US 8,409,190 B2 · Electrosurgical device to generate a plasma stream

Abstract

An electrosurgical device to generate a plasma stream and method to perform endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery within a patient's body. The electrosurgical device includes an electrode operatively coupled to an electrosurgical generator to receive electrical energy therefrom, the electrode being concentrically disposed within an inner noble gas conduit to form a plasma channel. An outer electronegative gas conduit is disposed in surrounding coaxial relation relative to the inner noble gas conduit to cooperatively form an electronegative gas channel therebetween such that the electrode heats the noble gas to at least partially ionize the noble gas to generate the plasma stream to be directed to the surgical site to perform the surgical procedure while the electronegative gas sustains the plasma stream at the surgical site and dilutes the noble gas adjacent the surgical site. An outer aspiration conduit may be provided to remove fluid and solid debris from the surgical site.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical handpiece to generate a plasma stream for performing electrosurgery on a surgical site on a patient comprising:

an electrode configured to be operatively coupled to an electrosurgical generator to receive electrical energy therefrom and disposed within an inner noble gas conduit;
said inner noble gas conduit including a distal end and a proximal end to form a plasma channel, said inner noble gas conduit configured to be operatively coupled to a noble gas source to feed noble gas to said inner noble gas conduit such that said electrode at least partially ionizes the noble gas to generate the plasma stream to be directed to the surgical site to perform the surgical procedure;
and
an intermediate electronegative gas conduit including a distal end and a proximal end disposed in surrounding relation relative to said inner noble gas conduit to cooperatively form an electronegative gas channel therebetween, said intermediate electronegative gas conduit configured to be operatively coupled to a gas source to feed electronegative gas to said electronegative gas channel, said distal end of said intermediate electronegative gas conduit extending beyond said distal end of said inner noble gas conduit such that the electronegative gas sustains the plasma stream.

1 more element

An electrosurgical handpiece to generate a plasma stream for performing electrosurgery on a surgical site on a patient comprising:

an electrode configured to be operatively coupled to an electrosurgical generator to receive electrical energy therefrom and disposed within an inner noble gas conduit;
said inner noble gas conduit including a distal end and a proximal end to form a plasma channel, said inner noble gas conduit configured to be operatively coupled to a noble gas source to feed noble gas to said inner noble gas conduit such that said electrode at least partially ionizes the noble gas to generate the plasma stream to be directed to the surgical site to perform the surgical procedure;
and
an outer aspiration conduit including a distal end and a proximal end disposed in surrounding coaxial relation relative to said inner noble gas conduit to cooperatively form an aspiration channel therebetween, said outer aspiration conduit configured to be operatively coupled to a negative pressure source, said distal end of said outer aspiration conduit extending beyond said distal end of said inner noble gas conduit to remove fluid and solid debris from the surgical site.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrosurgical device to generate a plasma stream

Life of this patent

Electrosurgical device to generate a plasma stream

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16