Multi-function RF-probe with dual electrode positioning

• US 9,579,142 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Inventors: Morgan, Roy E., Auge, Wayne K. II
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US14/106,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

An electrosurgical device wherein a probe is provided having one or more active tissue-contacting electrodes and one or more active non-tissue-contacting electrodes. The tissue-contacting and non-tissue-contacting electrodes can simultaneously operate in different modalities from one another or can operate in the same modality. The probe tip can include a non-conductive feature which provides a useful tool for providing physical tissue manipulations in conjunction with an electrosurgical procedure.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising;

an electrode tip, said tip comprising a proximal and distal end;

an insulator;

a tissue-contacting active electrode on an external surface of a plenum;

a non-tissue-contacting active electrode;

a return electrode;

a first opening disposed in said plenum, said opening providing a communicable path between an inside of said plenum and a treatment site outside of said plenum;

said non-tissue-contacting active electrode disposed at least partially within said plenum; and

circuitry configured to operate said non-tissue-contacting active electrode and said tissue-contacting active electrode independently from one another and to selectively power said tissue-contacting active electrode and said non-tissue-contacting active electrode in different modes of operation in reference to said return electrode.

2. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said circuitry is external of an electrosurgical generator.

3. The electrosurgical device of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said circuitry is disposed in a hand piece.

4. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said circuitry comprises a device for selectively powering said tissue-contacting active electrode in a first and second mode of operation.

5. The electrosurgical device of claim 4 wherein said first mode of operation comprises a cut function and wherein said second mode of operation comprises a coag function.

6. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said circuitry comprises a device for selectively driving said non-tissue-contacting active electrode in a first and second mode of operation.

7. The electrosurgical device of claim 6 wherein said first mode of operation comprises a cut function and wherein said second mode of operation comprises a coag function.

8. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said active electrodes are driven by a monopolar electrosurgical generator.

9. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said plenum comprises a non-conductive ridge-shaped structure.

10. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said plenum comprises a shaped structure which is useful for performing a surgical procedure to tissue.

11. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein all of said active electrodes can be powered simultaneously.

12. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein either of said active electrodes can optionally be individually powered.

13. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 further comprising a second opening disposed in said plenum.

14. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said return electrode is formed onto an outer portion of a lumen of said electrosurgical device.

15. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said return electrode comprises a ring-shape.

19. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site with a bipolar electrosurgical device of claim 1, the method comprising:

activating a non-tissue-contacting active electrode with a first mode of operation;

activating a tissue contacting active electrode with a second mode of operation;

the non-tissue-contacting and tissue contacting active electrodes formed into a single probe tip;

not removing the probe tip from the surgical site between the non-tissue-contacting and tissue contacting modes of operation.

16. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising:

an insulator;

a plenum, said plenum comprising a plenum chamber;

a tissue-contacting active electrode on an external surface of a plenum;

a non-tissue-contacting active electrode protected from tissue contact by said plenum chamber;

a return electrode;

each of said active electrodes and said plenum formed into a single insulator element; and

circuitry to selectively power said tissue-contacting active electrode and said non-tissue-contacting active electrode in at least two modes of operation.

17. The electrosurgical device of claim 16 wherein said electrodes function as said bipolar probe when connected to a monopolar electrosurgical generator.

18. The electrosurgical device of claim 16 wherein said circuitry can activate only one of said active electrodes and can activate both of said active electrodes simultaneously.