Electrosurgery with cooled electrodes

• US 20030114847A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Seedling Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Meade, John C., Levine, Andy H., Lichtman, Philip R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,074,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar

Abstract

A cooled electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical device having at least one electrode for applying electrical energy to tissue. In one embodiment, the electrode includes an internal cavity in which a cooling medium such as water is contained. The internal cavity is closed at both ends of the device such that the cooling medium is contained within the electrode at the surgical site such that the cooling medium does not contact the tissue being treated. The electrosurgical device has an electrode and a heat pipe to conduct heat from the electrodes where substantially all heat conducted from the electrode through the heat pipe is dissipated along the length of the heat pipe. The heat pipe can have a thermal time constant less than 60 seconds and preferably less than 30 seconds.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

an end effector for applying energy to tissue to heat the tissue; and

a heat pipe including a sealed cavity containing a heat transfer fluid for conducting heat from the end effector.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein an end effector-tissue interface temperature is maintained at less than about 80°

C.

3. A method of treatment comprising:

applying electrical energy to tissue with an end effector to heat the tissue; and

cooling the end effector with a heat pipe including a sealed cavity containing a heat transfer fluid.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising maintaining an end effector-tissue interface temperature of less than about 80°

C.