US5902272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Planar ablation probe and method for electrosurgical cutting and ablation
Assignee: Arthrocare Corp
•
Filing: 1996-07-16
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2016-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrosurgical ablation probe is provided having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a tongue-shaped distal end portion sized to fit within confined (e.g., narrow) spaces within the patient's body, such as the spaces around the articular cartilage between the femur and tibia and the spaces between adjacent vertebrae in the patient's spine. The probe includes at least one active electrode integral with or coupled to the tongue-shaped distal end portion and a connector on the proximal end portion for coupling the active electrode to an electrosurgical generator. The tongue-shaped distal end portion is substantially planar, and it offers a low profile, to allow access to confined spaces without risking iatrogenic injury to surrounding tissue, such as articular cartilage.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip E. Eggers
- 👤 Hira V. Thapliyal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/1206; A61B18/1402; A61B18/148; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1485; A61B18/149; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00092; A61B2017/00097; A61B2017/00101; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00119; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00172; A61B2018/00178; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00321; A61B2018/00327; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/00434; A61B2018/00505; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00583; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/0066; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00726; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00886; A61B2018/1213; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1273; A61B2018/1467; A61B2018/1472; A61B2018/1497; A61B18/16; A61B2018/162; A61B2018/165; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2493; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An electrosurgical system for use with a high frequency power supply, the system comprising: an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having inner and outer surfaces, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, one or more active electrodes each having an elongate body disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft, and a connector near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the active electrodes to the electrosurgical power supply, the distal end portion having a substantially narrow body sized to fit within a confined space within the patient's body; a return electrode on the shaft proximally spaced from the distal end portion to generate a current flow path between the active electrodes and the return electrode; and an electrically conducting fluid supply, the shaft defining a fluid path coupled to the electrically conducting fluid supply and in electrical contact with and between the return electrode and the active electrodes for generating a current flow path between the return electrode and active electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An electrosurgical system for use with a high frequency power supply, the system comprising: an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having inner and outer surfaces, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, one or more active electrodes each having an elongate body disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft, and a connector near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the active electrodes to the electrosurgical power supply, the distal end portion having a substantially narrow body sized to fit within a confined space within the patient's body; a return electrode on the shaft proximally spaced from the distal end portion to generate a current flow path between the active electrodes and the return electrode; and an electrically conducting fluid supply, the shaft defining a fluid path coupled to the electrically conducting fluid supply and in electrical contact with and between the return electrode and the active electrodes for generating a current flow path between the return electrode and active electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the active electrodes each have an active portion with a surface geometry configured to promote substantially high electric field intensities and associated electric field intensities between the active portion and the target site when a high frequency voltage is applied to the active electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft has an active side and a substantially planar non-active side opposing the active side, the active electrodes being disposed on the active side and being insulated from the non-active side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion has a thickness from the active side to the non-active side of less than 2 mm.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for applying electrical energy to a target site within a confined space in a patient's body, the method comprising: introducing one or more active electrodes into a narrow, confined space within the patient's body to at least close proximity with the target site in the presence of electrically conductive fluid, the space having a minimum dimension of about 0.5 to 5.0 mm; and applying a high frequency voltage difference between the active electrodes and a return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the active electrodes, through the body structure in the region of the target site, and to the return electrode.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for applying electrical energy to a target site within a confined space in a patient's body, the method comprising: introducing one or more active electrodes into a narrow, confined space within the patient's body to at least close proximity with the target site in the presence of electrically conductive fluid, the space having a minimum dimension of about 0.5 to 5.0 mm; and applying a high frequency voltage difference between the active electrodes and a return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the active electrodes, through the body structure in the region of the target site, and to the return electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the active electrodes are introduced into spaces between articular cartilage and the meniscus between the tibia and the femur to access meniscal tissue at the meniscus/tibial plateau interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the active electrodes are introduced into spaces between intervertebral disks in the spine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the active electrodes are disposed on an active side of a distal end portion of a shaft, the method further comprising insulating the active electrodes from an opposing non-active side of the distal end portion of the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising supporting the active electrodes with a tongue-shaped support member on the distal end portion of the shaft and insulating the active electrodes from the support member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising positioning the return electrode within the electrically conducting fluid to generate a current flow path between the active electrodes and the return electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the return electrode is on the shaft proximal to the active electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the active electrodes comprise an array of independent, isolated electrodes, the method further comprising independently controlling current flow from at least two of the electrodes based on impedance between the electrode and the return electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising promoting substantially high, localized electric field intensities between an active portion of the active electrodes and the tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the active portion of each active electrode has one or more edges for promoting localized electric fields around the edges.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the active portion of each active electrode defines a semi-circular transverse cross-sectional shape with first and second ends and an inner slot therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising vaporizing the electrically conducting fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the active electrode and inducing the discharge of energy from the vapor layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising imparting sufficient energy into the target site to ablate several cell layers of the body structure without causing substantial tissue necrosis beyond the several cell layers.
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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) | 2002-05-10 | 2002-11-09 | 2003-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |