Dual mode electrosurgical clamping probe and related methods
US6974453B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2/2493
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue in order to ablate, contract, coagulate, or otherwise modify a target tissue or organ of a patients. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes a shaft having a shaft distal end bearing an active electrode and a return electrode. At least one of the active electrode and the return electrode is moveable such that the shaft distal end can adopt a closed configuration or an open configuration. The apparatus can operate in an ablation mode or a sub-ablation mode. The closed configuration is adapted for clamping and coagulating a target tissue while the apparatus is operating in the sub-ablation mode, while the open configuration is adapted for ablating the target tissue via molecular dissociation of tissue components. A method of the present invention comprises clamping a target tissue or organ with an electrosurgical probe. A first high frequency voltage is applied between the active electrode and the return electrode to effect coagulation of the clamped tissue. Thereafter, a second high frequency voltage is applied to effect localized molecular dissociat…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.