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US 8,523,850 B2Granted
Method for heating a surgical implement
AssigneeDomain Surgical, Inc.
InventorsKim Manwaring, David McNally, Mark Manwaring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power source delivers oscillating electrical energy to an electrical conductor, such as a wire or catheter, which is coated circumferentially with a ferromagnetic material in a selected region. With high frequency electrical energy, the ferromagnetic material has a quick response in heating and cooling adjustable by the controllable power delivery. The ferromagnetic material can be used for separating tissue, coagulation, tissue destruction or achieving other desired tissue effects in numerous surgical procedures.
Claims37
A process of delivering power to a thermally adjustable surgical tool comprising:
- providing the thermally adjustable surgical tool, wherein the thermally adjustable tool comprises a conductor configured such that an oscillating electrical signal will have approximately a standing wave with maximum current and minimum voltage at a load, the load consisting of a ferromagnetic material coated on the conductor;
- delivering the oscillating electrical signal to the load;
- and
- causing the oscillating electrical signal to no longer be sent to the load;
- and
- wherein the ferromagnetic material coated on the conductor is sufficiently thin to avoid fracturing when passed from air into a liquid while heated.
3 more elements
A method for incising tissue, the method comprising;
- selecting a conductor having a ferromagnetic coating disposed on a portion thereof;
- disposing the ferromagnetic coating into contact with the tissue;
- and
- delivering an oscillating electrical signal to the conductor so as to heat the ferromagnetic coating and cut the tissue without a substantial amount of the oscillating electrical signal passing into the tissue;
- wherein the ferromagnetic coating, when heated sufficiently to cut the tissue, can be moved repeatedly between air and liquid without fracturing.
2 more elements
A method for performing surgery, the method comprising:
- selecting a load comprising a conductor with a ferromagnetic coating, the ferromagnetic coating being sufficiently thin that it may be heated in air to a temperature sufficient to cut tissue and repeatedly immersed in liquid while heated to the temperature without cracking;
- delivering power to the conductor through oscillating electrical energy from a power source;
- and
- matching an impedance of the load to an impedance of a power source.
1 more element
A method for treating tissue, the method comprising;
- selecting a conductor having a ferromagnetic coating disposed on a portion thereof;
- disposing the ferromagnetic coating into contact with the tissue;
- and
- delivering an oscillating electrical signal to the conductor so as to heat the ferromagnetic coating and treat the tissue while minimizing an amount of electrical energy which is radiated into the tissue;
- adjusting a user control to alter the oscillating electrical signal to obtain or maintain a desired heating of the ferromagnetic coating;
- and
- wherein the ferromagnetic coating is sufficiently thin that the ferromagnetic coating can be heated in air and then repeatedly immersed in liquid without cracking.
4 more elements
A method for cutting comprising:
- selecting a tool having a conductor having opposing ends, a portion of the conductor having a ferromagnetic coating which is between 0.05 micrometer and 500 micrometers thick disposed thereon, and thermal isolation devices at the opposing ends of the conductor;
- delivering an oscillating electrical signal through one of the thermal isolation devices to the conductor to cause hysteresis in the ferromagnetic coating and thereby heat the ferromagnetic coating, the oscillating electrical signal continuing through the conductor and through the other thermal isolation device;
- and
- applying the ferromagnetic coating which has been heated to a substance to be cut to thereby cut the substance,
- wherein the conductor has a diameter and wherein the ferromagnetic coating coated on the conductor has a thickness which is less than 20 percent of the diameter of the conductor.
2 more elements
A method for treating tissue, the method comprising;
- selecting a conductor having a ferromagnetic coating disposed on a portion thereof, the conductor having a cross-sectional thickness and the ferromagnetic coating having a thickness which is less than 20 percent the cross-sectional thickness of the coating so that the ferromagnetic coating can be repeatedly heated in air and then immersed in liquid while still heated without fracturing;
- disposing the ferromagnetic coating into contact with the tissue;
- and
- delivering an oscillating electrical signal to the conductor so as to heat the ferromagnetic coating and treat the tissue while minimizing an amount of electrical energy which is radiated into the tissue so that an amount of high frequency energy radiated into the tissue is substantially zero;
- and
- adjusting a user control to alter the oscillating electrical signal to obtain or maintain a desired heating of the ferromagnetic coating.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.