Claims
- 1. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:
a handle; a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end; a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source; an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft; the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip.
- 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
the at least one fluid out opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.
- 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.
- 4. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
the at least one fluid outlet opening is located at the distal end of the shaft.
- 5. The device according to claim 4 wherein:
the at least one fluid outlet opening located at the distal end of the shaft is located between a portion of the electrode tip contained within the shaft and the distal end of the shaft.
- 6. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
the at least one fluid outlet opening is sheltered by the device from having direct contact with tissue.
- 7. The device according to claim 6 wherein:
the at least one fluid outlet opening sheltered by the device from having direct contact with tissue is sheltered by the shaft.
- 8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means to shelter the at least one fluid outlet opening from having direct contact with the tissue.
- 9. The device according to claim 8 wherein:
the means to shelter the at least one fluid outlet opening comprises the shaft.
- 10. The device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of fluid outlet openings.
- 11. The device according to claim 10 wherein:
the plurality of fluid outlet openings are arranged to provide the fluid from the fluid source around the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.
- 12. The device according to claim 10 wherein:
the plurality of fluid outlet openings are located at the distal end of the shaft.
- 13. The device according to claim 7 wherein:
the plurality of fluid outlet openings comprise four equally spaced openings located at the distal end of the shaft.
- 14. The device according to claim 4 further comprising:
at least one recess provided in the electrode tip, the recess providing a fluid flow channel for a flow of the fluid distally along the electrode tip.
- 15. The device according to claim 14 comprising a plurality of recesses, each recess providing fluid flow channel for a flow of the fluid distally along the electrode tip.
- 16. The device according to claim 14 wherein:
the at least one recess is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid outlet opening.
- 17. The device according to claim 14 wherein:
the number of recesses is equal to the number of fluid outlet openings.
- 18. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:
a handle; a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end; a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source; an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft; the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a neck portion and an enlarged end portion, the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip.
- 19. The device according to claim 18, wherein:
the at least one fluid outlet opening is arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.
- 20. The device according to claim 18 wherein:
at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.
- 21. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:
a handle; a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end; a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source; an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft; the portion of the electrode tip extending distally, beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a neck portion and an enlarged end portion, the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the neck portion of the electrode tip.
- 22. The device according to claim 21 wherein:
at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.
- 23. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:
a handle; a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal end; a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source; an electrode tip having an electrode surface, at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft; the portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a neck portion and an enlarged end portion, the enlarged end portion located distal to the neck portion and comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source towards the enlarged end portion of the electrode tip.
- 24. The device according to claim 23 wherein:
at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.
- 25. An electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising:
a handle; a fluid passage being connectable to a fluid source; an electrode tip having an electrode surface, the electrode comprising a cylindrical side surface and a domed distal end surface; and at least one fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening located proximal to the domed distal end surface of the electrode tip and arranged to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the cylindrical side surface of the electrode tip.
- 26. The device according to claim 25 wherein:
at least a portion of the electrode surface forms a contact angle (θ) with the fluid from the fluid source of less than 90 degrees; and whereby the fluid at least partially wets that portion of the electrode surface.
- 27. A surgical method for treating tissue comprising:
providing tissue having a tissue surface; providing radio frequency power at a power level; providing an electrically conductive fluid at a fluid flow rate; providing an surgical device configured to simultaneously provide the radio frequency electrical power and the electrically conductive fluid to tissue; providing the electrically conductive fluid to the tissue at the tissue surface; forming a fluid coupling comprising the electrically conductive fluid which couples the tissue and the surgical device; providing the radio frequency power to the tissue at the tissue surface and below the tissue surface into the tissue through the fluid coupling; coagulating the tissue without cutting the tissue; and blunt dissecting the tissue after coagulating the tissue.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) is claimed to U.S. provisional applications Ser. No. 60/356,390, filed Feb. 12, 2002, and No. 60/368,177, filed Mar. 27, 2002, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This patent application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/947,658, filed Sep. 5, 2001, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/797,049, filed Mar. 1, 2001, now pending, which claimed priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/187,114, filed Mar. 6, 2000. This patent application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/668,403, filed Sep. 22, 2000, now pending. The entire disclosure of each of these patent applications is incorporated herein by reference to the extent it is consistent.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60356390 |
Feb 2002 |
US |
|
60368177 |
Mar 2002 |
US |