Bipolar electrosurgical instrument with movable electrode and related systems and methods
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle having a shaft extending distally therefrom;
a first active electrode and a second active electrode disposed in spaced relation on a distal end of the shaft, a tip of the first active electrode and a tip of the second active electrode extending radially outside of a circumferential edge of the shaft, the first active electrode being fixed from movement with respect to the second active electrode and with respect to the shaft; and
a floating electrode selectively positionable between an extended position where the floating electrode is disposed within an area between the first active electrode and the second active electrode, and a retracted position where the floating electrode is removed from the area between the first active electrode and the second active electrode, wherein the tip of the first active electrode and the tip of the second active electrode are disposed within a common plane, and wherein the floating electrode is parallel to the plane when the floating electrode is in both the extended position and in the retracted position, andwherein, in the extended position of the floating electrode, at least a majority of the floating electrode is radially outside of the circumferential edge of the shaft, and the first active electrode is located on a first lateral side of the floating electrode and the second active electrode is located on a second lateral side of the floating electrode, the first lateral side of the floating electrode being opposite from the second lateral side of the floating electrode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom, a pair of active electrodes at a distal end of the shaft, and a movable, electrically floating electrode selectively positionable between the active electrodes. The floating electrode, when positioned to contact tissue between the active electrodes, modifies the electrosurgical current flows through tissue. The resultant modified current flows enables a surgeon to more effectively to control tissue desiccation by focusing electrosurgical energy toward targeted tissue and by reducing peripheral current flows. Embodiments are provided wherein the active electrodes include cooling provisions. Related electrosurgical systems and method of use are also provided.
374 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
-
a handle having a shaft extending distally therefrom; a first active electrode and a second active electrode disposed in spaced relation on a distal end of the shaft, a tip of the first active electrode and a tip of the second active electrode extending radially outside of a circumferential edge of the shaft, the first active electrode being fixed from movement with respect to the second active electrode and with respect to the shaft; and a floating electrode selectively positionable between an extended position where the floating electrode is disposed within an area between the first active electrode and the second active electrode, and a retracted position where the floating electrode is removed from the area between the first active electrode and the second active electrode, wherein the tip of the first active electrode and the tip of the second active electrode are disposed within a common plane, and wherein the floating electrode is parallel to the plane when the floating electrode is in both the extended position and in the retracted position, and wherein, in the extended position of the floating electrode, at least a majority of the floating electrode is radially outside of the circumferential edge of the shaft, and the first active electrode is located on a first lateral side of the floating electrode and the second active electrode is located on a second lateral side of the floating electrode, the first lateral side of the floating electrode being opposite from the second lateral side of the floating electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An electrosurgical system, comprising:
-
an electrosurgical generator; and an electrosurgical instrument operably coupled to the electrosurgical generator, comprising; a handle having a shaft extending distally therefrom, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a first active electrode and a second active electrode disposed in spaced relation on a distal end of the shaft, a tip of the first active electrode and a tip of the second active electrode extending radially outside of a circumferential edge of the shaft, the first active electrode being immovable with respect to the second active electrode and with respect to the shaft; a floating electrode selectively positionable between an extended position where the floating electrode is disposed directly in-between the first active electrode and the second active electrode, and a retracted position where the floating electrode is not disposed between the first active electrode and the second active electrode, wherein the floating electrode is only movable relative to the first active electrode in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and an actuator coupled to the floating electrode and configured to move the floating electrode between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein, in the extended position, at least a majority of the floating electrode is radially outside of the circumferential edge of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for electrosurgically treating tissue, comprising:
-
providing an electrosurgical device including; a handle having a shaft extending distally therefrom; a first active electrode and a second active electrode disposed in spaced relation on a distal end of the shaft, a tip of the first active electrode and a tip of the second active electrode extending radially outside of a circumferential edge of the shaft, the first active electrode and the second active electrode being immovable with respect to each other and with respect to the shaft; and a floating electrode positionable between an extended position where the floating electrode is disposed within an area between the first active electrode and the second active electrode and at least a majority of the floating electrode is radially outside of the circumferential edge of the shaft, and a retracted position where the floating electrode is removed from the area between the first active electrode and the second active electrode such that the first active electrode is located on a first lateral side of the floating electrode and the second active electrode is located on a second lateral side of the floating electrode, the first lateral side of the floating electrode being opposite from the second lateral side of the floating electrode; applying the first active electrode and the second active electrode to tissue; delivering electrosurgical energy to tissue via the first active electrode and the second active electrode; moving the floating electrode from the extended position to the retracted position in a direction parallel to the tip of the first active electrode and the second active electrode and within a plane that includes the tip of the first active electrode and the tip of the second active electrode; and applying the floating electrode to tissue. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
Specification