US 6,287,305 B1 · Electrosurgical instrument

Abstract

An improved electrosurgical instrument and method is disclosed for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a metal body having an outer insulating layer to reduce thermal/electrical discharge from non-functional portions of the instrument. In one aspect of the invention, an insulating layer having a thermal conductance of about 1.2 W/cm2° K and a dielectric withstand strength of at least about 50 volts is employed. Such insulating layer may advantageously comprise silicon and/or carbon. In another aspect of the invention, the metal body is provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.35 W/cm° K, and may advantageously comprise a metal selected from the group: gold, silver, aluminum, and copper. Heat sink means may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument (i.e., by removing heat from the metal body). In one embodiment, the heat sink means may comprise a phase change material that changes from a first phase to a second phase upon absorption of thermal energy from the metal body.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical instrument for conveying an electrosurgical signal to tissue to achieve a predetermined electrosurgical effect, comprising:

a metal body for carrying an electrosurgical signal, wherein said metal body has a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.35 W/cm° K when measured at about 300° K, wherein said metal body includes a main body portion and a peripheral edge portion, and wherein said metal body is laterally-tapered down in cross-sectional thickness from said main body portion to said peripheral edge portion;
and
an outer insulating layer positioned over at least a portion of said metal body and having a thermal conductance of about 1.2 Watt/cm2-° K or less when measured at about 300° K and a dielectric withstand voltage of about at least 50 volts.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrosurgical instrument

Life of this patent

Electrosurgical instrument

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28