Inductively heated multi-mode surgical tool

• US 9,265,553 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Domain Surgical, Inc (OmniGuide Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Domain Surgical, Inc (OmniGuide Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Manwaring, Kim, McNally, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US13/764,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 606/47, 606/113, 606/46, 607/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00141 continuous, e.g. wave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0013 non-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 : with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 : with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00958 : for switching between different working modes of the main function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 : Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 : On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

Thermal, Electrosurgical and Mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using incising waveforms.

Claims

1. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising an electro surgical electrode and a thermal element, the thermal element comprising a ferromagnetic coating disposed on and in electrically conductive communication with the electrosurgical electrode;

and wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of between about 1 μ

m and about 50 μ

m.

2. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical electrode is a monopolar electrode.

3. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, further comprising a filter disposed in communication with the electrosurgical electrode for limiting a return of at least one supplied oscillating electrical signal along the electrosurgical electrode.

4. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

a tip comprising an electrical conductor;

a ferromagnetic coating covering and in electrically conductive communication with at least a portion of the electrical conductor, the ferromagnetic coating being selected from ferromagnetic coatings which can convert some frequencies of oscillating electrical energy into thermal energy and pass other frequencies of oscillating electrical energy into tissue, and

wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of between about 1 μ

m and about 50 μ

m.

5. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 4, further comprising means for sending a multiplexed signal into the electrical conductor.

6. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 4, wherein the electrical conductor forms an electrosurgical electrode.

7. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 6, wherein the electrosurgical electrode is a monopolar electrode.

8. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 4, wherein the ferromagnetic coating is configured to simultaneously convert the some frequencies of the oscillating electrical energy into the thermal energy and pass the other frequencies of the oscillating electrical energy into the tissue.

9. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 4, further comprising a filter disposed in communication with the electrical conductor for limiting a return of at least one oscillating electrical signal of the some frequencies of oscillating electrical energy or other frequencies of oscillating electrical energy along the electrical conductor so as to cause radiation of said at least one oscillating electrical signal out of the electrical conductor.

10. A thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tip comprising:

a cable;

an electrical conductor having a proximal and distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive radiofrequency energy from the cable;

a thin plating of ferromagnetic material disposed circumferentially about the electrical conductor and in electrically conductive communication with at least a portion of the electrical conductor, wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material is configured with a Curie point sufficiently high to encompass a desired set of therapeutic temperature ranges and wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material has a thickness of between about 1 μ

m and about 50 μ

m; and

the electrical conductor forming an electrosurgical element configured to receive power from the cable and configured to release the radiofrequency energy into nearby tissue.

11. The thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tip of claim 10, further comprising a filter disposed in communication with the electrical conductor for limiting a return of at least some of the radiofrequency energy along the electrical conductor so as to cause radiation of said at least some radiofrequency energy out of the electrical conductor.

12. A thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

an electrical conductor;

a plating of ferromagnetic material disposed circumferentially about the electrical conductor and in electrically conductive communication with the electrical conductor, wherein the plating of ferromagnetic material has a thickness of between about 1 μ

m and about 50 μ

m; and

a power supply configured to provide a first oscillating electrical signal forming an approximate standing wave with a maximum current and a minimum voltage substantially at a first load creating a thermal effect in tissue, and a second oscillating electrical signal with a maximum current and a minimum voltage substantially at a second load to create electrosurgical effects in the tissue.

13. The thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool of claim 12, further comprising a filter disposed in communication with the electrical conductor for limiting a return of at least one oscillating electrical signal of the first oscillating electrical signal or second oscillating electrical signal along the electrical conductor so as to cause radiation of said at least one oscillating electrical signal out of the electrical conductor.

14. The thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool of claim 12 wherein the electrical conductor is configured to release radiofrequency energy in response to the second oscillating electrical signal and wherein the plating of ferromagnetic material is configured to heat in response to the first oscillating electrical signal.

15. The thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool of claim 12 wherein the power supply is configured to generate the first oscillating electrical signal and the second oscillating electrical signal during overlapping periods of time.

16. A thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

a gripping portion configured to fit a human hand;

an electrical conductor attached to the gripping portion, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a monopolar electrode configured to receive an oscillating electrical signal and to release electrical energy into tissue adjacent the monopolar electrode; and

a thin plating of ferromagnetic material disposed on and in electrically conductive communication with a portion of the electrical conductor, the thin plating of ferromagnetic material configured to heat when the oscillating electrical signal passes through the electrical conductor, and wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material has a thickness of between about 0.5 μ

m and about 500 μ

m.

17. The surgical tool of claim 16, wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material has a thickness of between about 1 μ

m and about 50 μ

m.

18. A multi-mode surgical tool system comprising:

a thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tip, the surgical tip having a thin plating of ferromagnetic material disposed circumferentially about an electrical conductor, the thin plating of ferromagnetic material being in electrically conductive communication with at least a portion of the electrical conductor, wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material has a thickness of between about 1 μ

m and about 50 μ

m and wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material is configured to create a thermal effect in tissue when the thin plating of ferromagnetic material receives a first oscillating electrical signal;

a power source;

a heat sink; and

a wirelessly connected control device.