Electrosurgical working end with replaceable cartridges
AssigneeSurgRx, Inc.
InventorsCsaba Truckai, James A. Baker, Gabor Gran, John H. Shadduck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrosurgical medical device and method for creating thermal welds in engaged tissue that carries the electrosurgical components in a disposable cartridge. The instrument also can carry a blade member in a disposable cartridge, thus making the instrument system inexpensive to use. In another embodiment, the electrical leads of the cartridge have a surface coating of a thermochromic material to provide the physician with a visual indicator of operational parameters when applying energy to tissue.
Claims8
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, the instrument comprising:
- a working end having first and second openable-closeable jaws having first and second respective tissue-engaging surfaces for engaging tissue and first and second respective support structures;
- the first tissue-engaging surface comprising a portion of the first support structure and a polymeric body, the first support structure configured as a first polarity electrode and at least partially surrounding the polymeric body. the polymeric body having a transverse cross section comprising a significant fractional area of a transverse cross section of the first jaw, the polymeric body having a non-linear positively sloped temperature resistance profile in a selected tissue treatment range;
- and
- the second tissue-engaging surface comprising a second polarity electrode.
A bipolar electrosurgicul instrument, the instrument comprising:
- a working end having first and second openable-closeable jaws comprising first and second respective tissue-engaging surfaces for engaging tissue and first and second respective support structures, the first tissue-engaging surface comprising a first polarity electrode, the second tissue-engaging surface comprising a second polarity electrode;
- and
- a polymeric body extending inwardly from the second tissue-engaging surface and partially surrounded by the second support structure, the polymeric body having a transverse cross section comprising a significant fractional area of a transverse cross section of the second jaw, the second jaw transverse cross section comprising a support structure cross section and the polymeric body cross section, the polymeric body having a non-linear positively sloped temperature resistance profile defining a temperature treatment range for welding tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.