MEDICAL ABLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING
An electrosurgical device comprises an elongated shaft having an axis with an interior channel extending along the axis to an opening in a distal end of the shaft. The channel is configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source, and an electrode with a conductive, usually hook-shaped, distal portion is coupled to the shaft and moveable between a first position in which a distal tip of the electrode is disposed proximate to a periphery of the opening of and a second position in which the distal electrode tip is exposed and spaced apart from the opening.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/857,068 (Attorney Docket No. 37644-708.201), filed Apr. 4, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to medical instruments and systems for applying energy to tissue, and more particularly relates to an electrosurgical probe adapted for ablating, cutting and treating tissue in an endoscopic procedure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious types of medical instruments utilizing radiofrequency (RF) energy, laser energy and the like have been developed for delivering thermal energy to tissue, for example to ablate tissue and to cut tissue. Arthroscopic and other endoscopic electrosurgical tools often comprise treatment electrodes of different configurations where the tools may optionally be combined with irrigation and/or aspiration tools for performing particular minimally invasive procedures. Often the nature of the electrode limits use of a particular tool, and tools must be exchanged during a procedure to perform different tasks. For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide new and different designs for electrosurgical tools that allow the tools to be re-configured during a procedure to perform different tasks. At least some of these objectives will be met by the inventions described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first aspect of the present invention, an electrosurgical device comprises an elongated shaft having an axis with an interior channel extending along the axis to an opening in a distal end of the shaft. The channel is configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source, and an electrode with a hook-shaped distal portion is coupled to the shaft and moveable between a first position in which a distal tip of the electrode is disposed at a periphery of the opening and a second position in which the distal tip extends distally beyond the opening. With the distal portion of the electrode in the first position, the tool is particularly useful for surface ablation of tissue such as cartilage. With the distal portion of the electrode in the second position, the tool is particularly useful for cutting tissue structures. In one application, the hook-shaped electrode can be used in a lateral release, which is an arthroscopic procedure for releasing tight capsular structures, e.g., the lateral retinaculum, on the outer or lateral aspect of the kneecap. Such a procedure is performed due to pain related to the kneecap being pulled over to the outer (lateral) side and not being able to move properly in a groove of the femur bone as the knee bends and straightens. In a second aspect of the present invention, an electrosurgical device comprises an elongated shaft extending along an axis with an interior channel extending to an opening with a periphery in a working end. The channel is adapted to be coupled to a negative pressure source. A moveable electrode having a conductive portion with a proximal end and a distal end is coupled to the shaft so that the distal end of the conductive portion is located proximate the periphery of the opening when the electrode is in a proximally retracted position and the distal end of the electrode extends distally beyond the periphery when the electrode is in a distally extended position. With the conductive portion of the electrode in the first position, the tool is particularly useful for surface ablation of tissue and cautery. With the conductive portion of the electrode in the second position, the tool is particularly useful for capturing and cutting tissue structures.
Usually, in both aspects, the electrode of the electrosurgical device is mounted to axially translate between the first and second positions. Optionally, the electrode is mounted to rotate about the axis between the first and second positions. In another variation, the electrode of the electrosurgical device of is mounted to axially translate and/or rotate about the axis between the first and second positions.
In specific embodiments, the electrosurgical device may further comprise a valve in the interior channel for controlling fluid flow therethrough. An exterior of the electrosurgical shaft may comprise a second electrode. The electrosurgical device may further comprise a rotator coupled to the electrode, where the rotator causes the electrode to rotate as it is being axially translated. The opening of the electrosurgical device may define a plane which is angled relative to the axis of the shaft, and the hook-shaped portion of the electrode may be turned so that a back of the hook portion extends outwardly above the plane when the electrode is in the first position. The electrosurgical device may still further comprise a temperature sensor and/or impedance sensing electrodes near a distal end of the shaft. Alternatively, or in addition to the sensors, the electrosurgical device may further comprise a temperature-responsive current limiting element in series with the electrode in order to inhibit or prevent overheating of distention fluid in a treatment site.
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Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, it will be understood that this description is merely for purposes of illustration and the above description of the invention is not exhaustive. Specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, and this is for convenience only and any feature may be combined with another in accordance with the invention. A number of variations and alternatives will be apparent to one having ordinary skills in the art. Such alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims. Particular features that are presented in dependent claims can be combined and fall within the scope of the invention. The invention also encompasses embodiments as if dependent claims were alternatively written in a multiple dependent claim format with reference to other independent claims.
Claims
1. An electrosurgical device, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis with an interior channel extending along the axis to an opening in a distal surface of the shaft, said channel being configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source, wherein the distal surface is sloped relative to the longitudinal axis;
- an electrode with a hook-shaped distal tip, said electrode being moveable between a first position in which the distal tip is positioned within the opening in the distal surface and a second position in which the distal tip is spaced distally from a distal-most edge of the opening, wherein the electrode is mounted to axially translate between the first and second positions; and
- a rotator coupled to the electrode which causes the electrode to rotate as it is being axially translated.
2. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the electrode is mounted to axially translate and/or rotate about the axis between the first and second positions.
3. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, further comprising a valve in the interior channel for controlling fluid flow therethrough.
4. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein an exterior of the shaft comprises a second electrode.
5. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein a notch is formed in a periphery of the opening and the notch is configured to receive the hook-shaped distal tip of electrode when the electrode is in the first position.
6. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor near a distal end of the shaft.
7. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, further comprising impedance sensing electrodes near a distal end of the shaft.
8. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature-response current limiting element in series with the electrode.
9. An electrosurgical device, comprising:
- an electrically non-conductive elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis;
- an electrically conductive distal housing coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft and having an opening in a distal surface thereof;
- a moveable hook-shaped electrode having a conductive portion with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the conductive portion is disposed within the opening of the housing when the electrode is in a non-extended position and the distal end extends distally beyond the periphery when the electrode is in an extended position, wherein the electrode is mounted to axially translate between the first and second positions, wherein the hook portion the electrode is turned so that a back of the hook extends outwardly from the opening when the electrode is in the first position; and
- a rotator coupled to the electrode which causes the electrode to rotate as it is being axially translated.
10. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein the electrode is mounted to rotate about the axis between the first and second positions.
11. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein the electrode is mounted to axially translate and/or rotate about the axis between the first and second positions.
12. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, further comprising a valve in the interior channel for controlling fluid flow therethrough.
13. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein an exterior of the shaft comprises a second electrode.
14. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein a notch is formed in a periphery of the opening and the notch is configured to receive a distal tip of the hook-shaped of electrode when the electrode is in the first position and to receive a back portion of the electrode when the electrode is in its second position.
15. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, further comprising a temperature sensor near a distal end of the shaft.
16. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, further comprising impedance sensing electrodes near a distal end of the shaft.
17. The electrosurgical device of claim 9, further comprising a temperature-response current limiting element in series with the electrode.
18. An electrosurgical device, comprising:
- an elongated member having a central axis with an interior channel and a passage extending axially in the member, said interior channel extending to an opening in a distal surface of the member and being configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source, wherein the distal surface is sloped relative to the central axis;
- an electrode having a shaft portion with a centerline and a distal spine portion with a length radially offset from said centerline, said distal spine portion extending across an axial length of the opening and said shaft portion rotatable within the passage to move the offset length of the spine portion in and out of the opening; and
- a rotator coupled to the electrode shaft which causes the electrode to rotate.
19. The electrosurgical device of claim 18, wherein the electrode shaft is mounted to axially translate in the passage.
20. The electrosurgical device of claim 18, further comprising a actuator for controlling fluid flow through the interior channel.
21. The electrosurgical device of claim 18, wherein an exterior of the shaft comprises a second electrode.
22. The electrosurgical device of claim 18, wherein a notch is formed in a periphery of the opening and the notch is configured to receive a distal tip of the electrode.
23. The electrosurgical device of claim 18, wherein the passage comprises a bore in the elongated member.
24. An electrosurgical device, comprising:
- an elongated member having a central axis with an interior channel extending to an opening in a distal surface of the member and being configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source, wherein the distal surface is sloped relative to the central axis; and
- an electrode having a shaft portion with a centerline and a distal spine portion with a length radially offset from said centerline, said shaft portion rotatable within the interior channel in the elongate member wherein the offset length of the spine portion can be moved laterally back and forth across the opening;
- wherein the hook-shaped distal tip the electrode is configured to be turned so that a back of the hook-shaped distal tip extends laterally beyond the distal surface when the electrode is in the first position.
25. The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein a notch is formed in a periphery of the opening and the notch is configured to receive a distal tip of the electrode and to allow the offset length of the spine portion to be moved laterally back and forth across the opening
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 26, 2018
Publication Date: May 31, 2018
Inventors: John SHADDUCK (Menlo Park, CA), Benedek ORCZY-TIMKO (Budapest), Aaron GERMAIN (San Jose, CA), Csaba TRUCKAI (Saratoga, CA)
Application Number: 15/880,958