Bipolar electrosurgical cutter with position insensitive return electrode contact

• US 10,085,796 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Podany, Vaclav O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vahdat, Khadijeh
• Application Number:
  US15/415,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20170224408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 606 21- 50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• 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 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/167 Passive electrodes capacitively coupled to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical device includes a handle and an elongated end effector coupled to the handle. The end effector includes an elongated, insulating body having first and second electrodes disposed thereon. The first and second electrodes are separated at the distal end of the insulating body, and a cavity formed in the distal end of the effector is positioned between the first and second electrodes. A fluid-delivery tube is positioned on the body to deliver a conductive fluid to the distal end, adjacent the cavity. During use of the electrosurgical device, delivery of the conductive fluid facilitates formation of an electrical coupling between the electrodes via the tissue being treated.

Claims

1. A method for electrosurgical cutting of biological tissue, comprising:

initiating a flow of an electrically conductive fluid to a distal end of a bipolar electrosurgical device, the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device including a first electrode adjacent a second electrode;

applying electrical energy between the first electrode and the second electrode on the bipolar electrosurgical device;

positioning the first electrode and the second electrode proximate the biological tissue and forming arc adjacent the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device;

terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid; and

maintaining the arc to cut the biological tissue after terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid to the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device includes delivering the electrically conducting fluid to a cavity in the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the bipolar electrosurgical device includes an insulating body disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first electrode protrudes a distance away from the insulating body.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cavity is recessed within a portion of the insulating body.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bipolar electrosurgical device includes a fluid delivery tube disposed along a surface of the second electrode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying electrical energy includes applying pulsed electrical energy to the biological tissue.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein applying electrical energy includes applying continuous electrical energy to the biological tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid includes terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid about three to five seconds after initiation of the flow.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid includes terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid about 0.1 to 2.0 seconds after initiation of the flow.

11. A method for electrosurgical cutting of biological tissue, comprising:

initiating a flow of an electrically conductive fluid to a distal end of a bipolar electrosurgical device, the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device including a first electrode adjacent a second electrode;

applying electrical energy between the first electrode and the second electrode on the bipolar electrosurgical device, the first electrode and the second electrode being non-porous;

positioning the first electrode and the second electrode proximate the biological tissue and forming arc adjacent the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device;

terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid; and

maintaining the arc to cut the biological tissue after terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid.

12. A method for electrosurgical cutting of biological tissue, comprising:

initiating a flow of an electrically conductive fluid to a distal end of a bipolar electrosurgical device, the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device including a first electrode adjacent a second electrode;

applying electrical energy between the first electrode and the second electrode on the bipolar electrosurgical device, the first electrode and the second electrode being substantially coterminous at the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device;

positioning the first electrode and the second electrode proximate the biological tissue and forming arc adjacent the distal end of the bipolar electrosurgical device;

terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid; and

maintaining the arc to cut the biological tissue after terminating the flow of the electrically conductive fluid.