Electrosurgical instrument
US6287305A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00101
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved electrosurgical instrument and method is disclosed for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a metal body having an outer insulating layer to reduce thermal/electrical discharge from non-functional portions of the instrument. In one aspect of the invention, an insulating layer having a thermal conductance of about 1.2 W/cm.sup.2.degree. K and a dielectric withstand strength of at least about 50 volts is employed. Such insulating layer may advantageously comprise silicon and/or carbon. In another aspect of the invention, the metal body is provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.35 W/cm.degree. K, and may advantageously comprise a metal selected from the group: gold, silver, aluminum, and copper. Heat sink means may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument (i.e., by removing heat from the metal body). In one embodiment, the heat sink means may comprise a phase change material that changes from a first phase to a second phase upon absorption of thermal energy from the metal body.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.