Patent Application
20070282336
The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings, by way of non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which like characters represent like elements throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters represent like elements,
The tool 109 has a connector 120 (also referred to as a “tool support”) configured to be connected to an inserting portion 104 (shown in
The sheath 106 may be made of insulating material such as poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (PTFE), although those skilled in the art will readily understand that the sheath may be made of any other suitable material. While
The supporting member 120 may be made of hard insulating material such as rigid plastic, although those skilled in the art will readily understand that the supporting member may be made of any other suitable material. The supporting member 120 has two arms 122 extending forwards and generally parallel to each other to form a slit 124. Two pins 128 are supported between the arms 122 in the vicinity of the distal end thereof. The pins 128 are arranged generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, and perpendicular to the side walls of the slit 124.
The pair of electrodes 110a, 110b are partially inserted into the slit 124 of the supporting member 120 and are pivotably mounted to the pair of pins 128. Thus, the pair of electrodes 110 can move between the closed position shown in
The rear ends or proximal ends of the electrodes 110a, 110b are respectively connected with the conductive wires 108a, 108b. Each of the conductive wires 108a, 108b is covered with an insulating tube 126a, 126b except the end portion thereof at which the conductive wire 108a, 108b is connected to the corresponding electrode 110a, 110b.
An insulating block 130 is located in the slit 124 of the supporting member 120 to prevent the electrodes 110 from coming into contact to each other within the slit 124. The insulating block 130 is located between the electrodes 110 and supported by the pins 128. The insulating block 130 may be made of resin such as poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, for example, although those skilled in the art will readily understand that the insulating block may be made of any other suitable material.
The electrodes 110a, 110b are elongated members and may be made of metal such as stainless steel, although those skilled in the art will readily understand that the electrodes may be made of any other suitable material. The electrodes 110a, 110b each include a body 110aB, 110bB and a tip portion 110aT, 110bT extending at an angle from the distal end of the body 110aB, 110bB. In a non-limiting embodiment, the tip portion 110aT, 110bT extends at generally a 90 degree angle to the distal end of the body 110aB, 110bB, and to form a general L-shape, although those skilled in the art will readily understand that the tip may form other angles with the body, depending on the needs of the surgeon.
Also, in order to improve cutting and/or current density, the tip 110aT, 110bT may include a blade 180 at the leading edge thereof and/or a blade 182 at the trailing edge thereof, depending on the needs of the surgeon. Additionally, in order to prevent slippage of the tool 109, the electrode 110a, 110b may include teeth 184 on one or both of the opposed inner surfaces thereof and which may or may not interlock, depending on the needs of the surgeon. Further, to prevent tissue damage and/or to improve tissue marking, the end 186 of the tip 110aT, 110bT may be rounded or blunt.
Once the tissue T is marked, a surgical procedure (e.g., mucosal or submucosal incision or dissection) may be performed, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
By the above-described configuration, the high-frequency treatment tool 109 can perform a variety of different surgical procedures, including but not limited to marking, incision, exfoliation or hemostasis, thereby reducing the duration of surgery (thereby reducing the risk to the patient) and reducing the number of surgical tools needed for surgery (thereby reducing costs).
It is noted that those skilled in the art will readily understand that to assist the surgeon in performing any of marking, incision, exfoliation and hemostasis with the tool 109 of the present invention, different qualities of high-frequency voltage may be used (e.g., different duration, voltage and the like)
It is further noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
