Systems and methods for turbinate reduction
First Claim
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1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue at a target site comprising:
- a shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal portion;
at least one active electrode disposed on the distal portion of the shaft;
a return electrode defining at least a portion of the distal portion of the shaft, the return electrode at least partially encircling an electrode insulator and having an outer surface;
a plurality of discharge apertures through the return electrode, the plurality of discharge apertures fluidly connected to a fluid delivery element within shaft, the fluid delivery element to deliver an electrically conductive fluid through the plurality of discharge apertures laterally disposed and transverse to the at least one active electrode; and
a plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through the electrode insulator and directly adjacent to the at least one active electrode, the plurality of aspiration apertures spaced away from the plurality of discharge apertures so as to direct the electrically conductive fluid from the plurality of discharge apertures to uniformly wet the outer surface before flowing into the plurality of aspiration apertures.
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Abstract
The present disclosure includes an electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue at a target site. The apparatus has a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, and the distal end includes an active disposed laterally on the shaft distal end and return electrode. The return electrode may have a plurality of apertures through it, which are fluidly connected to a fluid delivery element, operable to deliver a conductive fluid to the shaft distal end. The return electrode may encircle at least a portion of the shaft and may extend distally and proximally from the active electrode.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue at a target site comprising:
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a shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal portion; at least one active electrode disposed on the distal portion of the shaft; a return electrode defining at least a portion of the distal portion of the shaft, the return electrode at least partially encircling an electrode insulator and having an outer surface; a plurality of discharge apertures through the return electrode, the plurality of discharge apertures fluidly connected to a fluid delivery element within shaft, the fluid delivery element to deliver an electrically conductive fluid through the plurality of discharge apertures laterally disposed and transverse to the at least one active electrode; and a plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through the electrode insulator and directly adjacent to the at least one active electrode, the plurality of aspiration apertures spaced away from the plurality of discharge apertures so as to direct the electrically conductive fluid from the plurality of discharge apertures to uniformly wet the outer surface before flowing into the plurality of aspiration apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrosurgical apparatus for removing tissue from a body structure comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal portion and a distal tip, wherein the shaft distal portion defines a return electrode encircling a insulator member, the insulator member having a distal tip extending beyond the distal portion; at least one active electrode secured on the insulator member; a plurality of discharge apertures through the return electrode, the plurality of apertures fluidly connected to a fluid delivery lumen within the shaft and disposed laterally to the at least one active electrode, the fluid delivery lumen defined by at least one annular space between the return electrode and the insulator member and fluidly connected with the plurality of discharge apertures, the at least one annular space adapted to allow a flow of a conductive fluid to discharge through the plurality of discharge apertures so that the conductive fluid may only reach the at least one active electrode having traversed a substantial portion of an outer surface of the return electrode first, thereby uniformly wetting the outer surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electrosurgical system for treating tissue of a body structure comprising:
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an electrosurgical controller, the electrosurgical controller configured to produce radio frequency (RF) energy at an active terminal with respect to a return terminal; an electrosurgical wand coupled to the electrosurgical controller, the electrosurgical wand comprising; an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal portion and a distal tip; at least one active electrode disposed on the distal portion of the shaft, the at least one active electrode electrically coupled to the active terminal; a return electrode defining a portion of the distal portion of the shaft, the return electrode partially encircling an insulating member, the return electrode electrically coupled to the return terminal; a plurality of discharge apertures through the return electrode, the plurality of apertures fluidly connected to a fluid delivery element within shaft, the plurality of discharge apertures disposed transverse to the at least one active electrode; a plurality of aspiration apertures disposed on the distal portion of the shaft and fluidly connected with an aspiration elements disposed within the shaft, the aspiration apertures directly adjacent to the at least one active electrode; and wherein the insulating member defines both a portion of the aspiration element, and in cooperation with the return electrode defines a portion of the fluid delivery element.
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Specification