Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a handle (5), a body (1) joined to the handle, and a jaw assembly (12) joined to the body and arranged such that manipulation of the handle allows the opposed jaws of the jaw assembly to be opened and closed with respect to one another. A first of said opposed jaws (14) has at least a first coagulating electrode, and the other of said opposed jaws (13) has at least a second coagulating electrode and a cutting electrode (16) separated from the second coagulating electrode by an insulating member (17). The instrument is manipulated at the surgical site such that the jaws of the jaw assembly (12) are open with respect to one another, with the cutting electrode (16) and at least one of the first and second coagulating electrodes contacting tissue at the surgical site.

Abstract: An electrosurgery system includes an electrosurgical generator (10) coupled to or part of an electrosurgical instrument, the generator being operable to generate electrosurgical power in low frequency (typically at 1 MHz) and high frequency bands (typically at 2.45 GHz) either simultaneously or individually. The generator includes a load-responsive control circuit which, in one mode, causes power to be generated predominantly at 1 MHz when the load impedance is high and predominantly at 2.45 MHz when it is low. This allows automatic switching between cutting and coagulation operation. In one embodiment, the instrument includes a gas plasma generator operating such that an ionisable gas is energised in a gas supply passage by the 2.45 GHz component to form a plasma stream which acts as a conductor for delivering the 1 MHz component to a tissue treatment outlet of the passage.

Abstract: A cosmetic method of regenerating the skin in the region of a stretch mark is disclosed. The method comprises operating a source of thermal energy with a low thermal time constant, and directing it at the surface of the skin adjacent to and within a stretch mark forming first and second adjacent regions of thermally-modified tissue. The first region is adjacent to, and overlies, the second region, and the first region is thermally modified to a greater extend than the second region such that, following treatment, the width of the stretch mark is reduced and the reticular architecture of the dermis in the stretch mark is at least partially restored.

Abstract: A cosmetic method of removing a tattoo from skin tissue is disclosed. The method uses a source of thermal energy with a low thermal time constant, and comprises the step of operating the thermal energy source to form first and second adjacent regions of thermally-modified tissue. The first region overlies the second region and is thermally modified to a greater extend than the second region. The method is such that tattoo pigment(s) contained in the first region are transepidermically eliminated, and tattoo pigment(s) in the second region are removed by an inflammatory response.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical forceps comprises an elongated tubular barrel having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between these two ends. A handle is provided at the proximal end of the barrel and includes an actuating member for opening and closing a pair of forceps jaws that are mounted at the distal end of the barrel. The forceps jaws include cam slots in a proximal head portion thereof. A coupling member extends between the actuating member on the handle and the pair of forceps jaws. The coupling member includes drive pins that cooperate with the cam slots whereby squeezing of the actuating mechanism first effects pivotal rotation of the pair of forceps jaws over a first range of motion of the actuating member and translation without rotation of the forceps jaws over a second range of motion of the actuating member.

Abstract: A tissue treatment system has a radio frequency generator and a handheld treatment instrument that generates a gas plasma jet for delivering thermal energy to a tissue surface to be treated. Incorporated in the housing for the generator is a calibration device for adjusting the energy output of the generator, if necessary, at the beginning of a treatment session. The calibration device has a target element with a target surface, a transducer for sensing changes in temperature of the target element with respect to the temperature of a reference element, and an energy output adjuster for adjusting the radio frequency energy output of the generator in response to a calibration signal generated by the transducer. The generator housing has a receptacle for locating the nozzle of the handheld instrument in juxtaposition with the target element so that when a plasma burst is generated as part of a calibration sequence it is incident on the target surface.

Abstract: A cosmetic method of regenerating the reticular architecture of tissue is disclosed. The method uses a source of thermal energy with a low thermal time constant, and comprises the step of operating the thermal energy source to form first and second adjacent regions of thermally-modified tissue in the region of the DE Junction. The first region overlies the second region and is thermally modified to a greater extent than the second region.

Abstract: A tissue treatment system has a handheld treatment instrument that generates a gas plasma jet for delivering thermal energy to a tissue surface to be treated. Incorporated in the handpiece is an optical target marking projector for projecting a visible target marker onto the tissue surface when spaced from a distal end of the handpiece. The marker indicates a treatment area and is generated by illuminating an apertured mask and transmitting light from the mask via an optical fibre guide to an exit aperture adjacent a gas plasma nozzle of the instrument. A method regenerates the reticular architecture of tissue whilst illuminating the treatment area using the target marker.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a handle (5), a body (1) joined to the handle, and a jaw assembly (12) joined to the body and arranged such that manipulation of the handle allows the opposed jaws of the jaw assembly to be opened and closed with respect to one another. A first of said opposed jaws (14) has at least a first coagulating electrode, and the other of said opposed jaws (13) has at least a second coagulating electrode and a cutting electrode (16) separated from the second coagulating electrode by an insulating member (17). The instrument is manipulated at the surgical site such that the jaws of the jaw assembly (12) are open with respect to one another, with the cutting electrode (16) and at least one of the first and second coagulating electrodes contacting tissue at the surgical site.

Abstract: A method for skin treatment comprises the steps of delivering at least one pulse of radio frequency power to at least one electrode in order to create an electric field; passing gas through the electric field in order to form plasma from the gas; and applying the plasma to the surface of skin. The amount of radio frequency power may be relatively low such that the application of plasma causes denaturation of collagen within the collagen-containing tissue beneath the skin surface, which may promote the generation of new collagen within the collagen-containing tissue.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating benign conditions, such as enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids located in a patient's throat or nasopharynx, or soft tissue lesions located in a patient's oropharynx or larynx. According to the method, a space containing the patient's nasopharynx, oropharynx or pharynx and larynx is isolated from the patient's trachea and lungs using an inflatable cuff tracheostomy tube or nasotracheal tube inserted in the patient's trachea. The cuff is inflated to occlude the trachea. The patient is placed in a supine position, whereupon at least a portion of the space containing the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx and larynx is filled with saline. An endoscope is then inserted into the space to view the operative site in which the tonsils or tissue lesion are to be treated.