Electrosurgical device equipped with directional electrodes

Abstract

An electrosurgical device is disclosed. The electrosurgical device includes a shaft that extends longitudinally and has a distal region. The shaft defines an axis. An electrode is provided on the distal region. The electrode includes a longitudinal surface and a substantially planar exposed distal surface. The distal surface defines a margin. An insulator is provided on the longitudinal surface with respect to the margin. The insulator surrounds the electrode and is flush with the distal surface.

Claims

1. Electrosurgical device, A shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction, has a distal region, and defines an axis, An electrode provided on the distal region, having a longitudinal surface and an exposed distal surface which is substantially flat and defines the edge, An insulator is provided on the longitudinal surface up to the edge, surrounding the electrode and flush with the distal surface, An electrosurgical device equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposed distal surface is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

3. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulator includes a distal surface flush with the most distal surface.

4. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insulator comprises polytetrafluoroethylene that shrinks under heat.

5. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrode contains nitinol.

6. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shaft includes a proximal region, and the electrosurgical apparatus further comprises a handle coupled to the proximal region.

7. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the shaft has either flexibility or substantially rigidity.

8. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the shaft has substantially rigidity and the electrosurgical apparatus is a handheld device.

9. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrode is cylindrical.

10. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electrode includes an outer pack provided on a core mandrel.

11. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shaft is provided with a conductor and the core mandrel is electrically coupled to the conductor.

12. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the core mandrel is integrally formed with the conductor.

13. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the outer pack is screwed onto the core mandrel.

14. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the electrosurgical apparatus is operably coupled to an electrosurgical unit and a pad-dispersed electrode.

15. The electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the insulator is retractable so as to expose a portion of the longitudinal surface.

16. Electrosurgical device, A shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction, has a distal region, and defines an axis, An electrode provided on the distal region, having a longitudinal surface and an exposed distal surface which is substantially flat and defines the edge, An insulator is provided on the longitudinal surface up to the edge, surrounding the electrode and flush with the distal surface, An electrosurgical device equipped with [a specific feature].

17. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the insulator includes a distal surface that is flush with the most distal surface.

18. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the insulator comprises polytetrafluoroethylene that shrinks under heat.

19. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the electrode contains nitinol.

20. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the shaft includes a proximal region, and the electrosurgical apparatus further comprises a handle coupled to the proximal region.

21. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the shaft has either flexibility or substantially rigidity.

22. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the shaft has substantially rigidity and the electrosurgical apparatus is a handheld device.

23. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the electrode is cylindrical.

24. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the electrode includes an outer pack provided on a core mandrel.

25. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the shaft is provided with a conductor and the core mandrel is electrically coupled to the conductor.

26. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the core mandrel is integrally formed with the conductor.

27. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the outer pack is screwed onto the core mandrel.

28. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the outer pack is welded onto the core mandrel.

29. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the shaft is configured as a guide wire.

30. Electrosurgical system, An electrosurgical unit configured to provide a radio frequency energy source, An electrosurgical device operably coupled to the aforementioned electrosurgical unit, The electrosurgical device is equipped with, A shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction, has a distal region, and defines an axis, An electrode provided on the distal region and configured to receive the radio frequency energy source from the electrosurgical unit, the electrode having a longitudinal surface and an exposed distal surface which is substantially flat and defines the edge, An insulator is provided on the longitudinal surface up to the edge, surrounding the electrode and flush with the distal surface, Electrosurgical systems, including those mentioned above.

31. The electrosurgical system according to claim 30, wherein the electrosurgical device can be configured to have a plurality of functions, including a cutting function and a coagulation function.

32. The electrosurgical system according to claim 30, wherein the electrosurgical device can be set to a monopolar configuration.

33. The electrosurgical system according to claim 30, further comprising a pump capable of being coupled to a fluid source via a delivery tube, wherein the electrosurgical unit is configured to operate the pump, and the delivery tube is operably coupled to the electrosurgical device.

34. Electrosurgical device, A shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction, has a distal region, and defines an axis, An electrode provided on the distal region, having a longitudinal surface and an exposed distal surface which is substantially flat and defines the edge, An insulator is provided on the longitudinal surface up to the edge, surrounding the electrode and flush with the distal surface, An electrosurgical device comprising, wherein the insulator is movable to a retracted position in which a portion of the longitudinal surface is exposed.

35. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the insulator is slidable along the longitudinal surface.

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