Electrosurgical ablation and aspiration apparatus having flow directing feature and methods related thereto
US6949096B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2218/007
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Electrosurgical methods, systems, and apparatus for the controlled ablation of tissue from a target site of a patient. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes an active electrode assembly having an active electrode screen surrounded by a plurality of flow protectors. Each flow protector defines a shielded region of the active electrode screen, each shielded region of the screen characterized by enhanced plasma formation. The active electrode assembly is adapted for removing tissue from a surgical site, and the active electrode screen is adapted for digesting fragments of resected tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus is particularly suited to simultaneously removing both hard and soft tissue in, or around, a joint.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.