System and Method for Electrosurgical Conductive Gas Cutting for Improving Eschar, Sealing Vessels and Tissues
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical method for simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue with an electrosurgical device having an electrode and a channel wherein said channel has a port near a proximal end of said electrode for directing a gas onto said proximal end of said electrode, the method comprising the steps of:
- causing a gas to flow through said channel and exit said port;
applying high-frequency energy to said electrode while said gas flows through said channel, wherein said high-frequency energy applied to said electrode continuously plasmatizes gas exiting said port;
initiating an electrical discharge from said electrode through said continuously plasmatized gas to said tissue;
cutting tissue with said electrode;
maintaining said electrical discharge from said electrode through said plasmatized gas while cutting tissue with said electrode to cause coagulation of tissue adjacent said proximal end of said electrode simultaneously with said cutting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical method and device for simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue with an electrosurgical device having an electrode and a channel wherein said channel has a port near a proximal end of said electrode, wherein the method comprises the steps of causing an inert gas to flow through said channel and exit said port, applying high-frequency energy to said electrode while said inert gas flows through said channel, wherein said high-frequency energy applied to said electrode continuously plasmatizes inert gas exiting said port, initiating an electrical discharge from said electrode through said continuously plasmatized inert gas to said tissue, cutting tissue with said electrode, maintaining said electrical discharge from said electrode through said plasmatized inert gas while cutting tissue with said electrode to cause coagulation of said tissue simultaneously with said cutting.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical method for simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue with an electrosurgical device having an electrode and a channel wherein said channel has a port near a proximal end of said electrode for directing a gas onto said proximal end of said electrode, the method comprising the steps of:
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causing a gas to flow through said channel and exit said port; applying high-frequency energy to said electrode while said gas flows through said channel, wherein said high-frequency energy applied to said electrode continuously plasmatizes gas exiting said port; initiating an electrical discharge from said electrode through said continuously plasmatized gas to said tissue; cutting tissue with said electrode; maintaining said electrical discharge from said electrode through said plasmatized gas while cutting tissue with said electrode to cause coagulation of tissue adjacent said proximal end of said electrode simultaneously with said cutting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrosurgical device comprising:
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means for initiating an electrical discharge from an electrode through continuously plasmatized inert gas to tissue; and means for simultaneously cutting tissue with an energized electrode and coagulating said tissue by maintaining said electrical discharge from said electrode through said plasmatized inert gas while cutting said tissue with said energized electrode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrosurgical device comprising:
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a housing; an electrode, wherein said electrode extends through said housing and a portion of said electrode extends from a distal end of said housing; a connector for connecting said electrode to an electrosurgical generator; a channel in said housing; a port at a proximate end of said channel for connecting said channel to a source of pressurized inert gas; and a port at a distal end of said channel for discharging inert gas flowing through said channel; and controls for initiating a flow of an inert gas through said channel and applying high-frequency electrical energy to said electrode, wherein said controls provide for a conventional cut mode, a conventional coagulation mode, an argon plasma coagulation mode, and a plasma cut mode; wherein said plasma cut mode comprises maintaining an electrical discharge from said electrode through plasmatized inert gas being discharged from said channel while cutting tissue with said electrode to cause coagulation of said tissue simultaneously with said cutting. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification