System and method for catheter-based plasma coagulation
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsArlen K. Ward, Duane E. Kerr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plasma instrument includes an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough, the lumen being in fluid communication with an ionizable media source; and a plasma applicator coupled to a distal portion of the elongated body. The plasma applicator includes: an active electrode configured to couple to an active terminal of a generator; and a corona electrode configured to couple to a return terminal of a generator. The plasma instrument also includes a switching element coupled to the corona electrode, the switching element configured to control at least one of resistivity or connectivity of the corona electrode to a generator.
Claims14
A method of plasma-coagulation of tissue, the method comprising:
- supplying an ionizable media from an ionizable media source to a plasma instrument including a plasma applicator having an active electrode and a corona electrode, and an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough, the lumen being in fluid communication with the ionizable media source;
- coupling the active electrode to an active terminal of a generator;
- coupling the corona electrode to a return terminal of the generator;
- activating a switching element electrically coupled to the corona electrode to a first state to ignite the ionizable media to form a plasma effluent;
- and
- activating the switching element to a second state during which the corona electrode is electrically coupled to the generator to maintain the plasma effluent.
A method of plasma-coagulation of tissue, the method comprising:
- supplying an ionizable media from an ionizable media source to a plasma instrument including a plasma applicator having an active electrode and a corona electrode, and an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough, the lumen being in fluid communication with the ionizable media source;
- supplying energy from a generator to the active electrode and the corona electrode;
- activating a switching element electrically coupled to the corona electrode to a first state to ignite the ionizable media to form a plasma effluent;
- and
- activating the switching element to a second state during which the corona electrode is electrically coupled to the generator to maintain the plasma effluent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.