Electrosurgical instrument
AssigneeGyrus Medical Limited
InventorsNigel M Goble, Colin C. O. Goble, Alan N Syrop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument is provided for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium. The instrument comprises an instrument shaft (10), and a tissue treatment electrode (12) at the distal end of the shaft for electrosurgically excising tissue pieces at an operation site. The tissue treatment electrode (12) is cyclically movable relative to the distal end of the shaft (10). Threshold control means are provided for controlling the power threshold for vaporization of the electrically-conductive fluid medium at the tissue treatment electrode (12).
Claims32
An electrosurgical instrument for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, the instrument comprising:
- an instrument shaft,
- a tissue treatment electrode mounted at the distal end of the shaft for electrosurgically excising tissue pieces at an operation site, the tissue treatment electrode being movable cyclically relative to the distal end of the shaft,
- a vaporisation detection circuit for detecting vaporisation in the region of the tissue treatment electrode, and
- vaporisation control means for controlling the power threshold for vaporisation of the electrically-conductive medium at the tissue treatment electrode, in response to the output of the vaporisation detection circuit, by varying turbulence in said the electrically-conductive medium.
An electrosurgical instrument for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, the instrument comprising:
- an instrument shaft,
- a tissue treatment electrode mounted at the distal end of the shaft for electrosurgically excising tissue pieces at an operation site, the tissue treatment electrode being movable cyclically relative to the distal end of the shaft,
- vaporisation threshold control means for controlling the power threshold for vaporisation of the electrically-conductive fluid medium at the tissue treatment electrode,
- a return electrode which is electrically insulated from the tissue treatment electrode by insulation means, the tissue treatment electrode being exposed at the distal end of the instrument, and the return electrode having a fluid contact surface spaced proximally from the end of the tissue treatment electrode,
- drive means for moving the tissue treatment electrode relative to the distal end of the shaft, and
- an RF generator having a bipolar output connected to the tissue treatment electrode and the return electrode wherein the RF generator supplies energy to the drive means, wherein said drive means is comprised of a motor.
An electrosurgical instrument for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, the instrument comprising:
- an instrument shaft,
- a tissue treatment electrode mounted at the distal end of the shaft for electrosurgically excising tissue pieces at an operation site, the tissue treatment electrode being movable cyclically relative to the distal end of the shaft, and
- vaporisation control means for controlling the power threshold for vaporisation of the electrically-conductive medium at the tissue treatment electrode by varying the rate of cyclical movement of the tissue treatment electrode to thereby vary, turbulence in said electrically-conductive medium.
An electrosurgical instrument for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, the instrument comprising:
- an instrument shaft,
- a tissue treatment electrode provided at the distal end of a rod mounted within the instrument shaft for electrosurgically excising tissue pieces at an operation site, a drive means constituted by, a motor and coupling means for converting the rotary output of the motor into reciprocatory movement of the rod, the tissue treatment electrode being movable cyclically so as to be reciprocatable relative to the distal end of the shaft, and
- vaporisation control means for controlling the power threshold for vaporisation of the electrically-conductive medium at the tissue treatment electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.