energy to tissue at a target site, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft, a proximal end and a distal end; a tissue treatment member at the distal end, the tissue treatment member having an annular configuration and comprising; a tissue-contacting surface; an outer circumferential surface; an active electrode having an annular configuration and recessed within the tissue-contacting surface; and at least one recess within the tissue-contacting surface extending from the tissue-contacting surface and extending from a location directly adjacent to the active electrode to the outer circumferential surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrosurgical instrument for applying electrical energy to tissue at a target site, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft, a proximal end and a distal end; a non-electrically conducting support disposed at the distal end, said non-electrically conducting support having an annular configuration with an outer circumferential surface and a tissue-contacting surface having an annular recess therein; an active electrode positioned within the annular recess; a return electrode positioned such that the tissue contacting surface extends radially between the active electrode and the return electrode, and wherein the return electrode is disposed on a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the non-electrically conducting support; and at least one recessed region on the tissue-contacting surface extending from a location directly adjacent the active electrode and from the annular recess to the outer circumferential surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification