Patent US4040426A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4040426A
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Electrosurgical method and apparatus for initiating an electrical discharge in an inert gas flow
Assignee: Valleylab Inc
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Filing: 1976-01-16
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for initiating an electrical discharge in a formation of flowing inert gas disposed adjacent the end of an active electrode by generating charged particles in the vicinity of said inert gas formation. The charged particles are generated by an auxiliary electrical discharge produced between the active electrode and a surrounding tube, which is not connected to any external source of biasing potential. Electrostatic charge is generated on the tube as the inert gas flows thereby. This charge bleeds off the tube through inwardly pointed tips on the tube, which act as discharge points. The charge then passes to the active electrode via the auxiliary discharge through the gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Morrison, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/042; B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/16; B23K9/167; H; H01; H01T; H01T1/00; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/26; H05H1/32; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for establishing an electrical discharge to an object comprising a support; a source of electrical energy; an active electrode connected to said source of electrical energy and being supported by said support and outwardly extending therefrom; a source of inert gas; gas flow directing means connected to said source of inert gas for directing the gas past said electrode to thereby facilitate the establishment of a primary electrical discharge in the gas disposed adjacent the end of the electrode and extending outwardly therefrom; discharge initiating means disposed adjacent to said electrode for initiating said electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the electrode, said discharge initiating means including said active electrode and a second electrode having a small gap therebetween, across which an auxiliary discharge initiates said primary electrical discharge; said second electrode being electrically isolated from any source of biasing potential and being so disposed in the gas flow established by said gas flow directing means that said gas generates electrostatic charge on said second electrode, which is discharged through said gas to said active electrode to thereby establish said auxiliary electrical discharge; and means for returning said electrical energy from said object to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for establishing an electrical discharge to an object comprising a support; a source of electrical energy; an active electrode connected to said source of electrical energy and being supported by said support and outwardly extending therefrom; a source of inert gas; gas flow directing means connected to said source of inert gas for directing the gas past said electrode to thereby facilitate the establishment of a primary electrical discharge in the gas disposed adjacent the end of the electrode and extending outwardly therefrom; discharge initiating means disposed adjacent to said electrode for initiating said electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the electrode, said discharge initiating means including said active electrode and a second electrode having a small gap therebetween, across which an auxiliary discharge initiates said primary electrical discharge; said second electrode being electrically isolated from any source of biasing potential and being so disposed in the gas flow established by said gas flow directing means that said gas generates electrostatic charge on said second electrode, which is discharged through said gas to said active electrode to thereby establish said auxiliary electrical discharge; and means for returning said electrical energy from said object to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where said second electrode is an electrically conductive tube disposed about and surrounding said active electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 where said second electrode includes at least one inwardly directed, pointed projection extending from said tube whereby said auxiliary discharge occurs between said pointed projection and said active electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including an electrically conductive tube connected to said source of inert gas, through which said gas flows, said tube also being connected to said source of electrical energy at one end thereof and to said active electrode at the other end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where said second electrode is an electrically conductive tube which is substantially collinearly disposed with respect to said active electrode so that said gas first flows by said tube to generate said electrostatic charge thereon and then it flows past said active electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 where said active electrode is tubular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 where the tubular active electrode includes at least one projection extending therefrom whereby said auxiliary discharge occurs between said pointed projection and said active electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where said discharge initiating means includes at least one pointed projection extending from at least said second electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where said discharge initiating means includes at least one pointed projection extending from at least said active electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
An instrument comprising a support; an active electrode supported by said support and outwardly extending therefrom; gas flow directing means adapted for the directing of gas past said electrode to provide gas adjacent the end of the electrode and extending outwardly therefrom; and discharge initiating means disposed adjacent to said electrode adapted for the initiation of a primary electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the electrode, said discharge initiating means including said active electrode and a second electrode having a small gap therebetween, across which an auxiliary discharge initiates said primary electrical discharge; said second elctrode being electrically isolated from any source of biasing potential and being so disposed in the gas flow established by said gas flow directing means that said gas generates electrostatic charge on said second electrode, which is discharged through said gas to said active electrode to thereby establish said auxiliary electrical discharge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
An instrument comprising a support; an active electrode supported by said support and outwardly extending therefrom; gas flow directing means adapted for the directing of gas past said electrode to provide gas adjacent the end of the electrode and extending outwardly therefrom; and discharge initiating means disposed adjacent to said electrode adapted for the initiation of a primary electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the electrode, said discharge initiating means including said active electrode and a second electrode having a small gap therebetween, across which an auxiliary discharge initiates said primary electrical discharge; said second elctrode being electrically isolated from any source of biasing potential and being so disposed in the gas flow established by said gas flow directing means that said gas generates electrostatic charge on said second electrode, which is discharged through said gas to said active electrode to thereby establish said auxiliary electrical discharge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as in claim 10 where said second electrode is an electrically conductive tube disposed about and surrounding said active electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An instrument as in claim 11 where said second electrode includes at least one inwardly directed, pointed projection extending from said tube whereby said auxiliary discharge occurs between said pointed projection and said active electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An instrument as in claim 10 where said second electrode is an electrically conductive tube which is substantially collinearly disposed with respect to said active electrode so that said gas first flows by said tube to generate said electrostatic charge thereon and then it flows past said active electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An instrument as in claim 13 where said active electrode is tubular.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An instrument as in claim 14 where the tubular second electrode includes at least one projection extending therefrom whereby said auxiliary discharge occurs between said pointed projection and said active electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An instrument as in claim 10 where said discharge initiating means includes at least one pointed projection extending from at least said second electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An instrument as in claim 10 where said discharge initiating means includes at least one pointed projection extending from at least said active electrode.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of using an instrument comprising a support; an active electrode supported by said support and outwardly extending therefrom; gas flow directing means adapted for the directing of gas past said electrode to provide gas adjacent the end of the electrode and extending outwardly therefrom; discharge initiating means disposed adjacent to said electrode adapted for the initiation of a primary electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the electrode, said discharge initiating means including said active electrode and a second electrode having a small gap therebetween, across which an auxiliary discharge initiates said electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the active electrode; said second electrode being electrically isolated from any source of biasing potential and being so disposed in the gas flow established by said gas flow directing means that said gas flow generates electrostatic charge on said second electrode, which is discharged through said gas to said active electrode to thereby establish said auxiliary electrical discharge; said method comprising the steps of directing inert gas past said active electrode and outwardly therefrom; applying electrical energy to said active electrode; and generating said auxiliary electrical discharge so that said auxiliary electrical discharge will initiate said primary electrical discharge from said active electrode; and positioning said active electrode adjacent a body whereby said primary electrical discharge can be initiated without having to bring said active electrode into substantial contact with said body.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of using an instrument comprising a support; an active electrode supported by said support and outwardly extending therefrom; gas flow directing means adapted for the directing of gas past said electrode to provide gas adjacent the end of the electrode and extending outwardly therefrom; discharge initiating means disposed adjacent to said electrode adapted for the initiation of a primary electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the electrode, said discharge initiating means including said active electrode and a second electrode having a small gap therebetween, across which an auxiliary discharge initiates said electrical discharge in said gas formed adjacent the end of the active electrode; said second electrode being electrically isolated from any source of biasing potential and being so disposed in the gas flow established by said gas flow directing means that said gas flow generates electrostatic charge on said second electrode, which is discharged through said gas to said active electrode to thereby establish said auxiliary electrical discharge; said method comprising the steps of directing inert gas past said active electrode and outwardly therefrom; applying electrical energy to said active electrode; and generating said auxiliary electrical discharge so that said auxiliary electrical discharge will initiate said primary electrical discharge from said active electrode; and positioning said active electrode adjacent a body whereby said primary electrical discharge can be initiated without having to bring said active electrode into substantial contact with said body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 18 where said body comprises living organic tissue and said electrical discharge effects coagulation of said tissue by fulguration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 19 where said electrical energy is in form of periodic bursts of high frequency electrical current.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 18 where said body is metallic and said electrical discharge effects welding thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |