# US 7,611,511 B2 · Bipolar medical instrument and electrosurgical system comprising such an instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,511 B2 - Document ID: US7611511B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/146,262 - Filed: 2005-06-06 - Published: 2005-12-01 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-06 - Assignees: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Martin Blocher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611511B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/149: {bow shaped or with rotatable body at cantilever end, e.g. for resectoscopes, or coagulating rollers} - A61B 18/16: Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/1407: {Loop} - A61B 2018/162: {located on the probe body} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bipolar medical instrument for cutting tissue under the action of high-frequency current comprises an elongate electrode carrier, an active electrode arranged at the distal end of the electrode carrier, and a neutral electrode adjacent to the active electrode, said neutral electrode being arranged entirely to the distal side of said active electrode. The neutral electrode and the active electrode are spaced apart from one another in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the electrode carrier. The invention also describes an electrosurgical system comprising a high-frequency generator and provided with such an instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bipolar medical instrument for cutting tissue under the action of high-frequency current, comprising an elongate electrode carrier extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal end, an active electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier, a neutral electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier adjacent to said active electrode and arranged entirely to the distal side of said active electrode so as to be spaced apart from said active electrode in said longitudinal direction, said neutral electrode and said active electrode being also spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, without having a spatial overlap region in said longitudinal direction and said direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, wherein said active electrode is configured as a wire loop. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument of claim 1, wherein on at least one of said electrode carrier and said neutral electrode, at least one element is present which prevents electrically conductive contact between tissue and an outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode, and which, when said neutral electrode changes position, moves along with said neutral electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one element is itself electrically insulating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one element is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic materials and plastic materials. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The instrument of claim 2, wherein said element is formed by a coating of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one element is secured directly on said outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one element completely covers said outer face of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one element prevents electrically conductive contact between at least one of a distal end face and a proximal end face of said neutral electrode and tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The instrument of claim 8, wherein said at least one element covers the complete area of said at least one of said distal end face and said proximal end face of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 10 An electrosurgical system, comprising a high-frequency generator, and comprising a bipolar medical instrument for cutting tissue under the action of high-frequency current, said bipolar medical instrument comprising an elongate electrode carrier extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal end, an active electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier, a neutral electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier adjacent to said active electrode and arranged entirely to the distal side of said active electrode so as to be spaced apart from said active electrode in said longitudinal direction, said neutral electrode and said active electrode being also spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, without having a spatial overlap region in said longitudinal direction and said direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, said high-frequency generator being connectable with said bipolar medical instrument for supplying a high-frequency voltage between said active electrode and said neutral electrode, wherein said active electrode is configured as a wire loop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said high-frequency generator is able to output power of at least 200 W. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said high-frequency generator has an output regulator which is such that the power output by said high-frequency generator before and during penetration of said active electrode and/or tissue is greater during continued cutting when said active electrode has penetrated into said tissue. ### Claim 13 A bipolar medical instrument for cutting tissue under the action of high-frequency current, comprising an elongate electrode carrier extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal end, an active electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier, a neutral electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier adjacent to said active electrode and arranged entirely to the distal side of said active electrode so as to be spaced apart from said active electrode in said longitudinal direction, said neutral electrode and said active electrode being also spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, without having a spatial overlap region in said longitudinal direction and said direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, wherein said neutral electrode is configured as a tape loop. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The instrument of claim 13, wherein said neutral electrode has a curvature oriented away from said active electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The instrument of claim 13, wherein on at least one of said electrode carrier and said neutral electrode, at least one element is present which prevents electrically conductive contact between tissue and an outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode, and which, when said neutral electrode changes position, moves along with said neutral electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The instrument of claim 15, wherein said at least one element is itself electrically insulating. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The instrument of claim 15, wherein said at least one element is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic materials and plastic materials. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The instrument of claim 15, wherein said element is formed by a coating of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The instrument of claim 15, wherein said at least one element is secured directly on said outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The instrument of claim 15, wherein said at least one element completely covers said outer face of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The instrument of claim 15, wherein said at least one element prevents electrically conductive contact between at least one of a distal end face and a proximal end face of said neutral electrode and tissue. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The instrument of claim 21, wherein said at least one element covers the complete area of said at least one of said distal end face and said proximal end face of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 23 A bipolar medical instrument for cutting tissue under the action of high-frequency current, comprising an elongate electrode carrier extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal end, an active electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier, a neutral electrode arranged at said distal end of said electrode carrier adjacent to said active electrode and arranged entirely to the distal side of said active electrode so as to be spaced apart from said active electrode in said longitudinal direction, said neutral electrode and said active electrode being also spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, without having a spatial overlap region in said longitudinal direction and said direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, wherein on at least one of said electrode carrier and said neutral electrode, at least one element is present which prevents electrically conductive contact between tissue and an outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode, and which, when said neutral electrode changes position, moves along with said neutral electrode; said at least one element being arranged on said outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one element is itself electrically insulating. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one element is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic materials and plastic materials. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23, wherein said element is formed by a coating of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one element is secured directly on said outer face of said neutral electrode directed away from said active electrode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one element completely covers said outer face of said neutral electrode. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one element prevents electrically conductive contact between at least one of a distal end face and a proximal end face of said neutral electrode and tissue. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The instrument of claim 29, wherein said at least one element covers the complete area of said at least one of said distal end face and said proximal end face of said neutral electrode.