Patent · US Expired

Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treating tissue

US6589237B2 · kind B2 · utility

426Cited by
187References
61Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 2001
Grant dateJul 8, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 19, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2218/007
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Electrosurgical methods and apparatus for removing tissue from a target site of a patient. An electrosurgical suction apparatus includes an aspiration channel in communication with a distal aspiration port, and an electrode support having a plurality of active electrodes disposed thereon, the plurality of active electrodes spanning the aspiration port. Each of the plurality of active electrodes is adapted for removing tissue from a target site to form low molecular weight ablation by-products. Each of the plurality of active electrodes is also adapted for digesting resected tissue fragments to yield low molecular weight ablation by-products. Ablation by-products and resected tissue fragments are readily removed from the target site via an aspiration stream flowing proximally through the aspiration channel. In one embodiment, each of a plurality of active electrodes protrude in different directions from a beveled treatment surface of the electrode support, and each of the plurality of active electrodes extend from the beveled treatment surface by substantially the same orthogonal distance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.