Electrosurgery surgical instrument

Claim 2

The instrument as in Claim I wherein said conductive blade and said conductive strip comprise a capacitor.

Claim 3

The instrument as in Claim I or 2 wherein said layer of insulation is in the range of from .005 to .015 inches (.013 to .038 cm) thick.

Claim 4

The instrument as in Claim I, 2 or 3 wherein said conductive strip is in the range of from .01 to .03 inches (.02 to .08 cm) thick.

Claim 5

The instrument as in any preceding claim wherein said further layer of insulation is in the range of from .001 to .0024 inches (.002 to .006 cm) thick.

Claim 6

An electro-cautery surgical instrument comprising: (a) an electro-cautery surgical blade means including means for electrically cauterizing tissue; and (b) means for vibrating said surgical blade means at a frequency and amplitude to prevent the build-up of tissue debris thereon.

Claim 7

The surgical instrument of Claim 6 wherein said electro-cautery blade means exhibits a capacitive effect.

Claim 8

The surgical instrument of Claim 6 or 7 wherein said electro-cautery blade means causes heating of the tissue by a current flowing through said tissue as a resistive element.

Claim 9

The surgical instrument of Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said means for vibrating said surgical blade means is a piezo-ceramic transducer, preferably a barium titanate piezo-ceramic transducer optionally affixed directly to said surgical blade means.

Claim 10

The surgical instrument of any one of Claims 6 to 9 and further including power source means electrically connected to said surgical blade means and to said means for vibrating said surgical blade means for powering said surgical blade means and said means for vibrating said surgical blade means.

Claim 11

II. A blade holder and blade in combination comprising: (a) a blade holder including a longitudinal slit for receiving a predetermined portion of said blade and including electrical power source contact pad connection means in said slit; (b) electrical-to-mechanical transducer means positioned in a distal portion of said blade holder; (c) mechanical compression means for drawing said slit into a substantially closed position about both said blade and said transducer means for urging said transducer means into engagement against said blade; and (d) said blade including a proximal portion, a working edge extending distally of said proximal portion, a first conductor extending across said blade, a first insulation layer disposed over said first conductor and up to said working edge of said blade, a second conductor extending generally parallel to said first conductor and spaced by said first insulation layer from said first conductor and from said working edge on at least one side of said blade, a second insulation layer covering said second conductor, and two or more electrical contact pads electrically connected to said first and second conductors located on said proximal portion of said blade and operatively connected to said contact pad connection means in said slit for coupling electrical energy to said blade.

Claim 12

The combination of Claim II including power source means for powering said blade and power source means for powering said transducer means, each of said power source means being connected to said contact pad connection means of said surgical blade holder by a flexible cable.

Claim 13

The combination of Claim 11 or 12 wherein said first conductor is a base member of said blade and said second conductor is parallel to and in- sulatively spaced from said base member to generate a capacitive field therebetween when an electrical potential is connected thereacross.

Claim 14

The combination of Claim II, 12 or 13 wherein said second conductor is less than 0.030 inches (0.08 cm) in thickness.

Claim 15

The combination of Claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein said second insulation layer is between 0.005 and 0.0024 inches (.013 to .006 cm) in thickness.

Claim 16

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC> I. An electro-surgical instrument comprising: (a) a conductive blade member having a sharp edge; (b) a layer of insulation covering said conductive blade with the exception of said sharp edge; (c) a conductive strip located adjacent to the edge portion of said insulation layer proximate said sharp edge, said conductive strip being joined to the conductive pad area on said layer of insulation; and (d) a further layer of insulation covering said conductive strip except at said conductive pad area.

Claim 17

The instrument as in Claim I wherein said conductive blade and said conductive strip comprise a capacitor.

Claim 18

The instrument as in Claim I or 2 wherein said layer of insulation is in the range of from .005 to .015 inches (.013 to .038 cm) thick.

Claim 19

The instrument as in Claim I, 2 or 3 wherein said conductive strip is in the range of from .01 to .03 inches (.02 to .08 cm) thick.

Claim 20

The instrument as in any preceding claim wherein said further layer of insulation is in the range of from .001 to .0024 inches (.002 to .006 cm) thick.

Claim 21

An electro-surgical instrument comprising: (a) an electro-surgical blade means including means for electrically cutting and cauterizing tissue; and (b) means for vibrating said surgical blade means at a frequency and amplitude to prevent the build-up of tissue debris thereon.

Claim 22

The surgical instrument of Claim 6 wherein said electro-surgical blade means exhibits a capacitive effect.

Claim 23

The surgical instrument of Claim 6 or 7 wherein said electro-surgical blade means causes heating of the tissue by a current flowing through said tissue as a resistive element.

Claim 24

The surgical instrument of Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein