# US 11,298,155 B2 · Cutting guard with radiofrequency dissection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,155 B2 - Document ID: US11298155B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/392,733 - Filed: 2019-04-24 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-24 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Jacob C. Baril; Matthew A. Dinino; Saumya Banerjee; George S. Matta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298155B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0293: {with ring member to support retractor elements} - A61B 17/3496: {Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips (for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612)} - A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)} - A61B 17/3476: {Powered trocars, e.g. electrosurgical cutting, lasers, powered knives} - A61B 18/1487: {Trocar-like, i.e. devices producing an enlarged transcutaneous opening} - A61B 90/04: {Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery (protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022)} - A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 2017/00287: {Bags for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 2017/3445: {used as instrument channel for multiple instruments} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/142: {at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave} - A61B 2090/08021: {of the patient or his organs} - A61N 1/044: {Shape of the electrode} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A cutting guard for use with a wound retractor includes a body having a lumen including a flexible inner surface with a ground contact extending therethrough. A ground guard is included having proximal and distal openings that define a guard lumen therethrough, the ground guard encapsulating the flexible inner surface of the body lumen. A biasing element is disposed within the guard lumen and encircles the flexible inner surface and biases the flexible inner surface inwardly. A cutting electrode is disposed proximate the distal opening of the ground guard and connects to a first electrical potential and the ground guard connects to a second electrical potential. Upon externalizing of tissue through the distal opening, oversized tissue forces the flexible inner surface of the body lumen and the ground contact outwardly to engage the ground guard to complete an electrical circuit and energize the cutting electrode to excise oversized tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting guard for use with a wound retractor, comprising: a body having proximal and distal portions and a body lumen extending therebetween, the body lumen including a flexible inner peripheral surface extending therethrough, the flexible inner peripheral surface including a ground contact; an elongated ground guard having proximal end defining a proximal opening and a distal end defining a distal opening, the elongated ground guard defining a guard lumen therethrough extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening, the elongated ground guard encapsulating the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen; a biasing element disposed at least partially within the guard lumen and encircling the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen, the biasing element biasing the flexible inner peripheral surface inwardly to prevent the ground guard from contacting the ground contact; and a cutting electrode disposed proximate the distal opening of the elongated ground guard, the cutting electrode electrically connected to a first potential of an electrical energy source and at least one of the proximal end of the ground guard or the guard lumen electrically connected to a second potential of the electrical energy source, wherein upon externalizing of tissue through the distal opening of the elongated ground guard, oversized tissue that does not fit through the distal opening of the elongated ground guard forces the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen and the ground guard outwardly to engage one of the proximal end of the ground contact or the guard lumen to complete an electrical circuit with the cutting electrode to energize the cutting electrode to excise oversized tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cutting guard according to claim 1, wherein the biasing element is at least one of a spring, a living hinge, or a compressible disc. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A cutting guard according to claim 1, wherein the cutting electrode is ring-shaped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A cutting guard according to claim 1, wherein the cutting electrode and the distal opening are similar in size and shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A cutting guard according to claim 1, wherein the cutting electrode is disposed in concentric registration with the distal opening of the ground guard. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A cutting guard according to claim 1, wherein the cutting guard includes one or more mechanical interfaces adapted to securely engage a wound retractor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A cutting guard according to claim 1, wherein the cutting electrode of the cutting guard is activated only when the ground contact completes the electrical circuit. ### Claim 8 A cutting guard for use with a wound retractor, comprising: a body having proximal and distal portions and a body lumen extending therebetween, the body lumen including a flexible inner peripheral surface extending therethrough; an elongated ground guard having proximal end defining a proximal opening and a distal end defining a distal opening, the elongated ground guard defining a guard lumen therethrough extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening, the elongated ground guard encapsulating the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen; a biasing element disposed at least partially within the guard lumen and encircling the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen, the biasing element biasing the flexible inner peripheral surface inwardly to prevent the flexible inner peripheral surface from contacting the proximal end of the ground guard and the guard lumen; and a cutting electrode disposed proximate the distal opening of the elongated ground guard, the cutting electrode electrically connected to a first potential of an electrical energy source and at least one of the proximal end of the ground guard or the guard lumen electrically connected to a second potential of the electrical energy source, wherein upon externalizing of tissue through the distal opening of the elongated ground guard, oversized tissue that does not fit through the distal opening of the elongated ground guard forces the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen and the biasing element outwardly to engage one of the proximal end of the ground guard or the guard lumen to complete an electrical circuit with the cutting electrode to energize the cutting electrode to excise oversized tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A cutting guard according to claim 8, wherein the biasing element is at least one of a spring, a living hinge, or a compressible disc. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A cutting guard according to claim 8, wherein the cutting electrode is ring-shaped. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A cutting guard according to claim 8, wherein the cutting electrode and the distal opening are similar in size and shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A cutting guard according to claim 8, wherein the cutting electrode is disposed in concentric registration with the distal opening of the ground guard. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A cutting guard according to claim 8, wherein the cutting guard includes one or more mechanical interfaces adapted to securely engage a wound retractor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A cutting guard according to claim 8, wherein the cutting electrode of the cutting guard is activated only when the biasing element completes the electrical circuit.