Electrosurgical devices with wire electrode

• US 8,906,012 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Conley, Brian M., Barry, Jonathan J., Greeley, Roger D., Greenlaw, Chad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US12/827,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/41, 606/48, 606/50
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/149 bow shaped or with rotatable body at cantilever end, e.g. for resectoscopes, or coagulating rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• 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. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a handle, a shaft distal to the handle, a first electrode tip and a second electrode tip adjacent a distal end of the shaft, with the first electrode tip spaced from the second electrode tip and wherein the first electrode tip comprises a first U-shaped electrode and the second electrode tip comprises a second U-shaped electrode, and at least one fluid outlet. In another embodiment, the device may comprise a handle, a shaft distal to the handle, and a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent a distal end of the shaft with the first electrode coplanar with the second electrode and comprising a wire electrode having a U-shape which surrounds a perimeter of the second electrode and is spaced from the second electrode by an aperture.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device having less than three electrodes, the device comprising:

a handle;

a shaft distal to the handle having a longitudinal axis and a distal end;

a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent the distal end of the shaft, each electrode having a proximal portion, the first electrode coplanar with the second electrode and comprising a wire electrode having a U-shape which surrounds a perimeter of the second electrode and is spaced from the second electrode by an aperture, and wherein the U-shape of the first electrode is substantially situated in a plane that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

at least one fluid outlet, wherein the at least one fluid outlet is s aced from said first electrode; and

wherein the proximal portions of the first and second electrodes are fixed relative to the distal end of the shaft.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the second electrode comprises a wire electrode having a linear segment.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the second electrode comprises a wire electrode having a U-shape.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the second electrode comprises a blade shaped member.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes do not include any outlet for fluid.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one fluid outlet is separate from said first electrode and said second electrode.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode and the second electrode are formed from metal wire.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein:

the metal wire is single strand wire.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein:

the metal wire is circular wire.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein:

the metal wire is stainless steel wire.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one fluid outlet is located at a distal end of the shaft.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the electrodes are substantially coplanar.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the device is configured to operate as a bipolar device and as a monopolar device.