Ablation device with internally cooled electrodes
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical end-effector for ablating tissue comprising:
- at least one electrically-conductive ablation electrode adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, the ablation electrode having a tissue-engaging surface and partially demarcating an internal fluid passageway within a housing of the end-effector, the tissue-engaging surface extending beyond the housing and the internal fluid passageway looping within the housing, wherein the housing contains the ablation electrode partially demarcating the intern fluid passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical end effector for ablating tissue is provided that comprises at least one electrically-conductive ablation member adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, with the ablation member having a tissue engaging surface and defining an internal fluid passageway. Preferably, the end effector includes two electrically conductive ablation members that are electrically isolated from one another and have their fluid passageways in fluid communication. Alternatively, the end effector may comprise four electrically conductive ablation members arranged as two pairs of ablation members, all of the ablation members having internal fluid passageways that are electrically isolated from each other, with the fluid passageways of each of the four ablation members being in fluid communication with each other.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical end-effector for ablating tissue comprising:
- at least one electrically-conductive ablation electrode adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, the ablation electrode having a tissue-engaging surface and partially demarcating an internal fluid passageway within a housing of the end-effector, the tissue-engaging surface extending beyond the housing and the internal fluid passageway looping within the housing, wherein the housing contains the ablation electrode partially demarcating the intern fluid passageway.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- 11. An electrosurgical end effector comprising a tissue engaging surface, at least one electrode cooperating with a housing of the end effector to demarcate the tissue engaging surface and adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, the electrode partially demarcating a looped internal fluid passageway within the housing, and a vacuum port on the tissue engaging surface.
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13. An electrosurgical device for ablating tissue comprising:
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a handle; a malleable shaft operatively coupled to the handle; and
,an end effector operatively coupled to the malleable shaft, the end effector including a first electrically-conductive ablation electrode configured to be connected to a source of RF energy, the ablation electrode having a tissue-engaging surface and partially demarcating an internal fluid passageway, the end effector also including a housing containing the ablation electrode partially demarcating the internal fluid passageway; wherein the malleable shaft includes a first fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with and upstream from the first electrically-conductive ablation electrode, and a first fluid return conduit in fluid communication with and downstream from the first electrically-conductive ablation electrode; and
,wherein the first fluid supply conduit, the first electrically-conductive ablation electrode, and the first fluid return conduit cooperate to demarcate a closed fluid loop delivering fluid along the malleable shaft and to the end effector, and returning delivered fluid from the end effector back along the malleable shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification