Optical hydrology arrays and system and method for monitoring water displacement during treatment of patient tissue

An electrically conductive member for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the electrically conductive member comprising:

• a tissue-contacting surface configured to engage patient tissue and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• a peripheral edge defined around the perimeter of the tissue-contacting surface and comprising:
• a first optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a reference wavelength insensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• a corresponding first optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the reference wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument;
• a second optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a hydration wavelength sensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• and
• corresponding second optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the hydration wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument,
• wherein the first and second optical transmitters are disposed substantially linearly relative to one another along an axis defined through the peripheral edge of the electrically conductive member from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the first and second optical transmitters being disposed distally relative to the first and second optical sensors.

An electrically conductive member for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the electrically conductive member comprising:

• a tissue-contacting surface configured to engage patient tissue and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• a peripheral edge defined around the perimeter of the tissue-contacting surface and comprising:
• a first optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a reference wavelength insensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• at least one corresponding first optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the reference wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument;
• a second optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a hydration wavelength sensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• and
• at least one corresponding second optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the hydration wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument,
• wherein a first plurality of first and second optical sensors are disposed in a first circumferential pattern on the peripheral edge of the electrically conductive member and a second plurality of first and second optical sensors are disposed in a second circumferential pattern on the peripheral edge of the electrically conductive member concentric to the first circumferential pattern, and
• wherein at least one first optical transmitter and at least one second optical transmitter are disposed substantially at the center of the concentric arrangement of the first and second circumferential patterns.

An electrically conductive member for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the electrically conductive member comprising:

• a tissue-contacting surface configured to engage patient tissue and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• a peripheral edge defined around the perimeter of the tissue-contacting surface and comprising:
• a first optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a reference wavelength insensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• at least one corresponding first optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the reference wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument;
• a second optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a hydration wavelength sensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• and
• at least one corresponding second optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the hydration wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument;
• a first plurality of first and second optical transmitters disposed in a first circumferential pattern on the peripheral edge of the electrically conductive member and a second plurality of first and second optical transmitters disposed in a second circumferential pattern on the peripheral edge of the electrically conductive member concentric to the first circumferential pattern,
• wherein at least one first optical sensor and at least one second optical sensor are disposed substantially at the center of the concentric arrangement of the first and second circumferential patterns.

An electrically conductive member for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the electrically conductive member comprising:

• a tissue-contacting surface configured to engage patient tissue and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• a peripheral edge defined around the perimeter of the tissue-contacting surface and comprising:
• a first optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a reference wavelength insensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• at least one corresponding first optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the reference wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument;
• a second optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a hydration wavelength sensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• and
• at least one corresponding second optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the hydration wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument,
• wherein the first optical transmitter includes a plurality of optical fibers that form a first circumferential arrangement and the first optical sensor includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed substantially at the center of the first circumferential arrangement,
• wherein the second optical transmitter includes a plurality of optical fibers that form a second circumferential arrangement and the second optical sensor includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed substantially at the center of the second circumferential arrangement, and
• wherein the second circumferential arrangement is disposed distally relative to the first circumferential arrangement.

An electrically conductive member for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the electrically conductive member comprising:

• a tissue-contacting surface configured to engage patient tissue and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• a peripheral edge defined around the perimeter of the tissue-contacting surface and comprising:
• a first optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a reference wavelength insensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• at least one corresponding first optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the reference wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument;
• a second optical transmitter configured to propagate light into patient tissue at a hydration wavelength sensitive to the moisture content of patient tissue;
• and
• at least one corresponding second optical sensor configured to sense changes in light at the hydration wavelength reflected from patient tissue during operation of the electrosurgical instrument,
• wherein the first optical sensor includes a plurality of optical fibers that form a first circumferential arrangement and the first optical transmitter includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed substantially at the center of the first circumferential arrangement,
• wherein the second optical sensor includes a plurality of optical fibers that form a second circumferential arrangement and the second optical transmitter includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed substantially at the center of the second circumferential arrangement, and
• wherein the second circumferential arrangement is disposed distally relative to the first circumferential arrangement.