Electrosurgical instrument
US5944715A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 25, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/162
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument, for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, comprises an instrument shaft, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly comprises a tissue treatment electrode and a return electrode which is electrically insulated from the tissue treatment electrode by means of an insulation member. The tissue treatment electrode has an exposed end extending laterally through a cut-out provided in the insulation member at the distal end portion of the instrument. The return electrode has a fluid contact surface which overlies the insulation member in the region of the cut-out. The fluid contact surface is spaced from the tissue treatment electrode in such a manner as to define, in use, a conductive fluid path that completes an electrical circuit between the tissue treatment electrode and the return electrode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.