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US 10,881,444 B2Granted
Electrosurgical apparatus with retractable blade
AssigneeApyx Medical Corporation
InventorsJeffrey C. Rencher, Gregory A. Konesky, Borislav S. Simeonov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrosurgical apparatus with a retractable blade for use in cold plasma applications, electrosurgical cutting and mechanical cutting is provided. The electrosurgical apparatus employs a tip of the retractable blade as a sharp conductive point to generate a plasma beam or discharge. When the blade is retracted within the electrosurgical apparatus, it is electrically energized while an inert gas flows over it, producing a cold plasma discharge. In the de-energized state, the blade is advanced and used as a traditional, mechanical surgical blade.
Claims38
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a passage extending therethrough, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an electrically conducting tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the electrically conducting tube being disposed in the passage of the housing;
- an insulating outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer tube disposed around the electrically conducting tube with the proximal end of the outer tube coupled to the distal end of the housing, the electrically conducting tube being movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing and outer tube;
- and
- an electrically conducting blade coupled to the distal end of the electrically conducting tube, wherein in a first position of the electrically conducting tube, the electrically conducting blade extends beyond the distal end of the outer tube for mechanical cutting and, in a second position of the electrically conducting tube, the electrically conducting blade is retracted within the outer tube and is energized via the electrically conducting tube to form plasma when an inert gas flows through the electrically conducting tube,
- wherein the electrically conducting tube and the insulating outer tube are configured to articulate at their respective distal ends.
3 more elements
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a passage extending therethrough, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an electrically conducting tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the electrically conducting tube being disposed in the passage of the housing;
- an insulating outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer tube disposed around the electrically conducting tube with the proximal end of the outer tube fixed to the distal end of the housing, such that, the outer tube is immoveable with respect to the housing and the electrically conducting tube is movable within the housing and the outer tube along a longitudinal axis of the housing and outer tube;
- and
- an electrically conducting blade connected to an inner circumference of the distal end of the electrically conducting tube, wherein in a first position of the electrically conducting tube, the electrically conducting blade extends beyond the distal end of the outer tube for mechanical cutting and, in a second position of the electrically conducting tube, the electrically conducting blade is retracted within the outer tube and is energized via the electrically conducting tube to form plasma when an inert gas flows through the electrically conducting tube,
- wherein the electrically conducting tube and the insulating outer tube are configured to articulate at their respective distal ends.
3 more elements
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a passage extending therethrough, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an electrically conducting tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the electrically conducting tube being disposed in the passage of the housing;
- an insulating outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer tube disposed around the electrically conducting tube with the proximal end of the outer tube fixed to the distal end of the housing, such that, the outer tube is immoveable with respect to the housing and the electrically conducting tube is movable within the housing and the outer tube along a longitudinal axis of the housing and outer tube;
- and
- an electrode connected to an inner circumference of the distal end of the electrically conducting tube, wherein in a first position of the electrically conducting tube, a tip of the electrode extends beyond the distal end of the outer tube for electrosurgical cutting when the tip is energized via the electrically conducting tube and, in a second position of the electrically conducting tube, the tip of the electrode is retracted within the outer tube and is energized via the electrically conducting tube to form plasma when an inert gas flows through the electrically conducting tube,
- wherein the electrically conducting tube and the insulating outer tube are configured to articulate at their respective distal ends.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.