Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for the removal of tissue polyps and the like is disclosed. It features a bipolar pair of conductive electrodes for the cutting of tissue in which at least one electrode is moveable in relation to the other. These electrodes are mounted relative to an insulating plug, which is secured at the distal end of a tubular member. Pressure exerted on a thumb loop shifts the position of one electrode relative to the other. Upon application of RF voltage, the distance at which the electrodes are placed controls the amount of arcing which will occur between electrodes, when placed within a proper range. The electrodes are supplied with power from a standard RF energy source, controlled from a foot or hand switch. The insulating plug may further include metal traces disposed on the peripheral surface. When energized, these traces function as a bipolar pair of electrodes for effecting electrocoagulation of tissue and blood.

Abstract: An electrosurgical cutting instrument with bipolar electrodes integrally formed into a pivoting ceramic working head. The ceramic head is pivotable about a pivot point by selectively retracting a substantially rigid wire internal to a working element which is slidably and rotatably received within an introducer and connected to a point on the ceramic head offset from a longitudinal axis. Radial incisions are induced into a prostate gland during a transurethral resectioning of the prostate gland (TURP) by applying an RF energy across the bipolar electrodes from an external power source and drawing the electrodes across prostate gland tissue. The pivotal head can be selectively reciprocated to approximately a 90.degree. angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the introducer to effectively cauterize tissue during surgery to perform resectioning of the prostate. Increased maneuverability of the instrument allows a surgeon to more quickly and effectively complete a TURP.

Abstract: An instrument for performing a percutaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy includes a generally rigid, tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between these two ends and with a pair of bipolar electrodes projecting from the distal end of the tubular body and a handle member affixed to its proximal end. The outside diameter of the tubular body is sufficiently small that it can readily pass through a cannula inserted through a puncture made through the abdominal wall. A pair of conductors, connected at one end to the bipolar electrodes and at their other end to a source of radio frequency voltage, extend through the tube's lumen and a handle. Moreover, a fluid port may be formed through the handle so as to be in fluid communication with the lumen of the tube whereby fluids may be perfused through the instrument during its use or a suction may be applied to the proximal port for aspirating the surgical site.

Abstract: A RF ablation catheter for removing athero-stenotic lesions or modifying the tissue characteristics of the interior walls of selected blood vessels is described. The catheter is characterized in having a tip member which during the initial placement of the catheter within the vascular system so that the distal tip member is disposed in a working relation with the lesion to be removed, means are provided for increasing the cross-sectional profile of the tip members to thereby cause it to move into engagement with the lesion to be excised. The application of an RF voltage across a pair of bipolar electrodes is used to create an electric arc for effecting the cutting action, or alternatively, just sufficient RF energy to sear or otherwise alter the tissue surfaces engaged by the distal tip member.

Abstract: An endocardial electrosurgical catheter for locating and subsequently ablating ectopic foci in cardiac tissue comprises an elongated flexible tubular catheter sized to permit its being routed through the vascular system and into a cardiac chamber of the heart. The elongated catheter includes at least one pair of spaced bipolar sensing electrodes near its distal end whereby depolarization signals develop within the heart can be picked up and transmitted over electrical conductors passing through the lumen of the tubular catheter body to be applied to a EKG monitor. Also extending through the lumen of the tubular catheter body are a pair of conductors whose distal ends may selectively be made to project from or be retracted into the body of the catheter.

Abstract: A RF ablation catheter for removing athero-stenotic lesions or modifying the tissue characteristics of the interior walls of selected blood vessels is described. The catheter has a distal tip member which is disposed in a working relation with the lesion to be removed during the initial placement of the catheter within the vascular system. Means are provided for increasing the cross-sectional profile of the tip member to thereby cause it to move into engagement with the lesion to be excised. The application of an RF voltage across a pair of bipolar electrodes is used to create an electric arc for effecting the cutting action, or alternatively, just sufficient RF energy to sear or otherwise alter the tissue surfaces engaged by the distal tip member.

Abstract: An instrument for performing a percutaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy includes a generally rigid, tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between these two ends and with a pair of bipolar electrodes projecting from the distal end of the tubular body and a handle member affixed to its proximal end. The outside diameter of the tubular body is sufficiently small that it can readily pass through a cannula inserted through a puncture made through the abdominal wall. A pair of conductors, connected at one end to the bipolar electrodes and at their other end to a source of radio frequency voltage, extend through the tube's lumen and a handle. Moreover, a fluid port may be formed through the handle so as to be in fluid communication with the lumen of the tube whereby fluids may be perfused through the instrument during its use or a suction may be applied to the proximal port for aspirating the surgical site.

Abstract: A RF ablation catheter for removing athero-stenotic lesions or modifying the tissue characteristics of the interior walls of selected blood vessels is described. The catheter is characterized in having a tip member which during the initial placement of the catheter within the vascular system so that the distal tip member is disposed in a working relation with the lesion to be removed, means are provided for increasing the cross-sectional profile of the tip members to thereby cause it to move into engagement with the lesion to be excised. The application of an RF voltage across a pair of bipolar electrodes is used to create an electric arc for effecting the cutting action, or alternatively, just sufficient RF energy to sear or otherwise alter the tissue surfaces engaged by the distal tip member.

Abstract: An bipolar electrosurgical instrument especially designed especially for use in freeing and rerouting of the internal mammary artery during coronary bypass surgery. It comprises a rigid pen-like handle having appropriate cut and coag control switches mounted thereon and a bendable tubular extension projecting from the distal end of the handle member. Mounted on the distal end of the extension is a blade holder designed to contain an ultrasonic transducer as well as the proximal end of the blade itself. The blade comprises a ceramic substrate having a pattern of metallization thereon defining a bipolar cutting gap along the side and end edges of the blade and a bipolar coagulating gap located inwardly from the side and end edges. A cable is used to join the implement to an electrosurgical generator and the individual wires in the cable extend through the pen-like body, the tubular extension and into the blade holder where electrical connections are made to the electrodes on the blade itself.

Abstract: A RF ablation catheter for removing athero-stenotic lesions or modifying the tissue characteristics of the interior walls of selected blood vessels is described. The catheter is characterized in having a tip member which during the initial placement of the catheter within the vascular system so that the distal tip member is disposed in a working relation with the lesion to be removed, means are provided for increasing the cross-sectional profile of the tip members to thereby cause it to move into engagement with the lesion to be excised. The application of an RF voltage across a pair of bipolar electrodes is used to create an electric arc for effecting the cutting action, or alternatively, just sufficient RF energy to sear or otherwise alter the tissue surfaces engaged by the distal tip member.

Abstract: An angioplasty catheter having an outer tubular member and a coaxially aligned inner tubular member. The outer tube is of a first predetermined diameter over a majority of its length, but then tapers down, in a transition zone, to a second predetermined diameter less than the first and which extends to the catheter's distal tip. The inner tube has a distal end shaped to mate with the inside surface of the outer tube in the transition zone to form a seal when the inner tube is advanced in the distal direction. An expander is secured to the outer tube and inflatable by perfusing a fluid in the zone between the outer and inner tubes and through ports formed through the wall of the outer tube in the transition zone. By manipulating the proximal end of the inner tube, blood or other fluids may be perfused or exasperated and made to inflate or deflate the expander, the distal end of the inner tube acting as a valve, seating with the inner surface of the outer tube in the transition zone.

Abstract: A guide tube means for assisting in the fixation of an electrode to the heart of a patient, with the guide tube means being adapted for releasable retention of the electrode and its associated leads, the guide tube means including a lead-retaining sleeve along with a rod means for controllably dislodging the leads from the sleeve. The rod means includes means for releasably retaining the insulative backing or pad for the electrode, and is further provided with a radially extending ear for dislodging the electrode lead from the sleeve upon withdrawal of the rod means from the sleeve, thereby providing for the formation of a slack loop or segment adjacent the site of the electrode, the slack portion permitting relative motion to occur between the end of the guide tube and the electrode as fixed in position.