Apparatus for coagulating tissue
DCFirst Claim
1. An apparatus for coagulating tissue, comprising:
- a gas-delivering device defining an outlet and adapted to deliver, in use, a plasma comprised of an ionized inert gas from the outlet of the gas-delivering device;
an electrode adapted to supply a high-frequency current, a distal end of the electrode projecting out of the gas-delivering device; and
a guiding device disposed at a distal end of the electrode, wherein a cross-section of at least a portion of said guiding device is at least a size of an opening of said outlet at a furthest distal end of said gas-delivering device in order to divert said plasma substantially radially with respect to an opening of said outlet of said gas-delivering device, and wherein the outlet of the gas-delivering device and the guiding device are adapted such that at least a portion of the plasma is directed to a tissue to be treated, regardless of a position of the tissue relative to a rotational position of the outlet of the gas-delivering device.
0 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for coagulating tissue, including a gas-delivering device for delivering a plasma comprised of an ionized inert gas from the outlet of the gas-delivering device, an electrode adapted to supply a high-frequency current that projects out of the gas-delivering device and a guiding device disposed at a distal end of the electrode. The relative configuration of the outlet of the gas-delivering device and the guiding device are such that the plasma (and an electric arc) can be directed in any direction 360° with respect to the outlet of the gas-delivering device. The plasma is directed along a path of least electric resistance, thus causing the plasma to be directed to a tissue to be treated, regardless of a position of the tissue relative to a rotational position of the outlet of the gas-delivering device.
14 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for coagulating tissue, comprising:
-
a gas-delivering device defining an outlet and adapted to deliver, in use, a plasma comprised of an ionized inert gas from the outlet of the gas-delivering device; an electrode adapted to supply a high-frequency current, a distal end of the electrode projecting out of the gas-delivering device; and a guiding device disposed at a distal end of the electrode, wherein a cross-section of at least a portion of said guiding device is at least a size of an opening of said outlet at a furthest distal end of said gas-delivering device in order to divert said plasma substantially radially with respect to an opening of said outlet of said gas-delivering device, and wherein the outlet of the gas-delivering device and the guiding device are adapted such that at least a portion of the plasma is directed to a tissue to be treated, regardless of a position of the tissue relative to a rotational position of the outlet of the gas-delivering device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for coagulating tissue, comprising:
-
a gas-delivering device defining an outlet and adapted to deliver, in use, a plasma comprised of an ionized inert gas from the outlet of the gas-delivering device; an electrode adapted to supply a high-frequency current, a distal end of the electrode projecting out of the gas-delivering device; and a guiding device disposed at a distal end of the electrode, wherein a cross-section of at least a portion of said guiding device is at least a size of an opening of said outlet at a furthest distal end of said gas-delivering device in order to divert said plasma substantially radially with respect to an opening of said outlet of said gas-delivering device, and wherein the outlet of the gas-delivering device and the guiding device are adapted such that when a high-frequency current is supplied to the plasma, an electric arc can be formed in any direction 360°
with respect to the outlet of the gas-delivering device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An apparatus for coagulating tissue, comprising:
-
a gas-delivering device defining an outlet and adapted to deliver, in use, a plasma comprised of an ionized inert gas from the outlet of the gas-delivering device; an electrode adapted to supply a high-frequency current, a distal end of the electrode projecting out of the gas-delivering device; and a guiding device disposed at a distal end of the electrode, wherein a cross-section of at least a portion of said guiding device is at least a size of an opening of said outlet at a furthest distal end of said gas-delivering device in order to divert said plasma substantially radially with respect to an opening of said outlet of said gas delivering device, and wherein the outlet of the gas-delivering device and the guiding device are adapted such that the plasma can be directed in any direction 360°
with respect to the outlet of the gas-delivering device, the plasma being directed along a path of least electric resistance, causing the plasma to be directed to a tissue to be treated, regardless of a position of the tissue relative to a rotational position of the outlet of the gas-delivering device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
-
28. A tubular apparatus for coagulating tissue, the tubular apparatus having an apparatus diameter and comprising:
-
a gas-delivering device defining a circular outlet with an outlet diameter and adapted to deliver, in use, a plasma comprised of an ionized inert gas from the circular outlet of the gas-delivering device; an electrode adapted to supply a high-frequency current, a distal end of the electrode projecting out of the gas-delivering device; and a guiding device disposed at a distal end of the electrode, the guiding device having at a distal end of the guiding device circular section and at a proximal end, opposite the circular outlet, a concave inner section; wherein the circular outlet of the gas-delivering device and the concave inner section guiding device are adapted such that at least a portion of the plasma is directed to a tissue to be treated, regardless of a position of the tissue relative to a rotational position of the circular outlet of the gas-delivering device, wherein the electrode together with the guiding device is movable relative to the circular outlet in a longitudinal direction of the tubular apparatus such that, when the electrode is moved into a retracted position, the concave inner section of the guiding device closes the circular outlet in a substantially leak-proof manner by engaging with the circular outlet, wherein the circular section of the guiding device has a diameter that is greater than the outlet diameter and smaller than or equal to the apparatus diameter, and wherein the guiding device is designed such that in the retracted position the circular section is the most distal part of the tubular apparatus.
-
Specification