Alternative current pathways for bipolar surgical cutting tool
US5531744A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N30/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A bipolar electrosurgical tool comprises a retractable cutting element movable along a cutting path and an electrical energy supply source which communicates electrical energy (e.g., radio frequency energy) through one or more energy delivering electrodes associated with a tissue affecting portion of the tool to tissue adjacent the electrodes. One or more additional electrodes, such as return electrodes, form a second pole of the bipolar electrical connection are also associated with the tissue affecting portion and are electrically isolated from the energy delivering electrode. Various combinations of electrically conductive and electrically isolated elements associated with the tissue affecting portion of the device can be used as the two poles of the bipolar system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.