Patent Application
20250213288
The present disclosure relates generally to electrosurgical devices and methods of using same, and more specifically to electrosurgical systems utilizing such electrosurgical devices.
Electrosurgical instruments are well known and widely used in the medical, dental, and veterinary fields. Such instruments many generate electrical currents in the RF spectrum which are used to deliver power to hand-held surgical instruments incorporating one or more electrode components and are used to perform surgical procedures such as tissue cutting, coagulation, hemostasis and other electrosurgical applications.
Electrosurgical instruments may include a unit for generating RF power which is delivered to hand-held surgical instruments to activate electrodes incorporated into the instruments to perform a procedure. Such units may be a console-type to house circuitry for RF power generation and to provide input and output connections from such circuitry to a variety of external devices including a power supply and hand-held surgical instruments. A console unit may include interactive display and input panels for user-operation of the electrosurgical instruments. Input panels may be provide switches, buttons, touch screens, IR controls and the like to allow a user to select and input operating conditions in order to activate the electrosurgical tool for a desired surgical operation or procedure. Examples of a suitable console unit may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 10,456,189, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in it entirety.
The electrodes of the surgical devices can be used in various surgical procedures in which a conventional scalpel is employed, for example for general cutting procedures. Electrodes provide an advantage of providing electrosurgical currents at the cutting edge of a scalpel, which assists in cutting tissue while at the same time providing a coagulation effect.
In one exemplary arrangement, an electrosurgical system is disclosed that comprises a handpiece having a mounting channel therein, an electrical contact in communication with the mounting channel; and an electrode arrangement that is engageable within the mounting channel. The electrode arrangement further comprises a mounting shaft that is in communication with an active electrode end, that is configured to deliver RF energy when the mounting shaft is in electrical engagement with the electrical contact within the mounting channel and the handpiece is in an energized state. The active electrode end includes at least one edge portion that includes a visual indicator of a treatment depth.
In one exemplary arrangement, the mounting shaft may further comprise a malleable section that permits selective positioning of the active electrode end with respect to the handpiece.
An insulating sleeve may be disposed over the mounting shaft. When positioned, a proximal end of the mounting shaft extends outwardly from the insulating sleeve when mounted on the mounting shaft. In one exemplary arrangement, the insulating sleeve may be heat-shrunk onto the mounting shaft. Once the insulating sleeve is position on the mounting sleeve, the insulating sleeve and mounting shaft are positioned within the mounting channel.
In one exemplary arrangement, the mounting shaft may be locked within the mounting channel of the handpiece. For example, in one exemplary arrangement, the mounting shaft may include a pair of mounting grooves that cooperate with a locking element disposed on a distal end of the handpiece to lock the electrode arrangement within the handpiece.
Disposed within the mounting channel is an electrical contact that provides electrical energy to the electrode assembly. In one exemplary arrangement, the electrical contact is constructed as a tubular member disposed within the mounting channel so as to encircle a proximal end of the mounting shaft when the mounting shaft is seated within the mounting channel.
The electrosurgical system may further comprise a console generator that is configured to power the handpiece. The console generator connects to the handpiece via an electrical cable, with a first end of the electrical cable being connected to an electrical contact disposed within the handpiece. The first end of the electrical cable may be selectively connected to the handpiece. A second end of the electrical cable may comprise a smart plug that operatively serves to limit the electrical output to the handpiece from the console generator.
In one exemplary arrangement, the active electrode end is configured in the shape of an oval. Further, the active electrode end may be configured to be concave shaped, with the edge portion being disposed about the periphery of the active electrode end. A bottom outer surface of the active electrode end may be insulated.
In one exemplary arrangement, the active electrode end is configured with a circular shape and further includes an opening therethrough. An edge band may extend around the outer periphery of the active electrode end. In one arrangement, the active electrode end is angled with respect to a central axis extending through the mounting shaft such that a distal most end of the active electrode end is positioned higher than the mounting shaft.
In another exemplary arrangement, the active electrode end is in the form of a cantilever beam. The cantilever beam may be peaked, with edge sections disposed on either side of a center line that extends through the cantilever beam. In one exemplary arrangement, a distal end of the cantilever beam may be offset such that the cantilever beam extends at an angle from a center line extending through the mounting beam, when viewed in plan view.
Exemplary arrangement of the present disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the attached figures, in which:
Referring now to the discussion that follows, and to the drawings, illustrative approaches to the disclosed systems and methods are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent some possible approaches, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Further, the descriptions set forth herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the claims to the precise forms and configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description.
With reference to
The handpiece 12 is defined by a proximal end 17 and a distal end 20. The distal end 20 includes an opening for a mounting channel 18 therein that is configured to receive a mounting shaft 22 of an electrode arrangement 24, which will be explained in further detail below.
The electrosurgical console generator 14 may be any suitable electrosurgical apparatus that is configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to the handpiece 12. For example, the console generator 14 may be operable to selectively generate and deliver alternating polarity electrical current. In some exemplary arrangements, the console generator 14 provides power to the handpiece 12 at a high operating frequency, for example, within a range of approximately 2 to 4 MHZ, although other suitable operating frequencies are contemplated.
Referring now to
A first exemplary arrangement of an electrode arrangement 24 is disclosed in
In contrast to the electrode member 34, the insulation sleeve 36 is formed of an electrically insulating material or materials. In one exemplary arrangement, the insulation sleeve 36 is formed as a separate hollow component, as shown in
In one exemplary arrangement, the mounting shaft 22 may include engagement grooves, one of which 43 is shown in
In one exemplary arrangement, the active electrode end 40 is constructed to have an oval or spoon shape, as shown in
Alternatively, as will be explained in further detail below, the convex outer surface/outer portion 48 may be uninsulated so as to permit use as a treatment surface. For example, in one exemplary arrangement, the electrode end may have a conductive gold plating or titanium nitride. This material may also be used for other electrode arrangements, to be discussed below.
An alternative exemplary arrangement of an electrode arrangement 124 with an active electrode end 140 for use with the electrosurgical system 10 is shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In one exemplary arrangement, referring to
In the various exemplary arrangements, the insulation sleeve 36, 136, 236, is mounted around the mounting shaft 22, 122, and 222. For example, in one exemplary arrangement, the insulation sleeve 36, 136, 236 may be heat-shrunk about the electrode member arrangement 24, 124, 224.
The electrosurgical system 10 and the various exemplary arrangements may be used as follows in accordance with the exemplary arrangements of the disclosure. Using the exemplary arrangement shown in
The active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 may be used in different operational modes, including a brushing mode, a cutting mode, and a scraping mode. More specifically, in some exemplary arrangements, the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 may be energized so as to create an energized contact surface, which may be slid or brushed over a surface of exposed tissue such that the active electrode ends 40, 140, and 240 come into contact with the tissue to ablate a treated band of tissue. In a bushing operation, the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 is dragged or slid by an operator, while in contact with the tissue, across an outer surface of the tissue. As the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 brushes across the tissue, a layer of the tissue is ablated. In one exemplary arrangement, the treated band of tissue may be a relatively uniform depth across a width of the treated band. In some exemplary arrangements, the ablated tissue may be exposed surface tissue. In yet other exemplary arrangements, the ablated tissue is skin tissue. In further exemplary arrangements, the ablated tissue is gum tissue.
Referring to
Due to the shape of the exemplary arrangement of active electrode end 40, the contact edge 44 is arcuate when it comes into contact with the tissue 302, affording a broad contact area. Debris and excess removed tissue or saliva for those procedures involving the mouth, may be collected within the concave section of the active electrode end 40 (or within the opening 142 or trapped between wings of the angled active electrode end 240). The broad width of contact edge 44 serves to reduce surgical time, as less surgical passes are needed to clear an area. Indeed, in some exemplary arrangements, substantially all of an entire area of tissue within a treated band 304 is ablated by a brush stroke.
In some exemplary arrangements, a depth 306 (
In some exemplary arrangements, a width W of the contact edge 44 is in the range from about 1 mm to 4 mm. In one exemplary arrangements, the width W is substantially the same as the width of the treated band 304. In other exemplary arrangements, during application of the active electrode end 40, the active electrode end 40 may be applied at an angle to the tissue 300 such that only a portion of the contact edge 44 comes into contact tissue 300. In this manner, a width of the treated band 304 will be smaller than the total width W of the contact edge 44, a shown in
In further exemplary arrangements, the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 may be used to cut and/or scrape tissue without the application of RF current. For example, the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 may be used to scrape away tissue that has been desiccated or coagulated by the ablating step.
In some exemplary arrangements, the electrosurgical system 10 and the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 can also be used to electrosurgically cut, scrape, cauterize, coagulate and/or desiccate tissue by contacting the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 to the tissue.
In some exemplary arrangements, the mounting sections 22, 122, and 222 may be constructed to be bendable to customize the angle to the active electrode ends 40, 140, and 240 to the treatment, patient, or surgical step to be employed. Alternatively, there may be a malleable section 45 (see, e.g.,
In one exemplary arrangement, the system 10 and the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 may be used in connection with various different exemplary scenarios. For example, the system 10 may be utilized to ablate gum tissue by vaporization. For example, in one exemplary arrangement, the system 10 is used to treat gingival hyperplasia. In some exemplary arrangements, the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240 is used to ablate a layer of gum tissue to effect a cosmetic treatment, for example to treat racial pigmentation. In yet another exemplary arrangement, the system 10 may be used to treat both gingival hyperplasia and racial pigmentation in the same procedure.
In an alternative approach, for example, as shown in
For example,
As explained above, a user may implement multiple strokes with the active electrode ends 40, 140, 240, as needed to ablate a desired region of tissue, such as gum tissue. For example, the user may continue to brush target tissue until most or substantially all of the target tissue has been ablated. Scraping or wiping steps may be executed between brush strokes to remove any residual tissue in order to clear the surgical field for further ablation or inspection. The user may alternate between the brushing and scraping steps as needed to progressively ablate and clear the target tissue.
More specifically, in some exemplary procedures, the user may use the brushing, scraping and/or wiping steps and techniques as follows:
In an initial step, a user prepares the system 10 for use. For example, in one exemplary arrangement, the electrode arrangement 24 may be a disposable element specifically designed for single patient use. Accordingly, the electrode arrangement 24 may be disposed within the handpiece 12 such that the electrode arrangement 24 is seated so as to be electrically connected to the electrical contact 28.
Once seated, the electrical cable 16 may be connected to the console generator 14. In one exemplary arrangement, the electrical cable 16 may be equipped with a “smart plug” 15. The smart plug 15 is configured only permit an output suitable for the handpiece 12. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,707, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. Accordingly, when the smart plug is connected to the console generator 14, and the console generator 14 is turned on, the handpiece 12 may impart RF energy to the electrode arrangement 24 when an activation switch 31 (see
Once energized, the user may brush the tissue surface. For example, when utilizing the system 10 to treat gum tissue, the active electrode end 40, 140, 240 is applied to gum tissue, i.e., a brushing operation is applied to the gum tissue to vaporize or ablate the target tissue. The user will take care not to unintentionally contact and ablate tissue that does not need treatment. To avoid such unintentional contact, the user will visually monitor lateral edges of the of the active electrode ends 40. 140, 240 as they are positioned on the tissue. Depth of ablation may also be observed using visual observation as well.
After the brushing operation, the electrode assembly 24, 124, 224 may be de-energized by deactivating the handpiece 12 through the switch 31. Once deactivated, the user may scrape residual tissue from the ablative operation (e.g. coagulated collagen or other tissue) using various edges 46, 146, 246 of the surgical system 10. For example, in the exemplary arrangement that utilizes the active electrode end 40, the edges 46 may be used to scoop the residual tissue into the concave area to direct the tissue out of the surgical area. In connection with the exemplary arrangement that utilizes the active electrode end 140, an inner peripheral edge 141 may be used to pull the residual tissue into the opening 142 such that the residual tissue may be pulled out of the surgical area. As another example, with respect to the exemplary arrangement shown in
After the scraping/wiping procedure described above, the handpiece 12 may be turned back on and the procedure outlined above may be repeated. In addition, the procedure may include executed a plurality of brush strokes over the target tissue to create a controlled and uniform depth of tissue removal by ablation. The brushing operation can occur in both direction or in a single directions.
It will be appreciated that the systems and methods described herein have broad applications. The foregoing embodiments were chosen and described in order to illustrate principles of the methods and systems as well as some practical applications. The preceding description enables others skilled in the art to utilize methods and systems in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles and modes of operation of this disclosure have been explained and illustrated in exemplary arrangements.
It is intended that the scope of the present methods and arrangements be defined by the following claims. However, it must be understood that this disclosure may be practiced otherwise than is specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the arrangements described herein may be employed in practicing the claims without departing from the spirit and scope as defined in the following claims. The scope of the disclosure should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future examples. Furthermore, all terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.
