Electrosurgical tool
AssigneeStryker Corporation
InventorsSteven C. Kramer, Andrew J. Hamel, Reid Cover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrosurgical tool for cauterizing or ablating patient tissue, which tool includes a tubular shaft which defines therein a conduit in communication with a suction source and which mounts an electrode at the distal end thereof. An electrode support element is provided at the distal end of the shaft for mounting and insulating the electrode. The support element and the electrode together define a suction opening at the treating surface of the electrode which minimizes clogging of the tool.
Claims23
An electrosurgical tool comprising a handle defining a proximal end portion of said tool, an elongate tubular shaft projecting from said handle and defining a hollow interior in communication with a suction source, an electrode support element disposed at a distal end of said shaft and having a portion comprising an insulating material, said support element mounting an electrode configured for electrically treating tissue at a distal end of said shaft, said electrode and said portion of said support element together defining a first opening in communication with said hollow interior of said shaft, and said electrode defining a second opening in communication with said hollow interior of said shaft, said first and second openings permitting suction to be drawn through and along said shaft through said openings to a suction source.
The tool of 7, wherein a pair of said first openings are defined by portions of said upper edge portion of said support element and respective adjacent terminal edge portions of said electrode, and a pair of said second openings are wholly defined and enclosed by a respective pair of said portions of said electrode disposed adjacent said first openings.
An electrosurgical tool comprising:
- a handle defining a proximal end portion of said tool;
- a lumen assembly projecting from a distal end portion of said handle and including an elongated outer shaft defining a hollow interior, a distal end of said outer shaft comprising an electrically conductive material and defining a return electrode, an elongated inner shaft disposed within said interior of said outer shaft and defining a hollow interior in communication with a source of suction, an electrode support mounted at said distal end of said outer shaft, an active, energy-delivering electrode mounted on said electrode support, said electrode support having a portion comprising insulating material, said portion and said electrode together defining an opening in communication with said hollow interior of said inner shaft to provide suction at a distal end of said tool, said inner shaft comprising a conductive material and being connected to a source of electrical energy and disposed in electrical contact with said electrode such that said inner shaft delivers electrical energy to said electrode.
An electrosurgical tool comprising a handle defining a proximal end portion of said tool, an elongate tubular shaft projecting from said handle and defining a hollow interior in communication with a suction source, said shaft defining a central longitudinal axis, an electrode support element disposed at a distal end of said shaft and having a portion comprising an insulating material, said support element mounting an electrode thereon, said electrode having a tissue treating surface oriented in a plane which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said electrode and said portion of said support element together defining an opening in communication with said hollow interior of said shaft to permit suction to be drawn through and along said shaft through said opening to a suction source.
An electrosurgical tool comprising a handle defining a proximal end portion of said tool, an elongate tubular shaft projecting from said handle and defining a hollow interior in communication with a suction source, said shaft defining a central longitudinal axis, an electrode support element disposed at a distal end of said shaft and comprising an insulating material, said support element mounting an electrode configured for electrically treating tissue at a distal end of said shaft, said electrode having a tissue treating surface oriented in a plane which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said tissue treating surface defining a plurality of openings therein in communication with said hollow interior of said shaft to permit suction to be drawn through and along said shaft through said openings to a suction source associated with said tool, said tissue treating surface having a first area disposed between two adjacent ones of said openings, said first area having a thickness dimension, and a second area disposed outwardly of said first area and having a thickness dimension greater than the thickness dimension of said first area, said thickness dimensions of said first and second areas each extending in a direction generally parallel with a plane in which said tissue treating surface is disposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.