Electrosurgical instrument with fluid diverter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11839422-B2
Application number	US-202016997136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port in communication with a first fluid path, an aspiration port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a diverter in mechanical communication with the two electrodes. The diverter may receive, on its surface, a fluid emitted by the discharge port, and maintain a contact of the fluid with the first and second electrodes. The diverter may be further configured to prevent an aspiration, by the aspiration port, of the fluid on its surface. An electrosurgical device may include a source port in communication with a first fluid path, an evacuation port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a housing. The device may include a shaft extending distally from the housing and the end effector as described above.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrosurgical device comprising:
a proximal fluid source port and a first fluid path in fluid communication with the proximal fluid source port;
a proximal fluid evacuation port and a second fluid path in fluid communication with the proximal fluid evacuation port;
a first electrode configured to be in electrical communication with a first terminal of an energy supply having a first polarity and a second electrode configured to be in electrical communication with a second terminal of the energy supply having an opposing polarity to the first terminal;
a housing;
a shaft extending distally from the housing; and
an end effector, disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising:
a distal fluid discharge port in fluid communication with the first fluid path;
a distal fluid aspiration port in fluid communication with the second fluid path;
an exposed distal portion of the first electrode and an exposed distal portion of the second electrode; and
a diverter comprising a first surface, a first terminal lateral side in mechanical communication with an inner surface of the exposed distal portion of the first electrode, and a second terminal lateral side in mechanical communication with an inner surface of the exposed distal portion of the second electrode,
wherein the first surface comprises a plurality of features configured to direct a flow of the fluid on the first surface and wherein the plurality of features comprises a plurality of protrusions or recesses.

2. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the diverter is configured to maintain a contact between a fluid, a surface of the exposed distal portion of the first electrode, and a surface of the exposed distal portion of the second electrode.

3. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port comprises an aperture comprising a circular opening, a semi-lunar opening, or a slit opening.

4. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first fluid path disposed proximal to the distal fluid discharge port is configured to impart a turbulent flow to a fluid flowing therethrough.

5. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port comprises a first cannula in mechanical communication with the inner surface of the exposed distal portion of the first electrode and a second cannula in mechanical communication with the inner surface of the exposed distal portion of the second electrode.

6. The electrosurgical device of claim 5 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port comprises a plurality of pores in the first cannula and the second cannula.

7. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port is disposed on a distal end of an aspiration tube.

8. The electrosurgical device of claim 7 , wherein the aspiration tube is configured to be placed in a retracted configuration or in an extended configuration.

9. The electrosurgical device of claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises a slide switch configured to place the aspiration tube in the retracted configuration or in the extended configuration.

10. The electrosurgical device of claim 8 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port is positioned under and proximal to a distal end of the diverter when the aspiration tube is placed in the retracted configuration.

11. The electrosurgical device of claim 8 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port is positioned under and distal to a distal end of the diverter when the aspiration tube is placed in the extended configuration.

12. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the diverter further comprises a third electrode.

13. The electrosurgical device of claim 12 , wherein a top surface of the third electrode comprises at least a portion of the first surface of the diverter.

14. The electrosurgical device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of features comprise a plurality of protrusions disposed on the top surface of the third electrode.

15. The electrosurgical device of claim 12 , wherein the third electrode is disposed through at least a part of an entire thickness of the diverter.

16. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the exposed distal portion of the first electrode and the exposed distal portion of the second electrode each has a fabiform cross-section.

17. The electrosurgical device of claim 16 , wherein the first terminal lateral side of the diverter is disposed against an inner surface of the fabiform cross-section of the exposed distal portion of the first electrode, and
wherein the second terminal lateral side of the diverter is disposed against an inner surface of the fabiform cross-section of the exposed distal portion of the second electrode.

18. The electrosurgical device of claim 17 , wherein the distal fluid discharge port comprises a first cannula in mechanical communication with the inner surface of the fabiform cross-section of the exposed distal portion of the first electrode and a second cannula in mechanical communication with the inner surface of the of the fabiform cross-section of the exposed distal portion of the second electrode.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Witt David A
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Yates David C
• Boudreaux Chad P
• Roberson Eric M
• Houser Kevin L
• Strobl Geoffrey S

Classifications

• A61B18/148 Primary

  having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy · CPC title

• A61B18/14

  Probes or electrodes therefor · CPC title

• A61B2018/0016

  Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array · CPC title

• A61B2018/00035

  with return means · CPC title

• A61B2018/00083

  low, i.e. electrically insulating · CPC title