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US 2003/0195513 A1Published application
Electrosurgical instrument and method of use
AssigneeSurgRx, Inc.
InventorsCsaba Truckai, James A. Baker, John H. Shadduck
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSurgRx, Inc.
InventorsCsaba Truckai, James A. Baker, John H. Shadduck
Estimating the term…
An electrosurgical medical device and method for creating thermal welds in engaged tissue. In one embodiment, at least one jaw of the instrument defines a tissue engagement plane carrying a variable resistive body of a positive temperature coefficient material that has a selected decreased electrical conductance at each selected increased temperature thereof over a targeted treatment range. The variable resistive body can be engineered to bracket a targeted thermal treatment range, for example about 60° C. to 80° C., at which tissue welding can be accomplished. In one mode of operation, the engagement plane will automatically modulate and spatially localize ohmic heating within the engaged tissue from Rf energy application across micron-scale portions of the engagement surface. In another mode of operation, a variable resistive body will focus conductive heating in a selected portion of the engagement surface.
An electrosurgical device, comprising:
An electrosurgical system, comprising:
An electrosurgical system for controlled application of energy to tissue, comprising:
An electrosurgical system for controlled application of energy to tissue, comprising:
An electrosurgical method, comprising the steps of:
An electrosurgical method, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Probes or electrodes therefor: probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
Electrical conductivity: high, i.e. electrically conducting
Electrical conductivity: low, i.e. electrically insulating
Coatings on the energy applicator: with metal
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical devices and techniques and more particularly relates to a working end of an electrosurgical instrument that causes controlled ohmic heating of tissue across an engagement surface that modulates Rf power levels across localized micro-scale portions of the engagement surface, the system further adapted to focus conductive heating of tissue across the engagement surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1A is a view of a blood vessel targeted for welding.
FIG. 1B is a greatly enlarged sectional view of opposing wall portions of the blood vessel of FIG. 1A taken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1C is a graphic representation of opposing walls of a blood vessel engaged by prior art electrosurgical jaws showing random paths of current (causing ohmic heating) across the engaged tissue between opposing polarity electrodes.
1. Exemplary jaw structures for welding tissue. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a working end of a surgical grasping instrument corresponding to the invention that is adapted for transecting captured tissue and for contemporaneously welding the captured tissue margins with controlled application of Rf energy. The jaw assembly 100A is carried at the distal end 104 of an introducer sleeve member 106 that can have a diameter ranging from about 2 mm. to 20 mm. for cooperating with cannulae in endoscopic surgeries or for use in open surgical procedures. The introducer portion 106 extends from a proximal handle (not shown). The handle can be any type of pistol-grip or other type of handle known in the art that carries actuator levers, triggers or sliders for actuating the jaws and need not be described in further detail. The introducer sleeve portion 106 has a bore 108 extending therethrough for carrying actuator mechanisms for actuating the jaws and for carrying electrical leads 109a-109b for delivery of electrical energy to electrosurgical components of the working end.
As can be seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the jaw assembly 100A has first (lower) jaw element 112A and second (upper) jaw element 112B that are adapted to close or approximate about axis 115. The jaw elements can both be moveable or a single jaw can rotate to provide the jaw-open and jaw-closed positions. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, both jaws are moveable relative to the introducer portion 106.
Of particular interest, the opening-closing mechanism of the jaw assembly 100A is capable of applying very high compressive forces on tissue on the basis of cam mechanisms with a reciprocating member 140. The engagement surfaces further provide a positive engagement of camming surfaces (i) for moving the jaw assembly to the (second) closed position to apply very high compressive forces, and (ii) for moving the jaws toward the (first) open position to apply substantially high opening forces for “dissecting” tissue. This important feature allows the surgeon to insert the tip of the closed jaws into a dissectable tissue plane—and thereafter open the jaws to apply such dissecting forces against tissues. Prior art instruments are spring-loaded toward the open position which is not useful for dissecting tissue.