Fluid-assisted electrosurgical device
DCFirst Claim
1. A fluid-assisted electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle maintaining a tube having a proximal and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end of the tube being electrically conductive, the tube defining a lumen extending proximally from the distal end of the tube, the lumen being connectable to a source of fluid under pressure, the electrically conductive portion of the tube being connectable to a source of radio-frequency energy; and
an electrically conductive contact element, wherein a first portion of the contact element is enclosed within the tube at the distal end of the tube and a second portion of the contact element extends distally beyond the distal end of the tube.
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Abstract
An electrocautery device is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the electrocautery electrode/tip is provided with a hollow, conductive tube terminating at its distal end in a ball point type tip. Fluid, preferably conductive fluid, is applied to the proximal end of the hollow electode/tip, and expelled from the distal end thereof during electrocautery. The ball point distal tip allows the distal tip to be directly applied to the tissue and “rolled” or slid along the tissue. This allows the distal tip to be moved across the tissue without dragging or snagging on the tissue. In addition, the conductive fluid expelled from the distal tip further lubricates the distal tip as it moves across the tissue. If conductive fluid is used, the conductive fluid emanating from the electrode/tip conducts the RF electrocautery energy away from the distal tip so that it is primarily the fluid, rather than the distal tip that actually accomplishes the cauterizing of tissue. That is, the fluid serves as a “virtual” electrocautery electrode. Since it is the fluid, rather than the distal tip that cauterizes, coagulates and ablates, no burns or perforations are made to the tissue, reducing the amount of debris at the site. Also, the flow of fluid through the electrode/tip tends to keep the distal tip clean and cool.
192 Citations
74 Claims
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1. A fluid-assisted electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle maintaining a tube having a proximal and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end of the tube being electrically conductive, the tube defining a lumen extending proximally from the distal end of the tube, the lumen being connectable to a source of fluid under pressure, the electrically conductive portion of the tube being connectable to a source of radio-frequency energy; and an electrically conductive contact element, wherein a first portion of the contact element is enclosed within the tube at the distal end of the tube and a second portion of the contact element extends distally beyond the distal end of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a handle; a tube mounted to the handle and having a proximal and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end of the tube being electrically conductive and connectable to a source of radiofrequency energy; a fluid passage for delivering a fluid to the distal end of the tube; and an electrically conductive contact element at least a portion of which is enclosed within the tube at the distal end of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An electrosurgical instrument for ablating through a chest of a patient a length of tissue for treating atrial fibrillation, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a rigid, elongated electrode having a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal lumen extending from the proximal end for delivering a conductive fluid to the distal end, the distal end of the electrode including an electrically conductive contact element; wherein the electrode includes a tubular body terminating at the distal end, the tubular body forming at least one passage proximal the distal end, the passage being in fluid communication with the internal lumen; an electrical insulator surrounding at least a portion of the electrode; a non-conductive handle rigidly coupled to the proximal end of the electrode such that the distal end of the electrode is readily manipulated in a sliding fashion via movement of the handle; a source of radiofrequency energy electrically coupled to the electrode; and a source of conductive fluid fluidly connected to the internal lumen of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. An electrosurgical instrument for ablating through a chest of a patient a length of tissue for treating atrial fibrillation, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a rigid, elongated electrode having a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal lumen extending from the proximal end for delivering a conductive fluid to the distal end, the distal end of the electrode including an electrically conductive contact element; wherein the contact element is porous; an electrical insulator surrounding at least a portion of the electrode; a non-conductive handle rigidly coupled to the proximal end of the electrode such that the distal end of the electrode is readily manipulated in a sliding fashion via movement of the handle; a source of radiofrequency energy electrically coupled to the electrode; and a source of conductive fluid fluidly connected to the internal lumen of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method of performing electrosurgery, comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying radio-frequency energy from a source of radio-frequency energy to an electrosurgery site via an electrically conductive contact element at least partially enclosed in an end of an electrically conductive tube connected to the source of radiofrequency energy; and (b) simultaneously with step (a), infusing the electrosurgery site with a conductive fluid expelled from the tube past the contact element. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification