Plasma incising device including disposable incising tips for performing surgical procedures

• US 20070093868A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Fugo
• Original Assignee: Richard Fugo
• Inventors: Fugo, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated

Abstract

An apparatus for performing surgery using plasma is described. The apparatus includes a plasma generating unit, a plasma wand and a foot pedal. The plasma wand further includes a disposable tip which may be removed and replaced for each surgical procedure, so as to maintain operating sterility.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plasma generating unit; and

,

a plasma wand coupled to the plasma generating unit, said plasma wand further including a first removable tip.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a foot pedal coupled to the plasma generating unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first removable tip further comprises:

a main body; and

,

a filament, said filament extending away from said main body, and being angled with respect to a principal axis of the main body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second removable tip, wherein the first removable tip is used for performing a first type of surgical procedure, and the wherein the second removable tip is used for performing a second type of surgical procedure, different from the first type.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first removable tip further comprises an insulating sheath which surrounds a first portion of the filament.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the main body of the first removable tip further comprises:

a male member;

a female member, and

a wire crimp device,

wherein the male member, the female member and the wire crimp device together form the main body.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a second portion of the filament extends outside the sheath.

8. A disposable tip for use in plasma surgery comprising:

a main body; and

,

a filament extending from one end of the main body, said filament being partially enclosed within an insulating sheath.

9. The disposable tip of claim 8, wherein the main body further comprises:

a male member;

a female member, and

a wire crimp device,

wherein the male member, the female member and the wire crimp device together form the main body.

10. The disposable tip of claim 8, wherein a first portion of the filament is disposed within the insulating sheath, and a second portion of the filament extends outside the sheath.

11. The disposable tip of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the filament is approximately 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters long.

12. The disposable tip of claim 8, wherein the main body further comprises:

a first frustoconical end; and

a second conical end,

wherein the filament extends from the first frustoconical end of the main body.

13. The disposable tip of claim 12, wherein the second conical end of the includes a first recess for receiving a connector disposed within a plasma wand.

14. The disposable tip of claim 8, wherein a first portion of the filament is disposed a predetermined angle with respect to a principal axis of the main body.

15. The disposable tip of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the filament is disposed at a 90 degree angle with respect to the principal axis of the main body.

16. A method for making a disposable tip for use in plasma surgery, comprising the steps of:

disposing a filament within a first housing;

applying a first insulating sheath around a first portion of the filament;

bending the first portion of the filament at a predetermined angle with respect to a principal axis of the filament.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising the further step of:

disposing the bent filament including the first insulating sheath within a second housing which surrounds all portions of the filament and the first insulating sheath except the first portion.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising the further step of:

applying a second insulating sheath around the filament and a first portion of the first insulating sheath.

19. A method for performing a sclerostomy procedure using plasma, comprising the steps of:

inserting a first plasma incising tip into a plasma wand, said plasma wand coupled to a plasma generating unit;

performing a transscleral procedure;

removing the first plasma incising tip from the plasma wand;

inserting a second plasma incising tip into the plasma wand; and

,

performing a transciliary procedure.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second plasma incising tips each include:

a main body; and

,

a filament extending from one end of the main body, said filament being partially enclosed within an insulating sheath.