Bipolar electrosurgical device

• US 9,445,858 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• 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., Vaccarella, Lorenzo C., Sylvester, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US14/197,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/41, 606/48, 606/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/144 Wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical device is disclosed. The bipolar electrosurgical device includes a handle having a shaft and a distal end. The handle can be coupled to a source of electrical energy and a fluid source. A U-shaped first electrode extends distally in a plane from a pair of openings on the distal end of the shaft. The first electrode is in electrical communication with one of an active pole or a return pole of the source of electrical energy. A longitudinal second electrode extends distally from a middle opening on the distal end of the shaft. The second electrode is coplanar to the first electrode and electrically isolated from the first electrode. The second electrode is in electrical communication with the other of the active pole or the return pole of the source of electrical energy. The second electrode forms a lumen configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source and a fluid opening for dispersing fluid.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising,

a handle having a shaft and a distal end, wherein the handle is configured to be coupled to a source of electrical energy and a fluid source;

a generally U-shaped first electrode extending distally in a plane from a pair of openings on the distal end of the shaft wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with one of an active pole and a return pole of the source of electrical energy; and

a generally longitudinal second electrode extending distally from a middle opening on the distal end of the shaft, the second electrode being substantially coplanar to the first electrode and electrically isolated from the first electrode;

wherein the second electrode is in electrical communication with the other of the active pole and the return pole of the source of electrical energy; and

wherein the second electrode forms a lumen configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source and a fluid opening for dispersing fluid.

2. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the fluid opening is in the plane of the first electrode.

3. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein fluid is dispersed out of the plane of the first electrode.

4. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrodes comprise exposed conductors in the plane of the first electrodes.

5. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the middle opening is disposed between the pair of openings on the distal end of the shaft.

6. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy is RF energy.

7. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a conductive fluid.

8. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 7 wherein the conductive fluid is saline.

9. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising,

a handle having a nonconductive shaft and a distal end, wherein the handle is configured to be coupled to a source of electrical energy and a fluid source;

a generally U-shaped first electrode extending distally in a plane from a pair of openings on the distal end of the shaft wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with one of an active pole and a return pole of the source of electrical energy; and

a generally longitudinal second electrode axially extending distally from a middle opening on the distal end of the shaft, the second electrode being substantially coplanar to the first electrode and spaced apart and electrically isolated from the first electrode and having convex sides;

wherein the second electrode is in electrical communication with the other of the active pole and the return pole of the source of electrical energy;

wherein the second electrode forms a lumen configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source and a fluid opening for dispersing fluid;

wherein the shaft includes a first switch configured to activate the electrodes and a second switch configured to disperse fluid from the second electrode.

10. The bipolar electrosurgical of claim 9 wherein the first electrode includes generally longitudinal portions extending from the pair of openings on the distal end of the shaft.

11. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 10 wherein the second electrode extends generally parallel with and between the longitudinal portions of the first electrode in the plane of the first electrode.

12. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 11 wherein the first electrode includes an arcuate distal segment coupled to the longitudinal portions of the first electrode extending distally past the second electrode.

13. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 11 wherein the second electrode is generally tubular.

14. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 9 wherein the handle includes a synthetic polymer.

15. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 14 wherein the handle is generally rigid.

16. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 9 wherein the switches include push buttons.

17. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising,

a handle having a nonconductive shaft and a distal end, wherein the handle is configured to be coupled to a source of electrical energy and a fluid source;

a generally U-shaped first electrode having a pair of longitudinal portions extending distally as a conductive element in a plane from a pair of openings on the distal end of the shaft and a distal arcuate member electrically coupling the longitudinal portions together, wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with one of an active pole and a return pole of the source of electrical energy; and

a generally longitudinal second electrode axially extending distally as a conductive element from a middle opening on the distal end of the shaft, the second electrode being substantially coplanar to the first electrode, substantially parallel to the longitudinal portions of the first electrode, and spaced apart and electrically isolated from the first electrode;

wherein the second electrode is in electrical communication with the other of the active pole and the return pole of the source of electrical energy; and

wherein the second electrode forms a lumen configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source and a fluid opening for dispersing fluid.

18. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 17 wherein the shaft includes a first switch configured to activate the electrodes and a second switch configured to disperse fluid from the second electrode.

19. The bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 18 wherein the activated electrodes are configured to form an alternating current electrical field.