Fluid-Assisted Electrosurgical Devices, Electrosurgical Unit With Pump And Methods Of Use Thereof

• US 20110028965A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Salient Surgical Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: MCCLURKEN, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,361,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter

Abstract

The invention provides an electrosurgical unit comprising a radio-frequency power source and a pump, with the throughput of fluid expelled by the pump controlled by the RF power level setting and fluid flow rate setting. The invention also provides various electrosurgical devices which may be used with the electrosurgical unit. In one embodiment, the electrosurgical device comprises a first electrode tip spaced next to a second electrode tip with a portion of the first electrode tip facing the second electrode tip and a portion of the second electrode tip facing the first electrode tip, the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip both having a spherical distal end, and a fluid outlet arrangement to expel fluid onto the electrode tips solely at locations remote from the electrode tip portions facing each other.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical apparatus to provide controlled delivery of radio-frequency power and a fluid to an electrosurgical hand device to treat tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a radio-frequency generator to deliver the radio-frequency power, the radio frequency power from the radio-frequency generator selectable at a radio-frequency power level;

a pump to deliver the fluid;

a primer to prime the hand device with the fluid;

a control system to control a flow of the fluid delivered by the pump with a functional relationship between the radio-frequency power level and the flow of the fluid, the functional relationship to increase the flow of the fluid in response to an increase in the radio-frequency power level and to decrease the flow of the fluid in response to a decrease in the radio-frequency power level; and

a fluid flow selector which changes the functional relationship between the radiofrequency power level and the flow of the fluid.

2-44. -44. (canceled)