US4043342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrosurgical devices having sesquipolar electrode structures incorporated therein
Assignee: Valleylab Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-26
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Granted: 1977-08-23
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Expires: 1996-02-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrosurgical device adapted for connection to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, the device being used to cut, coagulate, or otherwise treat organic tissue or the like, the device comprising: an insulative support connectors; an active electrode responsive to the active output terminal and a return electrode responsive to the return output terminal, the electrodes being supported by the electrode support connectors, the return electrode being symmetrically disposed completely about the active electrode, the active electrode extending as far as or beyond the distal end of the return electrode, both the electrodes being adapted for electrical connection to the tissue, the ratio of the return electrode area adapted to electrically connect to the tissue to the active electrode area adapted to electrically connect to the tissue being in the range of approximately 2 to 200; and connectors for connecting the active electrode to the active output terminal and the return electrode to the return output terminal. Embodiments are also disclosed where the active electrode is spring biased with respect to the return electrode and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Morrison, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B2018/1475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 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 organic tissue or the like, said device comprising: an insulative support means; an active electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said active output terminal and a return electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said return output terminal, said electrodes being supported by said electrode support means, means for maintaining a fixed spacing between the active electrode and the return electrode, said return electrode being electrically insulated from and symmetrically disposed completely about said active electrode, said active electrode extending at least as far as the distal end of said return electrode, 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; means for connecting said active electrode to said active output terminal and said return electrode to said return output terminal; and means for so biasing said return electrode with respect to the active electrode that the return electrode is normally disposed at a first position where the return electrode extends as far as the distal end of the active electrode and a retracted position where the return electrode is retracted from the distal end of the active electrode in response to said active electrode being inserted into said tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 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 organic tissue or the like, said device comprising: an insulative support means; an active electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said active output terminal and a return electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said return output terminal, said electrodes being supported by said electrode support means, means for maintaining a fixed spacing between the active electrode and the return electrode, said return electrode being electrically insulated from and symmetrically disposed completely about said active electrode, said active electrode extending at least as far as the distal end of said return electrode, 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; means for connecting said active electrode to said active output terminal and said return electrode to said return output terminal; and means for so biasing said return electrode with respect to the active electrode that the return electrode is normally disposed at a first position where the return electrode extends as far as the distal end of the active electrode and a retracted position where the return electrode is retracted from the distal end of the active electrode in response to said active electrode being inserted into said tissue.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of treating tissue by fulguration with an electrosurgical device, said device being connected to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, said device including an insulative support means; an active electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said active output terminal and a return electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said return output terminal, said electrodes being supported by said electrode support means, means for maintaining a fixed spacing between the active electrode and the return electrode, said return electrode being electrically insulated from and symmetrically disposed completely about said active electrode, the distal end of said active electrode extending at least as far as the distal end of said return electrode, 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; means for connecting said active electrode to said active output terminal and said return electrode to said return output terminal, and means for so biasing said return electrode with respect to the active electrode that the return electrode is normally disposed at a first position where the return electrode extends as far as the distal end of the active electrode and a retracted position where the return electrode is retracted from the distal end of the active electrode in response to said active electrode being inserted into said tissue, said method comprising the steps of applying electrical energy from said generator to said active and return electrodes; initially contacting said tissue, subsequent to said applying step, with said return electrode so that said fulguration initially occurs from said active electrode.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of treating tissue by fulguration with an electrosurgical device, said device being connected to an electrical generator having active and return output terminals, said device including an insulative support means; an active electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said active output terminal and a return electrode having a distal end and being responsive to said return output terminal, said electrodes being supported by said electrode support means, means for maintaining a fixed spacing between the active electrode and the return electrode, said return electrode being electrically insulated from and symmetrically disposed completely about said active electrode, the distal end of said active electrode extending at least as far as the distal end of said return electrode, 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; means for connecting said active electrode to said active output terminal and said return electrode to said return output terminal, and means for so biasing said return electrode with respect to the active electrode that the return electrode is normally disposed at a first position where the return electrode extends as far as the distal end of the active electrode and a retracted position where the return electrode is retracted from the distal end of the active electrode in response to said active electrode being inserted into said tissue, said method comprising the steps of applying electrical energy from said generator to said active and return electrodes; initially contacting said tissue, subsequent to said applying step, with said return electrode so that said fulguration initially occurs from said active electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-22 | 1981-02-21 | 1981-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-22 | 1985-02-21 | 1985-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-22 | 1989-02-21 | 1989-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |