# US 11,432,865 B2 · Method of inserting an electrosurgical instrument into an endoscope in an apparatus for ionisable gas coagulation and operating the electrosurgical instrument in the endoscope after insertion

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- Number: US 11,432,865 B2
- Document ID: US11432865B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/251,709
- Filed: 2019-01-18
- Published: 2019-08-01
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-26
- Assignees: Gyrus Medical Limited
- Applicants: Gyrus Medical Limited
- Inventors: Tony Atwell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432865B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/042: {using additional gas becoming plasma}
- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B 2017/00296: {mounted on an endoscope}
- A61B 2017/00469: {for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre}
- A61B 2018/00583: {Coblation, i.e. ablation using a cold plasma}
- A61B 2018/00589: {Coagulation}
- A61B 2018/00863: {Fluid flow}
- A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes}
- A61B 2018/1495: {Electrodes being detachable from a support structure}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A method of operating an electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue comprises inserting the electrosurgical instrument into an endoscope, and activating a source to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of less than a predetermined threshold flow rate while the electrosurgical instrument is being inserted into the endoscope. Once the electrosurgical instrument has been fully inserted into the endoscope, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of greater than the predetermined threshold flow rate. Finally, high frequency energy is supplied from an electrosurgical generator to the electrosurgical instrument, in order to ionise the ionisable gas flowing to the electrosurgical instrument.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating an apparatus for ionisable gas coagulation, the apparatus comprising at least an endoscope, an electrosurgical instrument capable of being inserted through the endoscope, a source for supplying ionisable gas to said electrosurgical instrument, and an electrosurgical generator for supplying high frequency energy to said electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:
a) inserting the electrosurgical instrument into the endoscope;
b) activating the source to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of less than a predetermined threshold flow rate while the electrosurgical instrument is being inserted into the endoscope;
c) activating the source to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of greater than the predetermined threshold flow rate when the electrosurgical instrument has been fully inserted into the endoscope; and
d) supplying high frequency energy from the electrosurgical generator to said electrosurgical instrument, in order to ionise the ionisable gas flowing to the electrosurgical instrument in step c.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold flow rate is between 0.2 and 0.75 litres per minute.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold flow rate is between 0.25 and 0.5 litres per minute.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein in step b, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of less than 0.15 litres per minute.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein in step c, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of greater than 0.3 litres per minute.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein in step c, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of greater than 0.8 litres per minute.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein in step c, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument at a flow rate of greater than 1.6 litres per minute.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein in step b, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument in pulses.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein in step c, the source is activated to supply ionisable gas to the electrosurgical instrument in pulses.