US 2006/0149225 A1 · Fluid-assisted electrosurgical devices, electrosurgical unit with pump and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The invention provides an electrosurgical unit comprising a radio-frequency power source and a pump, with the throughput of fluid expelled by the pump controlled by the RF power level setting and fluid flow rate setting. The invention also provides various electrosurgical devices which may be used with the electrosurgical unit. In one embodiment, the electrosurgical device comprises a first electrode tip spaced next to a second electrode tip with a portion of the first electrode tip facing the second electrode tip and a portion of the second electrode tip facing the first electrode tip, the first electrode tip and the second electrode tip both having a spherical distal end, and a fluid outlet arrangement to expel fluid onto the electrode tips solely at locations remote from the electrode tip portions facing each other.

Claims44

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical apparatus to provide controlled delivery of radio-frequency power and a fluid to an electrosurgical hand device to treat tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a radio-frequency generator to deliver the radio-frequency power, the radio frequency power from the radio-frequency generator selectable at a radio-frequency power level;
a pump to deliver the fluid;
a primer to prime the hand device with the fluid;
a control system to control a flow of the fluid delivered by the pump with a functional relationship between the radio-frequency power level and the flow of the fluid, the functional relationship to increase the flow of the fluid in response to an increase in the radio-frequency power level and to decrease the flow of the fluid in response to a decrease in the radio-frequency power level;
and
a fluid flow selector which changes the functional relationship between the radio-frequency power level and the flow of the fluid.

3 more elements

A bipolar electrosurgical device to treat tissue by moving along a tissue surface in a presence of radio frequency energy and a fluid provided simultaneously from the device, the device comprising:

a first electrode tip spaced next to a second electrode tip, a surface portion of the first electrode tip facing the second electrode tip and a surface portion of the second electrode tip facing the first electrode tip;
the first electrode tip having a spherical distal end;
the second electrode tip having a spherical distal end;
and
a fluid outlet arrangement, the fluid outlet arrangement to expel fluid onto the electrode tips solely at locations remote from the electrode tip surface portions facing each other.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid-assisted electrosurgical devices, electrosurgical unit with pump and methods of use thereof

Life of this patent

Fluid-assisted electrosurgical devices, electrosurgical unit with pump and methods of use thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44