Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An electrosurgical device adapted for connection to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, said device being used to cut, coagulate, or otherwise treat human tissue or the like, said device comprising: an insulative electrode support means; an active electrode comprising at least one conductive element responsive to said active output terminal and a return electrode comprising at least one conductive element responsive to said return output terminal, said electrodes being supported by said electrode support means, the entirety of said return electrode being asymmetrically disposed with respect to said one element of said active electrode, said active and return electrodes being rigidly supported a fixed distance apart by said electrode support means, both said electrodes being adapted for electrical connection to said tissue, the ratio of the return electrode area adapted to electrically connect to said tissue to the active electrode area adapted to electrically connect to said tissue being in the range of approximately 2 to 200; and means for connecting said active electrode to said active output terminal and said return electrode to said return output terminal whereby said electrosurgical device can be used for cutting of said tissue due to said entirety of said return electrode being asymmetrically disposed with respect to said one active electrode element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
An electrosurgical device adapted for connection to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, said device being used to cut, coagulate, or otherwise treat human tissue or the like, said device comprising: an insulative electrode support means; an active electrode comprising at least one conductive element responsive to said active output terminal and a return electrode comprising at least one conductive element responsive to said return output terminal, said electrodes being supported by said electrode support means, the entirety of said return electrode being asymmetrically disposed with respect to said one element of said active electrode, said active and return electrodes being rigidly supported a fixed distance apart by said electrode support means, both said electrodes being adapted for electrical connection to said tissue, the ratio of the return electrode area adapted to electrically connect to said tissue to the active electrode area adapted to electrically connect to said tissue being in the range of approximately 2 to 200; and means for connecting said active electrode to said active output terminal and said return electrode to said return output terminal whereby said electrosurgical device can be used for cutting of said tissue due to said entirety of said return electrode being asymmetrically disposed with respect to said one active electrode element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 1 where said area range is approximately 3 to 50.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 1 where said electrode support means includes a handle and a single tissue contacting structure disposed at one end of said handle and supporting said electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 3 where said active and return electrodes each comprise a single element, the size of said return electrode element being greater than that of said active electrode element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 4 where said active and return electrode areas are both circular and are disposed at opposite sides of said structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 4 where said active electrode area is circular and disposed at one side of said structure and said return electrode area is U-shaped and disposed at the side of said structure opposite said one side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 3 where at least one of said active and return electrodes comprises a plurality of elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrosurgical device as in claim 7 where both said active and return electrodes comprise a plurality of elements of equal size, the number of return electrode elements being greater than that of the active electrode elements.