Systems and methods for turbinate reduction
First Claim
1. A method for treating target tissue at a target site comprising:
- applying electrical energy between at least one active electrode and a return electrode in proximity to a conductive fluid, said active electrode and return electrode disposed on an electrosurgical wand;
forming, responsive to the energy, a plasma proximate to the at least one active electrode and treating a portion of the target tissue using the plasma resulting in a variety of sizes of tissue and plasma by-products;
aspirating larger sized tissue and plasma by-products through a first plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through a proximal portion of the active electrode and into an aspiration cavity; and
aspirating tissue and plasma by-products limited to be smaller in size through a second plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through a distal portion of the active electrode and into an aspiration cavity;
aspirating the largest sized tissue and plasma and by-products though a single largest aspiration aperture through the active electrode and coincident with an axis of strongest realized suction within the aspiration cavity;
wherein the first and second plurality of aspiration apertures and the single largest aspiration aperture are arranged so as to at least partially compensate for a variation in realized suction pressure along the cavity length and width, so as to improve overall evacuation of the aspiration cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure includes an electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue at a target site. The apparatus has a shaft with a proximal end and a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a return electrode and electrode support. There is also at least one active electrode on the shaft distal portion, which has a proximal portion and a distal portion and a plurality of aspiration apertures disposed therebetween. These apertures are fluidly connected to a fluid aspiration cavity that is located within the electrode support, and the cavity is connected with a fluid aspiration element that is located along the shaft. The plurality of apertures vary in size and are generally arranged so that the larger sized apertures are disposed towards the electrode proximal portion and the smaller sized apertures are generally located towards the electrode distal portion.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for treating target tissue at a target site comprising:
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applying electrical energy between at least one active electrode and a return electrode in proximity to a conductive fluid, said active electrode and return electrode disposed on an electrosurgical wand; forming, responsive to the energy, a plasma proximate to the at least one active electrode and treating a portion of the target tissue using the plasma resulting in a variety of sizes of tissue and plasma by-products; aspirating larger sized tissue and plasma by-products through a first plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through a proximal portion of the active electrode and into an aspiration cavity; and aspirating tissue and plasma by-products limited to be smaller in size through a second plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through a distal portion of the active electrode and into an aspiration cavity; aspirating the largest sized tissue and plasma and by-products though a single largest aspiration aperture through the active electrode and coincident with an axis of strongest realized suction within the aspiration cavity;
wherein the first and second plurality of aspiration apertures and the single largest aspiration aperture are arranged so as to at least partially compensate for a variation in realized suction pressure along the cavity length and width, so as to improve overall evacuation of the aspiration cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for treating a target tissue in a body cavity comprising:
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flowing a conductive fluid within a fluid delivery conduit disposed within an electrosurgical wand, and flowing a first portion of the conductive fluid from the fluid conduit and out of at least one discharge aperture disposed through a thickness of a return electrode, around an outer surface of the return electrode toward an aspiration aperture disposed through an active electrode; and flowing a second portion of the conductive fluid along a fluid path disposed entirely within the electrosurgical wand, the fluid path extending from the fluid delivery conduit and into an aspiration cavity; applying electrical energy between the active electrode and the return electrode; forming, responsive to the energy, a plasma proximate to the active electrode; and removing a portion of a soft tissue within a body cavity by placing the active electrode within the body cavity, and translating the active electrode within the body cavity; and wherein the flowing the first portion of the conductive fluid is provided under pressure and expands the body cavity during the removing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for treating target tissue at a target site comprising:
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applying electrical energy between at least one active electrode and a return electrode in proximity to a conductive fluid, said active electrode and return electrode disposed on an electrosurgical wand; forming, responsive to the energy, a plasma proximate to the at least one active electrode; and
the plasma operable to treat the tissue; andaspirating tissue and plasma by-products through a plurality of aspiration apertures disposed through the active electrode and into an aspiration cavity and wherein the aspiration cavity has a distally disposed cavity ramp, so that during the step of aspirating at least a portion of the aspirated tissue and plasma by-products is deflected in a proximal direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification