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US 2001/0034519 A1Published application
Tissue resurfacing
AssigneeGyrus Medical Limited
InventorsColin C. O. Goble, Keith Penny, Christopher P. Hancock, Francis Amoah
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGyrus Medical Limited
InventorsColin C. O. Goble, Keith Penny, Christopher P. Hancock, Francis Amoah
Estimating the term…
A tissue resurfacing system has a handheld surgical instrument with a gas conduit (38) which terminates in an exit nozzle (180N). Inside the conduit is an inner electrode (54). A tubular coaxial outer electrode (70) constitutes part of the wall of the conduit. Coupled to the instrument is a radio frequency power generator which delivers high level radio frequency energy in single-shot or repeated bursts to the electrodes (54,70) while gas is flowing through the conduit (38) so as to create a gas plasma between the electrodes which then emerges from the nozzle (180N) for tissue treatment. A resonant focussing element (480) may be located in the conduit (38) between the electrodes (54,70) to aid plasma striking. The combination of high peak power (e.g. greater than 750 W) and short treatment pulses (e.g. less than 30 ms) allows rapid surface treatment without significant thermal effects at unwanted depths.
A tissue resurfacing system comprising:
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator is arranged such that the treatment pulses have a duration in the range of from 5 ms to 20 ms.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator is arranged to generate radio frequency power at frequencies in excess of 300 MHz.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator is operable at a frequency in excess of 300 MHz and has a radio frequency power device, a radio frequency output connector for connection to the surgical instrument, and an output isolator comprising a waveguide section and, within the waveguide section, spaced apart ohmically separate input and output probes connected to the power device and the output connector respectively, the probes being arranged to couple radio frequency energy into and out of the waveguide section.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator is operable at a frequency in excess of 300 MHz and has a radio frequency power device, a radio frequency output connector for connection to the surgical instrument, a circulator coupled between the power device and the output connection for presenting a substantially constant load impedance to the power device, and a reflected power path including a reflected power dump device coupled to the circulator.
A gas plasma tissue resurfacing instrument comprising:
An instrument according to any of claims 22 to 246 wherein the first electrode is in the form of a needle having a tip in registry with an end part of the focussing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.