Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rotary shaver arrangement for a surgical instrument, the rotary shaver arrangement comprising an outer tubular member; and an inner tubular member rotatably mounted in a central passageway of the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member providing a central suction lumen. Wherein the inner tubular member further comprises one or more longitudinal grooves that run from the distal end to the proximal end of the rotary shaver arrangement to create a suction lumen passageway between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member. This rotary shaver arrangement optimises the balance between shaver performance and RF thermal performance, by providing a defined minimum gap between the inner and outer tubular members in the form of longitudinal grooves, to provide an additional pathway for saline used to cool the RF suction lumen.

Abstract: A rotary shaver component for a surgical instrument or an end effector for an electrosurgical instrument which has a thermally insulating component on an inner surface of a tubular member. The thermally insulating component is particularly useful for electrosurgical instruments which combine rotary shaver arrangements and RF electrode arrangements, where suction is used to remove RF heated saline from the surgical site. Without the presence of the thermally insulating component, there is a risk of burning the patient if the RF heated saline becomes too hot as the electrosurgical instrument may not be adequately insulated. The thermally insulating component prevents or reduces the effect of hot saline heating at least a portion of the inner tubular member, thereby preventing or reducing damage to non-target tissue during use of the radio frequency function.

Abstract: A rotary shaver arrangement for a surgical instrument includes an outer tubular member with a first cutting window at the distal end thereof, an inner tubular member providing a central suction lumen and rotatably mounted in a central passageway of the outer tubular member, and the inner tubular member having a second cutting window at the distal end of the inner tubular member. The first and second cutting windows are arranged such that: (i) when the inner tubular member is rotated to a first range of angular positions, the first and second cutting windows overlap to form an opening of the central suction lumen; and (ii) when the inner tubular member is rotated to a second range of angular positions, the first and second cutting windows do not overlap. The first and/or second cutting window includes a spline-shaped region to permit the second range of angular positions to be greater than if the spline-shaped region was notch-shaped having angular discontinuities.

Abstract: An RF hand instrument wherein the RF ablation function ceases to operate prior to any RF tip detachment occurring, in order for the hand instrument to fail gracefully and thus be considered fail-safe. A mechanical retention mechanism which is separate to the RF power delivery means so the power is delivered by a separate electro/mechanical connection. The electrical connection used to deliver RF power to the active tip erodes at a faster rate than the active tip and the active tip retention mechanism so the electrical connection geometry erodes to the point where RF power is no longer delivered to the RF tip, and the user will be made aware of this loss in RF function. Thus, the geometry of the used/eroded RF tip, with no remaining electrical connection is still mechanically strong enough to be removed from the patient or cannula without RF tip detachment from the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A handpiece for a surgical instrument, having a lumen for the provision of suction or fluids to the surgical instrument, the lumen being formed from at least two concentrically arranged tubes, one of the tubes being formed from metal, and the other of the tubes being formed from an electrically insulating material, the arrangement being such as to prevent electrical charge carried by any fluid within the lumen from leaking to an external surface of the lumen. In one example the at least two concentrically arranged tubes define a tube connector having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is located within a receiving formation in the handpiece and the distal end protrudes outwardly from the handpiece.

Abstract: When surgical devices operate on tissue (e.g. cutting or ablating tissue), tissue and other debris is typically sucked away from the operating site along a suction pathway through the device. In some cases, this debris may accumulate at certain points within the device. This can lead to blockages forming in the suction pathway, which reduces the flow of debris through the device and hinders effective removal of debris from the operating site. The present invention addresses these issues by providing an apparatus which is configured to drive the end effector of a surgical instrument in an operational mode that causes tissue debris to be dislodged from the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument end effector comprises a rotary shaver arrangement, and an active electrode for supplying radio-frequency (RF) power to a surgical site. The rotary shaver arrangement comprises a rotatable shaver blade, and a stator that partially surrounds the rotatable shaver blade. At least part of the stator is electrically non-conductive.

Abstract: A shaver arrangement for a surgical instrument includes an outer member and cutting blade at a distal end; the cutting blade being serrated to form teeth forming one or more tissue engaging cutting points being arranged to snag and/or cut tissue and being located inwardly from the outer member such that there are no tissue engaging cutting points capable in use of snagging and/or cutting tissue located on or outwards of an outer surface of the outer member. The shaver arrangement reduces the likelihood of collateral damage to surrounding non-target tissue. The shaver arrangement does not have tissue engagement cutting points on the outer profile of the cutting blade of the shaver arrangement, thereby reducing the likelihood of collateral damage when manoeuvring the surgical instrument as tissue is less likely to be inadvertently caught by the tissue cutting points.

Abstract: A temperature sensing system for an electrosurgical instrument able to detect temperatures internal and/or external to the electrosurgical instrument. Temperatures detected by a temperature sensor are processed by a monitoring module which prompts action to reduce temperatures where appropriate. The temperature sensing system is particularly useful for electrosurgical instruments which combine rotary shaver arrangements and RF electrode arrangements, where suction is used to remove RF heated saline from the surgical site. Without monitoring the temperature of the electrosurgical instrument and/or the surgical site, there is a risk of burning the patient if the RF heated saline becomes too hot as the electrosurgical instrument may not be adequately insulated.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument end effector includes an active electrode received by an insulating material, the active electrode including a primary suction aperture which provides access to a primary fluid channel extending from the active electrode, through the insulating material, to a lumen. The lumen is arranged to carry fluid to and from a surgical site when in use. The end effector further includes at least one additional fluid channel providing alternative access to the primary fluid channel from the active electrode, wherein the at least one additional fluid channel bypasses the primary suction aperture.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is configured to reduce conductivity between an RF electrosurgical portion and a cutting portion. This reduces improves the efficiency and consistency of the generated RF field, with higher current densities nearest the target tissue, improving the performance of the RF electrosurgical instrument. The conductivity may be reduced using a layer of insulating material, a projecting insulating portion or a cutting portion constructed from an insulating material. Further, by providing a lubricous insulating layer shedding may be reduced, increasing the usable life of the cutting portion.

Abstract: A tissue bag for surrounding tissue (2) during a surgical procedure comprises a bag body (6) capable of forming an enclosure, an opening (9) in the bag body, and one or more inflatable ribs (8) located on the bag body. The ribs (8) are such that inflation of the one or more ribs to a first extent causes the bag to deploy to an open position in which the bag is capable of being placed over tissue with the tissue received through the opening. Inflation of the one or more ribs (8) to a second further extent causes the bag to envelop the tissue with the opening (9) being smaller in diameter than in the open position. The ribs may each include at least first and second discrete longitudinal portions (10), (11) with an angled end face (15) therebetween.

Abstract: A tissue bag for surrounding tissue (2) during a surgical procedure comprises a bag body (6) capable of forming an enclosure, an opening (9) in the bag body, and one or more inflatable ribs (8) located on the bag body. The ribs (8) are such that inflation of the one or more ribs to a first extent causes the bag to deploy to an open position in which the bag is capable of being placed over tissue with the tissue received through the opening. Inflation of the one or more ribs (8) to a second further extent causes the bag to envelop the tissue with the opening (9) being smaller in diameter than in the open position. The ribs may each include at least first and second discrete longitudinal portions (10), (11) with an angled end face (15) therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for morcellating tissue includes a flexible outer container (1), an electrically conductive mesh (7) disposed within the container, and one or more connections (8, 9) by which the mesh (7) can be energised to form at least a part of a bipolar electrode assembly capable of cutting tissue coming into contact therewith. The mesh (7) includes a first section (14, 17) constituting one or more active electrodes, a second section (15, 18) constituting one or more return electrodes, and one or more insulators (16) separating the first section from the second section. The apparatus includes an elongate shaft (2) from which the flexible outer container (1) can be deployed, and actuators for closing the mesh (7) around tissue to be morcellated, and for deploying and withdrawing the flexible outer container (1) with respect to the shaft (2).