Temperature indicating electrosurgical apparatus and methods

a technology of electrosurgical equipment and temperature indication, applied in the field of electrosurgical equipment and methods, can solve the problems of rapid tissue heating and vaporization of cellular fluid into steam, inadvertent necrosis or other damage, and excessive heating of non-target tissue during the procedure, and achieve the effect of reducing the energy supplied

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-03-27
ARTHROCARE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of visually monitoring a temperature condition at a surgical site during an electrosurgical procedure, wherein the method comprises providing an electrosurgical device having a temperature indicating element at the working end of the device, and observing the temperature-indicating element for a change in appearance of the temperature-indicating element. The appearance of the temperature-indicating element may provide a signal to the user of the device of a temperature condition near the working end of the device. Accordingly, the user may adjust settings, decrease the energy supplied to the device, or shut off the device, according to the appearance of the temperature-indicating element.

Problems solved by technology

However, unintended and excessive heating of non-target tissue during the procedure is a common concern in most electrosurgical applications.
Such unintended heating of non-target tissue may cause inadvertent necrosis or other damage.
The arc results in rapid tissue heating and vaporization of cellular fluids into steam.
Accordingly, such heating of the surrounding tissue may result in undesirable collateral tissue damage.
Another problem may be found as some surgical procedures require a “wet” field, (i.e., the surgical site is immersed in a fluid medium.)
In those cases where the fluid medium is a electrically conductive, shorting of the electrode(s) may also occur and result in additional unintended heating in the treatment area.
Ultimately, too much additional heating may result in excessive collateral tissue damage.

Method used

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  • Temperature indicating electrosurgical apparatus and methods
  • Temperature indicating electrosurgical apparatus and methods
  • Temperature indicating electrosurgical apparatus and methods

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Embodiment Construction

[0040] The present invention provides systems, apparatus, and methods for selectively applying energy to a target tissue of a patient, and for monitoring a temperature condition in the region of the target tissue and / or at the working end of an device adapted for such application of energy. The invention is particularly suited to the facile and convenient monitoring of a temperature condition at the working end of an device during an electrosurgical procedure, wherein the temperature may be monitored simply by observing a readily apparent change in the appearance of a temperature indicating element. Such a temperature-indicating element may be integral with the device. The temperature-indicating element is typically disposed at the working end of the device at a location where it is easily viewed by a member of the surgical team during a procedure.

[0041] It is to be understood that the application of the present invention is not necessarily limited to electrosurgical devices, or pl...

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Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods for monitoring temperature at a region near a surgical site during a procedure. A temperature-indicating element of an electrosurgical device comprises an indicator composition adapted to undergo a change in appearance in response to a pre-defined temperature range. The change in appearance of the temperature-indicating element indicates to the operator of the device a temperature condition at the working end of the device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 774,222 filed Feb. 5, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,143, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 445,405 filed Feb. 5, 2003, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of electrosurgical devices, and more particularly to methods and devices allowing for the monitoring of temperature in regions adjacent, in contact with, and / or surrounding a working end of such electrosurgical devices. [0003] Electrosurgical procedures are extremely common in today's medical practice. For example, present uses of electrosurgical devices include ablation, dissection, resection, coagulation, contraction, or otherwise modification of a broad range of tissues and organs. Thus, general surgery, cosmetic surgery, neurosurgery, laparoscop...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61B18/04A61BA61B1/00A61B5/00A61B18/14A61B18/18
CPCA61B5/01A61B5/015A61B5/4528A61B18/04A61B2562/0276A61B18/18A61B2018/00791A61B2018/00809A61B18/1492A61B18/042A61B18/148
Inventor WOLOSZKO, JEANDAHLA, ROBERT H.BAKER, MICHAEL A.PACEK, JAMES L.
Owner ARTHROCARE
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