Electrode assembly for RF energy enabled tissue debridement device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12064165-B2
Application number	US-202117549185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2021
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical device is disclosed that operates in a mechanical cutting mode and a hemostasis mode. The device includes a housing and a blade assembly extending from the housing. The blade assembly forms a cutting tip and cutting window at a distal end region to provide mechanical cutting of tissue and first and second electrode assemblies to provide electrical energy to tissue. The first electrode assembly includes an outer shaft defining a first electrode surface and the second electrode assembly includes an electrode body extending along and electrically isolated from an outer shaft and defining a U-shape in cross section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blade assembly extending from a proximal region to a distal region for RF energy enabled tissue debridement, the blade assembly comprising:
an outer shaft assembly including: an outer shaft defining a lumen extending along a central axis, an outer circumference, a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, in which the distal end defines a cutting window in the outer shaft assembly and a first electrode surface at the distal region;
an inner shaft assembly rotatably disposed within the lumen of the outer shaft assembly about the central axis, the inner shaft assembly defining a distal portion, the distal portion further including a cutting tip;
an electrode body extending along the outer circumference of the outer shaft and electrically isolated from the outer shaft, the electrode body having an arcuate shape viewed in cross section with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis, the arcuate shape defined by opposed, spaced apart, first and second ends, an inner arcuate surface facing the outer circumference, and an outer arcuate surface opposite the inner arcuate surface, the opposed, spaced apart, first and second ends defining a trench, the trench including a first radius configured to accommodate the outer circumference and a second radius configured to receive an elongated tubular member between the inner arcuate surface and the outer arcuate surface;
an irrigation channel defined within the elongated tubular member and positioned between the outer circumference of the outer shaft and the electrode body, the elongated tubular member including a fluid outlet at a distal end thereof configured to deliver fluid from the irrigation channel between an outer surface of the first electrode and an inner surface of the electrode body, the electrode body further defining a distal cup at a distal end thereof;
a hub rotatably supporting the outer shaft and the electrode body, in which upon rotation of the hub about the central axis, the outer shaft and the electrode body rotate about the central axis; and
a rotary electrical connection assembly comprising an outer connector and an inner connector rotatably disposed within the outer connector, the inner connector electrically connected to the electrode body;
in which the arcuate shape of the electrode body allows electricity to travel from the proximal end to the distal end of the device along the blade assembly by less than 360 degrees in cross section.

2. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the irrigation channel is located and configured to deliver fluid from the proximal region to the distal region.

3. The blade assembly of claim 2 , in which the irrigation channel is defined by tubing positioned exterior the outer shaft.

4. The blade assembly of claim 3 , in which the tubing is coupled to the hub.

5. The blade assembly of claim 1 , in which the inner connector defines a C-shape in a plane perpendicular to the central axis along an entirety of the length of the inner connector in a direction parallel to the central axis.

6. The blade assembly of claim 1 , in which the electrode body is electrically isolated from the outer shaft.

7. The blade assembly of claim 1 , in which the electrode body includes an inner surface facing the outer shaft and an outer surface opposite the inner surface and in which the blade assembly further includes an insulator covering the outer surface of the electrode body and the outer circumference of the outer shaft.

8. The blade assembly of claim 7 , in which the insulator is heat shrink tubing.

9. The blade assembly of claim 1 , in which the electrode body extends around the outer shaft to cover a distal-most tip of the outer shaft.

10. The blade assembly of claim 1 , in which the inner connector defines a C-shape in a plane perpendicular to the central axis along an entirety of the length of the inner connector in a direction parallel to the central axis.

Assignees

• Medtronic Xomed Inc

Inventors

• Prisco John R
• Detmers Eric P
• Li Wenjeng
• Little David J
• Richart Patrick
• Valdez Jose

Classifications

• A61B2217/007

  with irrigation system · CPC title

• A61B17/32002

  with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments · CPC title

• A61B2018/00607

  Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument · CPC title

• A61B2018/00208

  actively driven, e.g. by a motor · CPC title

• A61B18/148

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