Serpentine ablation/coagulation electrode
US5906615A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 25, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B18/149
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for using a single electrode structure for both resection and ablation. Generally, the electrode structures of the present invention comprise fixed wire shapes which avoid the complexity and binding that often result when known rolling ablation elements are powered to the high electrosurgical potentials required for removal of tissues. Electrosurgical energy requirements are minimized by concentrating potential at narrow cutting surfaces, and physician effort is avoided by minimizing the total profile of the device along a selected cutting axis. In the exemplary embodiment, a serpentine wire has multiple electrosurgical elements which are aligned with a low cutting profile, and which provide a large lateral surface area for simultaneous ablation of uterine and other tissues.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.