Electrosurgical generator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for tissue ablation including an electrode configured for insertion into bodily tissue, the electrode including an elongated metallic tubular electrode shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an elongated temperature-sensor shaft having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the electrode shaft is electrically insulated to define the electrode active tip at the distal end of the electrode shaft;
- the electrode active tip is configured to conduct RF current to bodily tissue from an RF generator;
the electrode shaft includes a coolant lumen at least within the active-tip portion of the electrode shaft;
fluid coolant circulates within the coolant lumen;
the electrode shaft includes a temperature-sensor lumen that is physically separated from the coolant lumen by a barrier within the electrode;
the temperature-sensor shaft is positioned within the temperature-sensor lumen;
the distal end of the temperature-sensor shaft is configured to extend out from the temperature-sensor lumen from the distal end of the electrode shaft into bodily tissue;
the temperature sensor shaft is not connected to the temperature-sensor lumen at the distal end of the temperature-sensor lumen;
the temperature-sensor shaft is configured to not deliver sufficient RF current from the RF generator to the bodily tissue to substantially heat the bodily tissue;
the temperature-sensor shaft includes an elongated temperature-sensor-shaft tube, a plastic layer forming the outer surface of a plastic-layer length of the temperature-sensor-shaft tube, at least one temperature-sensor wire within the lumen of the temperature-sensor-shaft tube, and a temperature sensor attached to the at least one temperature-sensor wire and to the temperature sensor-shaft tube;
the temperature sensor forms the outer surface of the distal point of the temperature-sensor shaft and is configured to directly contact bodily tissue; and
the plastic-layer length spans from a first part of the temperature-sensor shaft inside the temperature-sensor lumen, to a second part of the temperature-sensor shaft that is configured to extend out from the temperature-sensor lumen into bodily tissue and that is proximal to the temperature sensor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An internally-cooled RF electrode can have a construction that provides for an electrode hub having reduced weight and size.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for tissue ablation including an electrode configured for insertion into bodily tissue, the electrode including an elongated metallic tubular electrode shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an elongated temperature-sensor shaft having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the electrode shaft is electrically insulated to define the electrode active tip at the distal end of the electrode shaft;
- the electrode active tip is configured to conduct RF current to bodily tissue from an RF generator;
the electrode shaft includes a coolant lumen at least within the active-tip portion of the electrode shaft;
fluid coolant circulates within the coolant lumen;
the electrode shaft includes a temperature-sensor lumen that is physically separated from the coolant lumen by a barrier within the electrode;
the temperature-sensor shaft is positioned within the temperature-sensor lumen;
the distal end of the temperature-sensor shaft is configured to extend out from the temperature-sensor lumen from the distal end of the electrode shaft into bodily tissue;
the temperature sensor shaft is not connected to the temperature-sensor lumen at the distal end of the temperature-sensor lumen;
the temperature-sensor shaft is configured to not deliver sufficient RF current from the RF generator to the bodily tissue to substantially heat the bodily tissue;
the temperature-sensor shaft includes an elongated temperature-sensor-shaft tube, a plastic layer forming the outer surface of a plastic-layer length of the temperature-sensor-shaft tube, at least one temperature-sensor wire within the lumen of the temperature-sensor-shaft tube, and a temperature sensor attached to the at least one temperature-sensor wire and to the temperature sensor-shaft tube;
the temperature sensor forms the outer surface of the distal point of the temperature-sensor shaft and is configured to directly contact bodily tissue; and
the plastic-layer length spans from a first part of the temperature-sensor shaft inside the temperature-sensor lumen, to a second part of the temperature-sensor shaft that is configured to extend out from the temperature-sensor lumen into bodily tissue and that is proximal to the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- the electrode active tip is configured to conduct RF current to bodily tissue from an RF generator;
Specification