Methods and devices for electrosurgery

• US 20050085806A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Map Technologies LLC (MIN AIK Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Morgan, Roy E., Auge, Wayne K. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00035 pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00565 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1213 creating an arc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes

Abstract

Devices and methods for electrolytic electrosurgery wherein a detector is located proximal to an active electrode on an electrosurgical probe, optionally disposed between the active electrode and a return electrode, the detector detecting at least on parameter relating to electrolysis. The detected parameter can include pH concentration, temperature, conductivity, impedance, ion, concentration, electrolytic gas consumption, electrolytic gas production, pressure or sound. The detected parameter can be employed in control systems to control systems to control activation or operation of the electrosurgical probe.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrosurgery, comprising:

at least one active electrode for inducing electrolysis in an electrolyzable environment; and

at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode for detecting a parameter relating to electrolysis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects pH concentration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects temperature.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detector comprises a piezo-electric pyrometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric pyrometer comprises a thin-film piezo-electric pyrometer.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detector comprises a thermo-luminescent crystal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects conductivity.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects ion concentrations.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects gas production.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the detector detects gas production of oxygen or hydrogen.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects sound.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detector detects sound at between about 10 kHz and about 600 kHz.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector detects changes in local pressure.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a return electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the detector is disposed between the at least one active electrode and the return electrode.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detection circuit for receiving a parameter detected by the detector.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a control circuit providing an output control signal controlling an amount of power output to the at least one active electrode in response to an output from the detection circuit.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is one active electrode.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are at least two active electrodes.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a probe body with a distal end and a proximal end, with at least one active electrode disposed on the distal end.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located on the probe body.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located within the probe body.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located in front of the at least one active electrode.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the probe body further comprises a cavity wherein is disposed the at least one active electrode.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located within the cavity.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located without the cavity.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located within the probe body forming a cavity.

28. An apparatus for electrosurgery, comprising:

at least one active electrode for inducing electrolysis in an electrolyzable environment; and

at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode for detecting a parameter relating to oxy-hydro combustion.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects pH concentration.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects temperature.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the detector comprises a piezo-electric pyrometer.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the piezoelectric pyrometer comprises a thin-film piezoelectric pyrometer.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the detector comprises a thermo-luminescent crystal.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects conductivity.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects ion concentrations.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects gas production.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the detector detects gas production of oxygen or hydrogen.

38. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects gas consumption.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the detector detects consumption of oxygen or hydrogen.

40. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects sound.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the detector detects sound at between about 10 kHz and about 600 kHz.

42. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detector detects changes in local pressure.

43. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a return electrode.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the detector is disposed between the at least one active electrode and the return electrode.

45. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a detection circuit for receiving a parameter detected by the detector.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a control circuit providing an output control signal controlling an amount of power output to the at least one active electrode in response to an output from the detection circuit.

47. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein there is one active electrode.

48. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein there are at least two active electrodes.

49. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a probe body with a distal end and a proximal end, with at least one active electrode disposed on the distal end.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located on the probe body.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located within the probe body.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located in front of the at least one active electrode.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the probe body further comprises a cavity wherein is disposed the at least one active electrode.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located within the cavity.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located without the cavity.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located within the probe body forming a cavity.

57. A method of performing electrolytic electrosurgery on a patient, the method comprising:

providing a probe having at least one active electrode for inducing electrolysis in an electrolyzable media;

providing at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode for detecting a parameter relating to electrolysis;

introducing an electrolyzable media to an anatomical part of the patient;

positioning the active electrode within the electrolyzable media adjacent the anatomical part of the patient;

providing a form of electrical power to the active electrode; and

adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe in response to the parameter detected by the at least one detector.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the step of adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe comprises circuitry for receiving a parameter detected by the detector and circuitry for providing an output control signal controlling an amount of power output to the active electrode in response to an output from the detection circuit.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe comprises manually adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe in response to the parameter detected by the at least one detector.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe comprises automatically adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe in response to the parameter detected by the at least one detector.

61. The method of claim 59 or 60, wherein the at least one operational factor of the probe is an amount of power output to the active electrode.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of adjusting at least one operational factor of the probe comprises altering the proximity of the active electrode to a tissue to be treated by movement of the probe in response to the parameter detected by the at least one detector.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein the detected parameter relating to electrolysis is pH concentration, temperature, conductivity, impedance, ion concentrations, gas production, gas consumption, local pressure or sound.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein the electrolyzable media is an aqueous media, a gel media, a wax media or a sol-gel media.

65. An apparatus for electrosurgery, comprising:

a probe with a distal end and a proximal end, with at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode disposed on the distal end, the proximal end forming a handle for holding the probe;

a cylindrical insulating sleeve positioned around the distal end of the probe;

an adjustably positionable actuator disposed on the handle and translatably connected to the cylindrical insulating sleeve, such that the cylindrical insulating sleeve can be longitudinally translated relative to the distal end of the probe, thereby forming a cavity of variable volume about the distal end of the probe; and

at least one detector proximal on the distal end of the probe and within the cavity of variable volume for detecting a parameter relating to electrolysis or oxy-hydro combustion.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the cylindrical insulating sleeve extends distally beyond the active electrode.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the cylindrical insulating sleeve extends distally between about 1 mm and about 40 mm beyond the active electrode.

68. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects pH concentration.

69. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects temperature.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the detector comprises a piezo-electric pyrometer.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the piezoelectric pyrometer comprises a thin-film piezoelectric pyrometer.

72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the detector comprises a thermo-luminescent crystal.

73. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects conductivity.

74. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects ion concentrations.

75. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects gas production.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the detector detects gas production of oxygen or hydrogen.

77. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects gas consumption.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the detector detects consumption of oxygen or hydrogen.

79. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects sound.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the detector detects sound at between about 10 kHz and about 600 kHz.

81. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the detector detects changes in local pressure.

82. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one detector is disposed between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode.

83. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising a detection circuit for receiving a parameter detected by the at least one detector.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising a control circuit providing an output control signal controlling an amount of power output to the at least one active electrode in response to an output from the detection circuit.

85. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein there is one active electrode.

86. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein there are at least two active electrodes.

87. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one detector within the cavity is located within the cylindrical insulating sleeve.

88. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one detector proximal to the at least one active electrode is located in front of the at least one active electrode.

89. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the actuator is a mechanical actuator.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the actuator is an electromechanical actuator.

91. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the actuator is activated, thereby varying the volume of the cavity about the distal end of the probe, in response to a parameter relating to electrolysis detected by the detector.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, further comprising a detection circuit for receiving a parameter detected by the detector.

93. The apparatus of claim 92, further comprising a detection circuit for receiving a parameter detected by the detector and a control circuit providing an output control signal controlling the actuator in response to an output from the detection circuit.