Surgical electrode assembly with focal point projection
AssigneeArthrex, Inc.
InventorEric D. McLeish
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical ablator may include an insulator having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The insulator may include a rim forming a distal extent of the distal end portion and an aperture disposed in the distal end portion. An electrode is disposed in the aperture and forms a cavity having a profile shape recessed from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion. The electrode assembly projects a focal point of an ablation region emitted from the supply electrode through the projecting rim to a projection distance beyond the distal extent.
Claims23
An electrode assembly for a surgical ablator, the electrode assembly comprising:
- an insulator comprising a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the insulator comprising a rim forming a distal extent of the distal end portion, the rim forming an aperture disposed in the distal end portion;
- a supply electrode disposed in the aperture and forming a cavity having a profile shape recessed from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion, wherein the profile shape forms an inner contour of the supply electrode having a first radius and an outer contour enclosing the inner contour having a second radius different from the first radius;
- and
- wherein the electrode assembly is configured to project a focal point of an ablation region emitted from the supply electrode through the aperture to a projection distance beyond the distal extent.
A surgical ablation system comprising:
- an electrode assembly comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the electrode assembly comprising:
- an insulator comprising a rim forming a distal extent of the distal end portion, the rim forming an aperture disposed in the distal end portion;
- and
- a supply electrode disposed in the aperture and forming a cavity having a profile shape recessed from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion, wherein the electrode assembly is configured to project a focal point of an ablation region along a projection direction, and the projection direction extends from the supply electrode through the aperture of the rim to a projection distance beyond the distal extent, wherein the profile shape forms an inner contour of the supply electrode having a first surface area, an outer contour enclosing the inner contour, the outer contour having a second surface area larger than the first surface area, and a transition section distinguishing the inner contour and the outer contour;
- and
- a controller comprising a signal generator and a processor, wherein the controller is configured to control a radio frequency (RF) signal conducted to the supply electrode, wherein the supply electrode is configured to transmit RF energy to the focal point of the ablation region in response to the RF signal.
A surgical ablation apparatus comprising:
- an insulator comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the insulator comprising a rim forming an aperture disposed in the distal end portion;
- a supply electrode disposed in the aperture and forming a cavity having a profile shape recessed from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion, wherein the supply electrode is configured to project a focal point of an ablation region along a projection direction that extends from the supply electrode through the aperture of the rim to a projection distance beyond the distal end portion, wherein the profile shape of the supply electrode forms a first concave region and a second concave region enclosing the first concave region about the longitudinal axis, where the second concave region is distinguishable from the first concave region;
- and
- at least one aspiration aperture extending through the supply electrode to a lumen, wherein the at least one aspiration aperture is aligned with the focal point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.