Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An electrosurgical instrument comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and plural lumens extending between said proximal and distal ends; (b) a bullet-shaped ceramic tip member affixed to said distal end of said tubular member, said tip member having a longitudinal bore formed therein, said bore exiting through an opening in the exterior of said tip member at a location displaced laterally from the longitudinal axis of said tubular member; (c) a first conductor disposed in one of said lumens; (d) means connected to said proximal end of said tubular member and joined to said first conductor for selectively displacing said first conductor whereby the distal end of said first conductor may be made to pass through said longitudinal bore and said opening; (e) a conductive surface adhered to said exterior of said ceramic tip member and surrounding but spaced from said opening; and (f) a second conductor passing through another of said plural lumens and electrically joined to said conductive surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electrosurgical instrument comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and plural lumens extending between said proximal and distal ends; (b) a bullet-shaped ceramic tip member affixed to said distal end of said tubular member, said tip member having a longitudinal bore formed therein, said bore exiting through an opening in the exterior of said tip member at a location displaced laterally from the longitudinal axis of said tubular member; (c) a first conductor disposed in one of said lumens; (d) means connected to said proximal end of said tubular member and joined to said first conductor for selectively displacing said first conductor whereby the distal end of said first conductor may be made to pass through said longitudinal bore and said opening; (e) a conductive surface adhered to said exterior of said ceramic tip member and surrounding but spaced from said opening; and (f) a second conductor passing through another of said plural lumens and electrically joined to said conductive surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrosurgical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said conductive surface includes first and second segments insulatively spaced from one another on said tip member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrosurgical instrument as in claim 2 and further including a third conductor extending through said another of said plural lumens and electrically joined to the one of said first and second segments not joined to said second conductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrosurgical instrument as in any of claims 1-3 wherein the ceramic is selected from a group including aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride and said conductive surface is silver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The electrosurgical instrument as in claim 1 and further including means for coupling said first and second conductors to an RF voltage such that an arc is created between the portion of said first conductor extending outward through said opening and said conductive surface when said portion of said first conductor and said surface are brought into contact with body tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrosurgical instrument as in claim 3 and further including means for coupling said second and third conductors to said RF voltage for coagulating body fluids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrosurgical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said proximal end of said tubular member comprised a hub having a spring-loaded plunger passing through said hub, said plunger being coupled to said first conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrostatic instrument as in claim 3 wherein said second and third conductors are connected in common with one another when said first conductor is connected to an RF voltage source.