Method of making flat loop bipolar electrode tips for electrosurgical instrument
AssigneeValley Forge Scientific Corporation
InventorsJerry L. Malis, Martin T. Mortimer, Leonard Malis
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Abstract
A method is provided for making an electrode tip for use in a bipolar electrosurgical instrument from a single flat blank of metal. The method uses a photo chemical machining process. The resultant electrode tip has a generally loop shaped working portion. Use of the flat blank of metal results in electrodes having working portions with sharp edges in cross-section. The working portions emit concentrated energy in the radial direction.
Claims25
A method of fabricating at least one electrode from a metal blank, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating at least one pattern, the pattern including at least an electrode pattern;
- (b) placing a negative of the pattern against opposite facing surfaces of a metal blank coated with a photoresist material, the negative of the pattern on the opposite facing surfaces being in registration with each other;
- (c) exposing and developing the metal blank, and removing photoresist from unexposed, undeveloped areas of the metal blank;
- and
- (d) exposing the metal blank to a metal dissolving chemical that etches away the unexposed, undeveloped areas of the metal blank, the resultant piece of metal being suitable for use as at least one electrode, the resultant piece of metal having a shape of the at least one created electrode pattern and having a working portion with sharp edges in cross-section.
A method of fabricating at least one electrode tip from a single metal blank, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating at least one pattern, the pattern including at least an electrode tip pattern;
- (b) placing a negative of the pattern against opposite facing surfaces of a single metal blank coated with a photoresist material, the negative of the pattern on the opposite facing surfaces being in registration with each other;
- (c) exposing and developing the metal blank, and removing photoresist from unexposed, undeveloped areas of the metal blank;
- and
- (d) exposing the metal blank to a metal dissolving chemical that etches away the unexposed, undeveloped areas of the metal blank, the resultant piece of metal being suitable for use as at least one electrode tip, the resultant piece of metal having a shape of the at least one created electrode tip pattern and having a working portion with sharp edges in cross-section.
A method of making an electrode instrument comprising the steps of:
- (a) fabricating an electrode tip from a single metal blank by
- (i) creating at least one pattern, the pattern including at least an electrode tip pattern, the electrode tip pattern being a loop shape and a hook shape spaced from and generally surrounding at least a portion of the loop shape,
- (ii) placing a negative of the pattern against opposite facing surfaces of the single metal blank coated with a photoresist material, the negative of the pattern on the opposite facing surfaces being in registration with each other;
- (iii) exposing and developing the metal blank, and removing photoresist from unexposed, undeveloped areas of the metal blank;
- and
- (iv) exposing the metal blank to a metal dissolving chemical that etches away the unexposed, undeveloped areas of the metal blank, the resultant piece of metal being suitable for use as at least one electrode tip having a first electrode in the form of a loop and a second electrode in the form of a hook spaced from and generally surrounding at least a portion of the loop, the resultant first and second electrodes having working portions with sharp edges in cross-section;
- (b) mounting the electrode tip to a distal end of a handle;
- and
- (c) connecting the first and second electrodes to conductors which extend through the handle and are adapted to connect to respective opposite poles of a bipolar generator.
A method of fabricating an electrode tip from a metal blank, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) defining a pattern, the pattern including an electrode tip;
- and
- (b) machining the metal blank as defined by the pattern to form at least the electrode tip, the resultant electrode tip having a working portion with sharp edges in cross-section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.