Electrosurgical devices and methods of use

Abstract

In one embodiment, the electrosurgical device includes a housing defining an internal bore, a shaft coupled to the housing, and an electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft. The shaft extends distally from the internal bore of the housing. The shaft is rotationally fixed relative to the housing. The shaft includes a smoke evacuation channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft. A distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode extends distally from the shaft, and the electrosurgical electrode is rotatable relative to the housing and the shaft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 076,089, filed Sep. 9, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 211,876, filed Jun. 17, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatus for transmitting electrical energy, and more particularly, to an electrosurgical apparatus and method that provides rotational adjustment of an electrosurgical electrode.

Background Art

[0003] Electrosurgery involves applying a high - frequency (RF) current (also referred to as electrosurgical energy) to biological tissue to cut, coagulate, or modify the biological tissue during an electrosurgical procedure. In particular, an electrosurgical generator generates a current and provides it to an active electrode, which applies the current (and thus power) to the tissue. The current passes through the tissue and returns to the generator via a return electrode plate (also called a “dispersion electrode”). As the current passes through the tissue, the impedance of the tissue converts a portion of the current into thermal energy (e.g., via the principle of resistive heating), and this thermal energy raises the temperature of the tissue and induces a modification to the tissue (e.g., cutting, coagulating, removing, and / or sealing of the tissue).

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one embodiment, an electrosurgical apparatus is described. The electrosurgical apparatus includes a housing defining an internal bore, a shaft coupled to the housing, and an electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft. The shaft extends distally from the internal bore of the housing. The shaft is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the housing. The shaft includes a smoke exhaust channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft. A distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode extends distally from the shaft. The electrosurgical electrode is rotatable relative to the housing and the shaft.

[0005] In another embodiment, an electrosurgical device is described. The electrosurgical device includes a housing that defines an internal bore and a shaft that extends distally from the internal bore of the housing. The shaft is rotatable relative to the housing. The shaft has a longitudinal axis that extends between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft. The electrosurgical device also includes a smoke evacuation channel in an internal cavity of the shaft. The smoke evacuation channel is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the housing. The electrosurgical device further includes an electrosurgical electrode that extends distally from the distal end of the shaft, wherein (i) the shaft conducts electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode and (ii) rotation of the shaft relative to the housing causes a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing.

[0006] In another embodiment, a process for operating an electrosurgical device is described. The process includes providing an electrosurgical device. The electrosurgical device includes a housing that defines an internal bore, a shaft coupled to the housing, and an electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft. The shaft extends distally from the internal bore of the housing. The shaft is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the housing. The shaft includes a smoke evacuation channel that extends from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft. A distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode extends distally from the shaft. The electrosurgical electrode is rotatable relative to the housing and the shaft.

[0007] The process also includes rotating the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and the shaft and supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode.

[0008] In another embodiment, a process of operating an electrosurgical device is described. The process includes providing an electrosurgical device. The electrosurgical device includes a housing defining an internal bore, a shaft extending distally from the internal bore of the housing, a smoke exhaust channel in the internal cavity of the shaft, and an electrosurgical electrode extending distally from the distal end of the shaft. The shaft is rotatable relative to the housing. The shaft has a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft. The smoke exhaust channel is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the housing. The electrosurgical electrode is electrically coupled to the shaft.

[0009] The process also includes rotating the shaft relative to the housing to cause a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing. The process further includes supplying electrosurgical energy from the shaft to the electrosurgical electrode.

[0010] The described features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be combined in still other embodiments with further details to be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

[0011] Features believed to be novel characteristics of the exemplary embodiments are set forth in the appended claims. However, the exemplary embodiments and their preferred usage forms, further objectives, and descriptions will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22

Figure 23

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26

Figure 27

Figure 28

Figure 29

Figure 30

Figure 31

Figure 32

Figure 33

Figure 34

Figure 35

Figure 36

Figure 37

Figure 38

Figure 39

Figure 40

[0013] The disclosed embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some, but not all, of the disclosed embodiments. In fact, a plurality of different embodiments may be described and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments shown herein. Rather, these embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0014] The terms "about" or "substantially" with respect to an amount or measurement described herein mean that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including, for example, tolerances, measurement error, limits of measurement accuracy, and other factors known to those skilled in the art, may occur in amounts that do not exclude the effect the characteristic is intended to provide.

[0015] As described above, an electrosurgical device can use electrical energy supplied by an electrosurgical generator to apply electrosurgical energy from an electrosurgical electrode to tissue. Accordingly, an electrosurgical device generally includes a housing in which one or more conductors are disposed for supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode. Some electrosurgical devices include a shaft that is telescopically adjustable relative to the housing. This can facilitate adjusting the length of the electrosurgical device to treat target tissue of different sizes and / or shapes.

[0016] Additionally, some electrosurgical devices provide rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing. This can facilitate adjustment of the angle of the electrosurgical electrode relative to one or more user input devices of the electrosurgical device. In this arrangement, for example, while the electrosurgical electrode is set to a rotational position selected from a plurality of rotational positions relative to the housing based on the location, size, and / or shape of the surgical site on which the user is operating, the user can comfortably grip the housing at a position where the user's finger can comfortably operate the user input device.

[0017] However, providing rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing can increase design complexity and manufacturing costs. For example, it can be difficult to maintain an electrical connection between electrical components in the housing and the electrosurgical electrode when the electrosurgical electrode rotates relative to the housing and / or telescopically moves relative to the housing. This problem can be further exacerbated when the electrosurgical device includes other features (such as a light source, one or more optical components, and / or a smoke evacuation feature) distal to the housing. Conventional approaches generally involve rotating all components distal to the housing together. As described above, this can increase design complexity and manufacturing costs. The increased complexity can be particularly challenging for an electrosurgical device that provides both rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and telescopic movement of the shaft.

[0018] The present application provides an electrosurgical device, a method of using the electrosurgical device, and a method of manufacturing the electrosurgical device that can solve at least some of the above difficulties.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, an electrosurgical system 100 according to one embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrosurgical system 100 includes an electrosurgical generator 110 and an electrosurgical device 112. Generally, the electrosurgical generator 110 can generate electrosurgical energy suitable for performing electrosurgery on a patient. For example, the electrosurgical generator 110 can include an electrode converter circuit 114 that can convert grid power into electrosurgical energy, such as high-frequency (RF) output power. As one example, the power converter circuit 114 can include one or more components (e.g., one or more transformers) that can control the voltage, current, and / or frequency of the electrosurgical energy.

[0020] In an embodiment, the electrosurgical generator 110 can include a user interface 116 that can receive one or more inputs from and / or provide one or more outputs to a user. As an example, the user interface 116 can include one or more buttons, one or more switches, one or more dials, one or more keypads, one or more touchscreens, one or more display screens, one or more indicator lights, one or more speakers, and / or one or more tactile output devices.

[0021] In one embodiment, the user interface 116 can be operable to select one of a plurality of operating modes for the electrosurgical generator 110. As an example, the operating modes can include a cutting mode, a coagulation mode, a removal mode, and / or a sealing mode. Combinations of these waveforms can also be formed to generate a mixed mode. In one embodiment, the operating modes can correspond to respective waveforms for electrosurgical energy. Thus, in this embodiment, the electrosurgical generator 110 can generate electrosurgical energy having a waveform selected from a plurality of waveforms based at least in part on the operating mode selected using the user interface 116.

[0022] The electrosurgical generator 110 can also include one or more sensors 118 capable of sensing one or more states related to the electrosurgical energy and / or the target tissue. As an example, the sensors 118 can include one or more current sensors, one or more voltage sensors, one or more temperature sensors, and / or one or more bioimpedance sensors. Among the embodiments, the electrosurgical generator 110 can, additionally or alternatively, generate a predetermined amount of electrosurgical energy (e.g., power) and / or electrosurgical energy having a waveform selected from a plurality of waveforms based on one or more parameters related to the states sensed by the sensors 118.

[0023] In one example, the electrosurgical energy can have a frequency greater than about 100 kilohertz (kHz) to reduce (or avoid) stimulating muscle and / or nerves near the target tissue. In another example, the electrosurgical energy can have a frequency of from about 300 kHz to about 500 kHz.

[0024] In FIG. 1, the electrosurgical generator 110 also includes a connector 120 that can facilitate coupling the electrosurgical generator 110 to the electrosurgical device 112. For example, the electrosurgical device 112 can include a power cord 122 having a plug that can be coupled to the socket of the connector 120 of the electrosurgical generator 110. In this arrangement, the electrosurgical generator 110 can supply electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical device 112 through the connection between the connector 120 of the electrosurgical generator 110 and the power cord 122 of the electrosurgical device 112.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the electrosurgical device 112 can include a housing 124 that defines an internal bore 125 (shown in FIG. 2), a shaft 126 that extends distally from the housing 124, and an electrosurgical electrode 128 coupled to the shaft 126. Generally, the housing 124 can be configured to facilitate a user to grip and operate the electrosurgical device 112 during performing an electrosurgery. For example, the housing 124 can have a shape and / or size that can facilitate a user to perform an electrosurgery by operating the electrosurgical device 112 with one hand. In one embodiment, the housing 124 can have a shape and / or size that can facilitate a user to hold the electrosurgical device 112 in a pen-holding form (for example, the electrosurgical device 112 can be an electrosurgical pencil).

[0026] Additionally, for example, the housing 124 can be composed of one or more materials that are electrical insulators (such as plastic materials). This can facilitate insulating the user from the electrosurgical energy flowing through the electrosurgical device 112 while performing an electrosurgery.

[0027] In some embodiments, the shaft 126 can be fixedly coupled to the housing 124. In other embodiments, the shaft 126 can be telescopically movable relative to the housing 124. For example, the shaft 126 can be telescopically movable within an internal bore 125 defined by the housing 124 (e.g., movable along the longitudinal axis of the electrosurgical device 112) to extend the shaft 126 in the distal direction and contract the shaft 126 in the proximal direction relative to the housing 124. As described above, the electrosurgical electrode 128 is coupled to the shaft 126, and thus, the electrosurgical electrode 128, together with the shaft 126, axially moves along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing 124. This can provide an adjustment of the length of the electrosurgical device 112, which can facilitate performing electrosurgery at a plurality of different depths within the tissue (e.g., due to different anatomical shapes and / or sizes of the patient) and / or at a plurality of different angles.

[0028] The electrosurgical electrode 128 can additionally or alternatively be rotatable about a rotational axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the electrosurgical device 112. In some embodiments, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be rotatable relative to the housing 124 and the shaft 126. In other embodiments, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be fixed in the rotational direction relative to the shaft 126 such that the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 are rotatable together relative to the housing 124 and at least one additional component within an internal cavity defined by the shaft 126. In these embodiments, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be rotatable more than 360 degrees relative to the housing 124.

[0029] Rotating the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124 can facilitate adjusting the angle of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to one or more user input devices 130 of the electrosurgical device 112. In this arrangement, for example, while the electrosurgical electrode 128 is set to a rotational position selected from a plurality of rotational positions relative to the housing 124 based on the location, size, and / or shape of the surgical site on which the user is operating, the user can comfortably grip the housing 124 at a position where the user's finger can comfortably operate the user input device 130.

[0030] As described above, it may be advantageous to provide that the electrosurgical electrode 128 rotates more than 360 degrees relative to the housing 124. However, in other embodiments, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be made rotatable by 360 degrees or less (e.g., rotatable by only 180 degrees or rotatable by 360 degrees). Thereby, still, the operator can achieve a desired rotation sequence, but there may be a possibility that the operator rotates in a first direction, reaches a stop position that limits further rotation, and then rotates back in a second direction to achieve the desired rotation sequence.

[0031] The user input device 130 can be selected from among the operating modes of the electrosurgical device 112 and / or the electrosurgical generator 110. For example, in one embodiment, the user input device 130 can be configured to select from among a cutting operating mode and a coagulation operating mode. In response to the actuation of the user input device 130 of the electrosurgical device 112, the electrosurgical device 112 can (i) receive electrosurgical energy having a power level and / or waveform corresponding to the operating mode selected via the user input device 130, and (ii) supply the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0032] In FIG. 1, the electrosurgical device 112 includes a plurality of electrical components that facilitate supplying the electrosurgical energy received by the electrosurgical device 112 from the electrosurgical generator 110 to the electrosurgical electrode 128. For example, the electrosurgical device 112 can include at least one electrical component selected from a group of electrical components including a printed circuit board 132 (e.g., a flexible printed circuit board), a housing conductor 134, and / or a shaft conductor 136 that can provide a circuit for conducting electrosurgical energy from the power cord 122 to the electrosurgical electrode 128. One or more of the electrical components can be positioned within an internal bore 125 defined by the housing 124 and / or an internal cavity defined by the shaft 126.

[0033] In an embodiment, the user input device 130 can include one or more buttons on an outer surface of the housing 124. Each button of the user input device 130 can be operable to activate a respective one of a plurality of switches 138 of the printed circuit board 132. Generally, the switches 138 and / or the printed circuit board 132 can be operable to control the supply of electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator 110 to the electrosurgical electrode 128. For example, in one embodiment, when each button is operated (e.g., pressed), the respective switch 138 associated with the button can be activated, whereby the printed circuit board 132 transmits a signal to the electrosurgical generator 110, and the electrosurgical generator 110 responds by supplying electrosurgical energy having a power level and / or waveform corresponding to the operating mode associated with the button. In another embodiment, by operating the button, and thereby activating the respective switch 138 associated with the button, the switch 138 can be closed, thereby completing the circuit to the electrosurgical generator 110, and the electrosurgical generator 110 responds by supplying electrosurgical energy having a power level and / or waveform corresponding to the operating mode associated with the button. In some examples of this embodiment, the printed circuit board 132 can be omitted.

[0034] In both embodiments, the electrosurgical energy supplied by the electrosurgical generator 110 can be supplied from (i) the power cord 122, the printed circuit board 132, and / or the switch 138 to (ii) the electrosurgical electrode 128 by the housing conductor 134 and the shaft conductor 136. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the printed circuit board 132 can be coupled to the power cord 122, the housing conductor 134 can be coupled to the printed circuit board 132 and the shaft conductor 136, and the shaft conductor 136 can be coupled to the electrosurgical electrode 128. In this arrangement, the housing conductor 134 can conduct electrosurgical energy (supplied to the housing conductor 134 via the printed circuit board 132) to the shaft conductor 136, and the shaft conductor 136 can conduct the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0035] Generally, the housing conductor 134 and the shaft conductor 136 can each include one or more conductive elements that provide a conductive bus for supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128. More specifically, the housing conductor 134 can include one or more conductive elements of the housing 124 that can supply electrosurgical energy to the shaft conductor 136, and the shaft conductor 136 can include one or more conductive elements of the shaft 126 that can supply electrical energy from the housing conductor 134 to the electrosurgical electrode 128. As will be described in more detail below, the housing conductor 134 can engage the shaft conductor 136 to maintain an electrical connection between the housing conductor 134, the shaft conductor 136, and the electrosurgical electrode 128 while (i) the shaft 126 and / or the electrosurgical electrode 128 telescopically moves relative to the housing 124 and / or (ii) the electrosurgical electrode 128 rotates relative to the housing 124.

[0036] The electrosurgical device 112 includes a user input device 130 in FIG. 1, although the user input device 130 can be separate from the electrosurgical device 112 in another embodiment. For example, the user input device 130 can additionally or alternatively include one or more foot pedals operable to control the operation of the electrosurgical device 112 as described above. The foot pedals can be communicatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator 110 to provide a signal in response to actuation of the foot pedals.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the electrosurgical device 112 can additionally include a light source 140 configured to emit light. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the light source 140 can be optically coupled to an optical structure 142, and the optical structure 142 is configured to receive the light emitted by the light source 140 and direct the light distally toward the surgical site to illuminate the surgical site while performing electrosurgery using the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0038] As an example, the optical structure 142 can include at least one optical structure selected from the group consisting of an optical lens, an optical waveguide, and an optical fiber. When the optical structure 142 includes an optical lens (e.g., a parabolic reflector lens), the optical lens 142 can direct the light emitted by the light source 140 distally, thereby helping to enhance the quality of the light illuminating the surgical site. The optical structure 142 can additionally or alternatively include an optical waveguide and / or an optical fiber to transmit light over a relatively large distance in the shaft 126. For example, the optical waveguide can transmit light distally through total internal reflection. In such an embodiment, the optical waveguide can include a cladding and / or a void on the outer surface of the optical waveguide to help promote total internal reflection. In some embodiments, the optical waveguide can be formed as a single monolithic structure.

[0039] In some embodiments, the optical structure 142 can additionally or alternatively include other light shaping optical elements, such as, for example, a plurality of facets, one or more prisms and / or one or more optical gratings. The optical structure 142 can help enhance the quality of the light directed to the surgical site, but in other embodiments, the electrosurgical device 112 can omit the optical structure 142 and instead emit light directly from the light source 140 to the surgical field without transmitting the light through the optical structure 142.

[0040] In FIG. 1, the light source 140 is coupled to the shaft 126. Thereby, the light source 140 can also move telescopically relative to the housing 124 together with the shaft 126. However, in other embodiments, the light source 140 can be within the inner bore of the housing 124 and / or coupled to the outer surface of the housing 124. As an example, the light source 140 can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), optical fibers, non-fiber optical waveguides, and / or lenses. Additionally, for example, the light source 140 can include a light emitting diode printed circuit board (LED PCB) having one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs). As will be described in more detail below, the LED PCB can include an aperture, and one or more other components of the electrosurgical device 112 (e.g., the electrosurgical electrode 128) can extend through the aperture.

[0041] The optical structure 142 can be at the distal end of the shaft 126. In some embodiments, the optical structure 142 can circumferentially surround the electrosurgical electrode 128 so as to distally emit light around all sides of the electrosurgical electrode 128. This can help reduce shadows and provide a higher uniformity of illumination in all rotational arrangements of the shaft 126 relative to the housing or the electrosurgical device 112 relative to the target tissue.

[0042] In embodiments that include the light source 140, the user input device 130, the printed circuit board 132, the switch 138, the housing conductor 134, and / or the shaft conductor 136 can additionally supply power from a direct current (DC) power source 144 to the light source 140. In one example, the DC power source 144 can include a battery disposed in the housing 124 and / or the plug of the power cord 122. The electrosurgical device 112 includes the DC power source 144 in FIG. 1, but the DC power source 144 can be separate and different from the electrosurgical device 112 in other embodiments. For example, in another embodiment, the electrosurgical generator 110 can include the DC power source 144.

[0043] Additionally, in embodiments that include the light source 140, the user input device 130 can be operable to cause the light source 140 to emit light. In one example, the user input device 130 can include a button that independently controls the light source 140, separate from the button that controls the electrosurgical operation mode of the electrosurgical device 112. In another example, the user input device 130 and the printed circuit board 132 can be configured such that the operation of the button that controls the electrosurgical operation mode simultaneously controls the operation of the light source 140 (e.g., when the button is operated to apply electrosurgical energy at the electrosurgical electrode 128, the light source 140 can be automatically activated to emit light).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, in response to an operation of a user input device 130 for activating a light source 140, a DC power supply 144 can supply power (e.g., a DC voltage) to the light source 140 via a printed circuit board 132, a housing conductor 134, and / or a shaft conductor 136. In this embodiment, one or more of the conductive elements of the housing conductor 134 can be configured to supply power from the DC power supply 144 to the light source 140 and / or return power from the light source 140 to the DC power supply 144. Thus, the housing conductor 134 can additionally or alternatively assist in providing electrical communication between the DC power supply 144 and the light source 140 when the shaft 126 and the light source 140 telescopically move relative to the housing 124.

[0045] The user input device 130 in the housing 124 can be operated to control the operation of the light source 140 in the above-described embodiments, but the light source 140 can additionally or alternatively be operated by one or more user input devices on the electrosurgical generator 110 (e.g., via the user interface 116) and / or on the plug of the power cord 122.

[0046] As described above, the electrosurgical device 112 can additionally include a feature that provides for discharging surgical smoke from the target tissue to a location external to the surgical site. Surgical smoke is a byproduct of various surgical procedures. For example, during a surgical procedure, surgical smoke may be generated as a byproduct of an electrosurgical unit (ESU), a laser, an electrocautery device, an ultrasonic device, and / or other electrosurgical instruments (e.g., a bone saw and / or a drill). In some instances, surgical smoke may contain toxic gases and / or biological products resulting from tissue destruction. Additionally, surgical smoke may have an unpleasant odor. For these and other reasons, many guidelines indicate that a surgeon should be exposed to surgical smoke reduced or minimized.

[0047] To reduce (or minimize) exposure to surgical smoke, a smoke evacuation system may be used during a surgical procedure. Generally, the smoke evacuation system may include a suction pump 146 that can generate sufficient suction force and / or vacuum pressure to draw surgical smoke from the surgical site. In some embodiments, the smoke evacuation system may be coupled to an exhaust system (e.g., a wall-mounted exhaust system) that discharges surgical smoke from the operating room. In other embodiments, the smoke evacuation system may filter air containing surgical smoke and return the air to the operating room. In an example, the suction pump 146 and the electrosurgical generator 110 may be provided as separate devices or integrated in one device (e.g., in a common housing).[[ID=~1]] [[ID=~2]]

[0048] [[ID=~3]] As shown in FIG. 1, the shaft 126 can include a smoke evacuation channel 148 in the internal cavity of the shaft 126. The smoke evacuation channel 148 can also include a smoke inlet that can extend circumferentially around the central axis of the distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode 128. In this arrangement, the smoke inlet of the smoke evacuation channel can help receive surgical smoke into the smoke evacuation channel 148 in all rotational arrangements of the electrosurgical electrode 128 with respect to the housing 124 and / or the electrosurgical device 112 with respect to the target tissue. However, in another example, the smoke evacuation channel 148 can include one or more smoke inlets that do not extend circumferentially around the electrosurgical electrode 128. [[ID=~5]] [[ID=~6]]

[0049] [[ID=~7]] In some embodiments, the smoke evacuation channel 148 and the optical structure 142 can be coaxial. For example, the smoke evacuation channel 148 and the optical structure 142 can each have a longitudinal axis that coincides with the central axis of the shaft 126. In other embodiments, the smoke evacuation channel 148 and the optical structure 142 can have respective longitudinal axes that are offset with respect to each other such that the smoke evacuation channel 148 and the optical structure 142 are not coaxial. [[ID=~9]] [[ID=~10]]

[0050] [[ID=~11]] In one embodiment, the smoke exhaust channel 148 can include an outer tube spaced from the optical structure 142 by a gap. For example, the shaft 126 can include a plurality of standoffs extending between the optical structure 142 and the outer tube of the smoke exhaust channel 148 to provide a gap between the outer tube and the optical structure 142. In one embodiment, the optical structure 142 can include standoffs such that the optical structure 142 and the standoffs are formed as a single monolithic structure. In another embodiment, the standoffs can be formed as a single monolithic structure with the outer tube of the smoke exhaust channel 148. In another embodiment, the standoffs can be separate from the outer tube of the smoke exhaust channel 148 and the optical structure 142.

[0051] In one embodiment, the smoke exhaust channel 148 of the shaft 126 defines a first portion of the smoke flow path, and the inner bore 125 of the housing 124 defines a second portion of the smoke flow path. FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the electrosurgical device 112 according to an embodiment of this example. In this arrangement, surgical smoke can be received from the surgical site into the smoke exhaust channel 148 of the shaft 126 and flow proximally along the smoke exhaust channel 148 to the inner bore 125 of the housing 124. In the inner bore 125 of the housing 124, the smoke can further flow to a smoke tube 150 coupled to the proximal end of the housing 124 and configured to convey the smoke from the housing 124 to the suction pump 146.

[0052] In another embodiment, the housing 124 includes an inner wall that separates the inner bore 125 from the smoke exhaust chamber 152 in the housing 124. The smoke exhaust channel 148 of the shaft 126 is in fluid communication with the smoke exhaust chamber 152 of the housing 124. In this embodiment, the smoke exhaust channel 148 of the shaft 126 defines a first portion of the smoke flow path, and the smoke exhaust chamber 152 of the housing 124 defines a second portion of the smoke flow path. FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the electrosurgical device 112 according to an embodiment of this embodiment. Thus, in this embodiment, the smoke is sent through a smoke exhaust chamber 152 separate from the inner bore 125 to the smoke tube 150 at the proximal end of the housing 124. This can advantageously help reduce exposing one or more components of the electrosurgical device 112 to surgical smoke in the housing 124. In some embodiments, providing a separate smoke exhaust chamber 152 can additionally or alternatively help improve the flow of surgical smoke by reducing (or eliminating) obstacles and obstructions to the gas flow along the second portion of the flow path.

[0053] In one embodiment, the proximal portion of the smoke exhaust channel 148 includes at least one opening 354, and the inner wall of the housing 124 includes at least one slot. At least one opening 354 of the smoke exhaust channel 148 can be aligned with at least one slot 358 of the inner wall 356 of the housing 124, whereby the smoke exhaust channel 148 of the shaft 126 is in fluid communication with the smoke exhaust chamber 152 of the housing 124. When the shaft 126 moves telescopically relative to the housing 124, the at least one opening 354 is axially movable along the at least one slot 358, whereby the smoke exhaust channel 148 of the shaft 126 is in fluid communication with the smoke exhaust chamber 152 of the housing 124 when the shaft 126 moves telescopically relative to the housing 124.

[0054] In one embodiment, at least one opening 354 includes a plurality of openings 354, and at least one slot 358 includes a plurality of slots 358. Also, in this embodiment, each opening 354 is aligned with one of each of the plurality of slots 358, the shaft 126 is rotatable relative to the housing 124, and the plurality of openings 354 and the plurality of slots 358 are arranged along the periphery of the shaft 126 such that fluid communication between the exhaust channel 148 and the exhaust chamber 152 is maintained when the shaft 126 is rotated relative to the housing 124. In one embodiment, the inner wall 356 and the slot 358 can rotate together with the shaft 126 and the opening 354. By providing a plurality of openings 354 and respective slots 358, at least one pair of the opening 354 and the slot 358 can be aligned with the exhaust chamber 152 in the rotational direction, thereby providing fluid communication between the exhaust channel 148 and the exhaust chamber 152.

[0055] Referring now to FIGS. 4A-9, an embodiment of an electrosurgical device 112 according to one embodiment is shown. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, the electrosurgical device 112 includes a housing 124, a shaft 126 is coupled to the housing 124, and an electrosurgical electrode 128 is coupled to the shaft 126. The housing 124 defines an inner bore 125, and the shaft 126 extends distally from the inner bore 125 of the housing 124. Also, in FIGS. 4A-4B, the distal portion 128A of the electrosurgical electrode 128 extends distally from the shaft 126. In an embodiment, the distal portion 128A of the electrosurgical electrode 128 defines a working end configured to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

[0056] In FIGS. 4A-4B, the shaft 126 is telescopically movable within the inner bore 125 of the housing 124 to adjust the distance from the housing 124 to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode 128. For example, FIG. 4A shows the shaft 126 in a first position relative to the housing 124 along the longitudinal axis of the electrosurgical device 112, and FIG. 4B shows the shaft 126 in a second position relative to the housing 124 along the longitudinal axis of the electrosurgical device 112. In FIGS. 4A-4B, the first position is proximal to the second position, such that in the first position the shaft 126 is in a retracted position within the housing 124 and in the second position the shaft 126 is in an extended position from the housing 124. As described above, telescopically moving the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124 can facilitate adjusting the length of the electrosurgical device to treat target tissues of different sizes and / or shapes. However, as described above, in other embodiments, the shaft 126 can be fixedly coupled to the housing 124 such that the shaft 126 is not movable relative to the housing 124.

[0057] In some embodiments, the electrosurgical device 112 includes a collar 462 at the proximal end of the housing 124. The collar 462 can be rotatable relative to the housing 124 to increase and / or decrease the friction between the outer surface of the shaft 126 and the inner surface of the collar 462. Thereby, the collar 462 can allow and / or prevent axial telescopic movement of the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124.

[0058] In addition, in FIGS. 4A-4B, the shaft 126 is rotationally fixed relative to the housing 124, and the electrosurgical electrode 128 is rotatable relative to the housing 124 and the shaft 126. This can simplify the design and reduce the manufacturing cost of the electrosurgical device 112. For example, this arrangement of the housing 124, the shaft 126, and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can simplify the electrical connection between the housing conductor 134, the shaft conductor 136, and the electrosurgical electrode 128. Additionally, this arrangement can help reduce damage to the electrical connection during telescoping movement of the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124 and / or during rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the shaft 126 and the housing 124.

[0059] FIGS. 5-9 show additional aspects of the electrosurgical device 112 that can facilitate the telescoping and rotational movements described above. FIG. 5 shows a partially exploded view of the housing 124. As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 124 can include an upper portion 564A that can be coupled to a lower portion 564B to define an internal bore 125 therebetween. Generally, the internal bore 25 can be a space within the housing 124 that can accommodate one or more components of the electrosurgical device 112.

[0060] Within the internal bore 125 of the housing 124, the electrosurgical device 112 includes a shaft guide 566 that extends along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 124 (e.g., a direction extending between the proximal end 124A of the housing 124 and the distal end 124B of the housing 124). The shaft guide 566 is configured to extend within an internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126. The internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126 can be a bore that extends between the proximal end 126A of the shaft 126 and the distal end 126B of the shaft 126 (shown in FIGS. 4A-4B). Thereby, the internal cavity 568 can be defined by the inner surface of the shaft 126.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft guide 566 can have a non-circular cross-sectional shape to assist in preventing rotation between the shaft 126 and the housing 124. For example, the outer surface of the shaft guide 566 extending in the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126 can have a non-circular shape that engages the non-circular shape of the inner surface of the shaft 126 in the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126. In this arrangement, the shaft 126 can slide on the shaft guide 566 in the proximal and distal directions (e.g., along the longitudinal axis of the housing 124), but the shaft 126 is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft guide 566 by the engagement between (i) the inner surface of the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126 and (ii) the outer surface of the shaft guide 566.

[0062] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the shaft guide 566 is fixed in the rotational direction relative to the housing 124. For example, a portion of the shaft guide 566 can have a non-circular shape that can engage a structure in the housing 124 having a corresponding shape. In FIG. 5, for example, the proximal portion of the shaft guide 566 has a hexagonal feature that engages a hexagonal socket formed in the inner wall of the housing 124 (e.g., the inner walls of the upper portion 564A and / or the lower portion 564B of the housing 124) to prevent rotation between the shaft guide 566 and the housing 124. In this arrangement, the shaft 126 is fixed in the rotational direction relative to the housing 124 as a result of a first non-rotational engagement between the shaft 126 and the shaft guide 566 and a second non-rotational engagement between the shaft guide 566 and the housing 124.

[0063] As described above, the electrosurgical electrode 128 is coupled to the shaft 126, and the electrosurgical electrode 128 is rotatable relative to the housing 124 and the shaft 126. Exemplary arrangements for coupling the electrosurgical electrode 128 to the shaft 126 in a form that permits such rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 are shown in FIGS. 6-7. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing 124, the shaft 126, and the distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode 128 for the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. FIG. 6 also shows a portion of the housing conductor 134 and the electrical contact 670 of the shaft conductor 136 according to the example. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the electrical contact 670 shown in FIG. 6.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 126 can include an electrical contact 670 coupled to the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128. In particular, the electrical contact 670 is coupled to the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 such that the electrosurgical electrode 128 is rotatable relative to the electrical contact 670. In this example, the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the electrical contact 670 are electrically coupled at all rotational positions of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the electrical contact 670.

[0065] In an example, the electrical contact 670 can frictionally engage the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 such that (i) the electrical contact 670 prevents rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the electrical contact 670 when a force less than a threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode 128, and (ii) the electrical contact 670 permits rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the electrical contact 670 when a force greater than the threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode 128. The threshold force can be an amount of force that is large enough to prevent the electrosurgical electrode 128 from freely rotating under gravity only and / or to prevent the electrosurgical electrode 128 from rotating when the electrosurgical electrode 128 is used to cut and / or coagulate tissue. The threshold force can be, additionally or alternatively, an amount of force that is low enough to permit a user to manually rotate the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124 without using a separate tool or instrument.

[0066] To assist in providing a frictional engagement between the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the electrical contact 670, the electrical contact 670 can extend over at least half of the circumference of the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128. For example, in FIG. 7, the electrical contact 670 includes a pair of arms 671 that extend over more than half of the circumference of the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and are biased inwardly to apply a force to the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128. Thus, the force applied by the electrical contact 670 can help control the rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the shaft 126 and the housing 124. Additionally, in this arrangement, the arms 671 of the electrical contact 670 can allow the electrosurgical electrode 128 to rotate more than 360 degrees about the axis of rotation (e.g., the central axis of the electrosurgical electrode 128).

[0067] The electrical contact 670 can also assist in axially holding the electrosurgical electrode 128 within the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126. For example, the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 can include a first shoulder 772A that can engage the electrical contact 670 to prevent or inhibit axial movement of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the shaft 126 in the distal direction. Additionally, for example, the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 can include a second shoulder 772B that can engage a stopper 773 of the shaft 126 to prevent axial movement of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the shaft 126 in the proximal direction.

[0068] In some embodiments, the engagement between the first shoulder 772A and the electrical contact 670 can prevent or inhibit removal of the electrosurgical electrode 128 from the shaft 126 such that the electrosurgical electrode 128 is fixedly coupled to the shaft 126. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement between the first shoulder 772A and the electrical contact 670 can allow the electrosurgical electrode 128 to be removed and replaced with another electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0069] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 6-7, the electrical contact 670 can include a first end 670A coupled to the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and a second end 670B extending into the housing 124. As shown in FIG. 6, the second end 670B engages a housing conductor 134 that extends along the housing 124 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 124. In this embodiment, the second end 670B of the electrical contact 670 is configured to remain engaged with the housing conductor 134 while the shaft 126 telescopically moves relative to the housing 124. For example, the electrical contact 670 is fixedly coupled to the shaft 126 such that the electrical contact 670 moves with the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124. In this arrangement, the second end 670B of the electrical contact 670 can remain continuously engaged and electrically coupled to the housing conductor 134 while the second end 670B slides along the housing conductor 134 in response to axial movement of the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124. Thereby, the electrical contact 670 can facilitate supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128 at any rotational position and / or any axial position of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 126 can also include a smoke exhaust channel 148 that extends from the proximal end 126A of the shaft 126 to the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. For example, in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 6, the electrosurgical electrode 128 extends through the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126 such that the smoke exhaust channel 148 can include a gap defined between the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the inner surface of the shaft 126. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 126 has a central axis that extends between the proximal end 126A and the distal end 126B, and the electrosurgical electrode 128 has a central axis that is collinear with the central axis of the shaft 126. In this arrangement, the smoke exhaust channel 148 can have a substantially constant size over the circumference of the electrosurgical electrode 18. This can help to provide a relatively constant suction force at each point around the electrosurgical electrode 128. However, in other embodiments, the central axes of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the shaft 126 can be offset from each other and parallel.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 5, the internal cavity 568 at the proximal end 126A of the shaft 126 can provide the proximal end of the smoke exhaust channel 148 (shown in FIG. 6). The proximal end of the smoke exhaust channel 148 can be in fluid communication with the smoke exhaust chamber 152 of the housing 124. For example, in FIG. 5, the smoke exhaust chamber 152 can include a bore 574 in the shaft guide 566 and a portion of the internal bore 125 of the housing 124 proximal to the shaft guide 566.

[0072] Referring again to FIG. 6, the electrosurgical device 122 can also include a suction sleeve 675 that can be fluidly coupled to the smoke evacuation channel 148. As shown in FIG. 6, the distal portion 675A of the suction sleeve 675 can extend distally from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126, and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can extend through the suction sleeve 675. In particular, the suction sleeve 675 can be spaced from the electrosurgical electrode 128 so as to define a smoke inlet that extends circumferentially around the central axis of the distal portion 128A of the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0073] In one embodiment, the suction sleeve 675 can be rotationally fixed relative to the electrosurgical electrode 128 such that rotation of the suction sleeve 675 relative to the shaft 126 results in a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the shaft 126 and the housing 124. In this arrangement, the user can use the suction sleeve 675 to rotate the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124. This advantageously allows the user to avoid directly touching the electrosurgical electrode 128, since the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be relatively hot after and during use. Additionally, since directly touching the electrosurgical electrode 128 can adversely affect the coating of the electrosurgical electrode 128, the suction sleeve 675 can help maintain the structural integrity and operational performance of the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0074] In FIG. 6, the suction sleeve 675 includes one or more teeth 676 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 includes one or more slots 677. Each of the one or more teeth 676 of the suction sleeve 675 fits into a respective one of the one or more slots 677 such that the one or more teeth 676 engage the one or more slots 677 in response to rotation of the suction sleeve 675 to rotate the electrosurgical electrode 128. However, in another embodiment, the suction sleeve 675 can include one or more slots 677 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can include one or more teeth 676.

[0075] In some embodiments, the aspiration sleeve 675 can be telescopically movable within the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126 to adjust the distance between the aspiration sleeve 675 and the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode 128. For example, each of one or more teeth 676 can be configured to slide longitudinally one by one with respect to each of one or more slots 677 in response to the aspiration sleeve 675 moving telescopically relative to the shaft 126 and / or the electrosurgical electrode 128. In this telescopic arrangement, the aspiration sleeve 675 can be moved relative to the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 to adjust the extent of the distal portion 128A of the electrosurgical electrode 128 that is exposed. In particular, the aspiration sleeve 675 can be moved (i) toward the distal end 126B of the shaft 126 to expose a greater extent of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and enhance visibility at the surgical site, and (ii) away from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126 to expose a lesser extent of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and capture a relatively greater amount of smoke at the surgical site.

[0076] While it may be advantageous for the aspiration sleeve 675 to be telescopically movable relative to the shaft 126 and / or the electrosurgical electrode 128, in other embodiments the aspiration sleeve 675 can be axially fixed relative to the shaft 126 and / or the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0077] In one embodiment, the aspiration sleeve 675 can be substantially transparent such that the electrosurgical electrode is visible through the aspiration sleeve. This can help enhance the visibility of the electrosurgical electrode 128. However, in other embodiments, the aspiration sleeve 675 can be formed from an opaque material.

[0078] FIG. 8 shows the distal portion of the shaft 126 with the upper portion removed to show the optical components disposed within the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the electrosurgical device 112 can also include a light source 140 within the internal cavity 568 of the shaft 126. The light source 140 is configured to emit light in a direction toward the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. In this embodiment, the light source 140 is an LED PCB that includes three light sources (e.g., LEDs) equally spaced from each other along the periphery of the electrosurgical electrode 128. Providing at least three light sources disposed along the periphery of the electrosurgical electrode 128 can help reduce shadows and provide a higher uniformity of illumination in all rotational orientations of the electrosurgical electrode 128 with respect to the housing 124 and / or the electrosurgical device 112 with respect to the target tissue. Although the light source 140 includes three light sources in FIG. 8, the light source 140 can include a different number of light sources in other embodiments.

[0079] Additionally, the electrosurgical device 112 can include an optical lens 678 configured to transmit light from the light source 140 in a distal direction and emit the light from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. As one example, the optical lens 678 can include three parabolic lenses, each of which can be aligned with one of the respective light sources. The parabolic lenses of the optical lens 678 can be configured to direct off-axis light (e.g., light lateral to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 126) toward the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. In other embodiments, the electrosurgical device 112 can include another optical structure 142 in addition to or instead of the optical lens 678, as described above. Alternatively, the electrosurgical device 112 can omit the optical structure 142, as described above.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 8, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can extend through the aperture in the optical lens 678 and the aperture in the light source 140. This can help to disperse light over the entire circumference of the electrosurgical electrode 128, which can help to reduce shadows and provide a higher uniformity of illumination in all rotational arrangements of the electrosurgical electrode 128 with respect to the housing 124 and / or the electrosurgical device 112 with respect to the target tissue. However, in other embodiments, the optical lens 678 may not extend entirely around the electrosurgical electrode 128 at the distal end 126B of the shaft 126, and / or the optical lens 649 may be at different positions on the shaft 126 and / or the housing 124.

[0081] Additionally, in FIG. 8, the suction sleeve 675 can extend through the aperture in the optical lens 678 and the aperture in the light source 140. This can help to reduce the cross-sectional dimensions of the suction sleeve 675, which in turn can help to improve the line of sight of the electrosurgical electrode 128 (as compared to the case where the light source 140 and / or the optical lens 678 are in the aperture of the suction sleeve 675).

[0082] As shown in FIG. 8, the electrosurgical device 112 can also include a heat sink 680 coupled to the proximal side of the light source 140. This can help to reduce the temperature of the light source 140 and thus the electrosurgical device 112.

[0083] In one embodiment, the light source 140, the optical lens 678, and / or the heat sink 680 can be fixedly coupled to the shaft 126. In this arrangement, the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the aspiration sleeve 675 can be rotatable relative to the light source 140, the optical lens 678, and / or the heat sink 680. For example, the openings in the light source 140, the optical lens 678, and / or the heat sink 680 can have a size and / or shape (e.g., circular shape) that permits the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the aspiration sleeve 675 to rotate at the openings. Additionally, in this arrangement, the light source 140, the optical lens 678, and the heat sink 680 can be telescopically movable relative to the housing 124 together with the shaft 126.

[0084] As described above, the housing conductor 134 and the shaft conductor 136 can provide for electrically coupling the light source 140 to the DC power source 144. FIG. 9 shows the electrosurgical device 112 of FIGS. 4A-8 with components removed to show the housing conductor 134 and the shaft conductor 136 for supplying DC power to the light source 140 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft 126 can include a positive conductor 936A and a negative conductor 936B that slidably engage corresponding conductors 934A, 934B in the housing 124 while the shaft 126 moves telescopically axially relative to the housing 124.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 4A-5 and 9, the user input device 130 includes a first button 430A and a second button 430B on the outer surface of the housing 124. In one embodiment, the first button 430A can be actuated to operate the electrosurgical device 122 in a cutting operation mode, and the second button 430B can be actuated to operate the electrosurgical device 122 in a coagulation operation mode. In this example, a third button (not shown) can be provided on the plug of the power cord 122 and / or the electrosurgical generator 110, and the third button can be actuated to operate the light source 140 (i.e., to emit light or stop emitting light from the light source 140). As described above, the user input device 130 can be configured differently in other embodiments. For example, the electrosurgical device 112 can be made operable in a smaller number of operation modes, in a larger number of operation modes, and / or in different types of operation modes in other embodiments (e.g., the exemplary operation modes described above). Additionally, for example, at least one user input device 130 can alternatively or additionally include a user interface 116 of the electrosurgical generator 110 and / or another external device (e.g., a foot switch) for operating the electrosurgical device 112 in one or more operation modes. Also, for example, the user input device 130 in the housing 124 can include a third button for operating the light source 140.

[0086] Referring now to FIGS. 10-15, an embodiment of an electrosurgical device 112 according to another example is shown. FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the electrosurgical device 112 according to the example. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the electrosurgical device 112 taken along the longitudinal axis 1082 of the electrosurgical device according to the example.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 10-11, the electrosurgical device 112 includes a housing 124 that defines an internal bore 125, a shaft 126 that extends distally from the internal bore 125 of the housing 124, and a smoke exhaust channel 148 in the internal cavity 1068 of the shaft 126. The shaft 126 has a longitudinal axis 1082 that extends between a proximal end 126A of the shaft 126 and a distal end 126B of the shaft 126. Additionally, the electrosurgical electrode 128 extends distally from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126.

[0088] In one embodiment, the shaft 126 can be telescopically movable within the internal bore 125 of the housing 124 to adjust the distance from the housing 124 to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode 128. As described above, telescopically moving the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124 can facilitate adjusting the length of the electrosurgical device to treat target tissues of different sizes and / or shapes. However, as described above, the shaft 126 can be fixedly coupled to the housing 124 such that the shaft 126 is not movable relative to the housing 124 in other embodiments.

[0089] In some embodiments, the electrosurgical device 112 can include a collar 1062 at the proximal end of the housing 124. The collar 1062 can be rotatable relative to the housing 124 to increase and / or reduce the friction between the outer surface of the shaft 126 and the inner surface of the collar 1062. Thereby, the collar 1062 allows and / or blocks the axial telescopic movement of the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124.

[0090] Additionally, in FIGS. 10-11, the shaft 126 is rotatable relative to the housing 124, and the smoke exhaust channel 148 is fixed in the rotational direction relative to the housing 124. Additionally, as will be described in more detail below, the electrosurgical device 112 can further include a light source 140 and an optical lens 1078, both of which can be fixed in the rotational direction relative to the housing 124. Fixing the smoke exhaust 148, the light source 140, and / or the optical lens 1078 in the rotational direction while providing rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 together with the shaft 126 can help simplify the design and / or reduce the manufacturing cost of the electrosurgical device 112.

[0091] The rotational arrangement of these components of the electrosurgical device 112 can be achieved, at least in part, as a result of the electrosurgical electrode 128 extending distally from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126, whereby (i) the shaft 126 conducts electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128, and (ii) rotation of the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124 results in a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124. For example, at least a portion of the shaft 126 can be formed from a conductive material such that the shaft 126 is a shaft conductor 136 for supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128. In one embodiment, the shaft 126 can be formed entirely from a conductive material (e.g., the shaft 126 can be a tubular structure formed from metal). In another embodiment, the shaft 126 can include a conductive portion and an insulator portion as long as the conductive portion is configured to conduct electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0092] In one embodiment, the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the shaft 126 are formed as a single-piece monolithic structure. This can be advantageous in embodiments where the electrosurgical electrode 128 is permanently fixed to the shaft 126 such that the electrosurgical electrode 128 cannot be exchanged with another electrosurgical electrode 128. In another embodiment, the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the shaft 126 can be separate components coupled to each other (e.g., by welding, soldering, and / or friction fit). In some embodiments where the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the shaft 126 are separate components, the electrosurgical electrode 128 is removable from the shaft 126 and can be exchanged with another electrosurgical electrode 128. In other embodiments, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be permanently fixed to the shaft 126 such that the electrosurgical electrode 128 cannot be exchanged with another electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0093] In FIGS. 10-11, the shaft 126 includes a conductive portion 126C and an insulator portion 126D. As described above, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can extend from the conductive portion 126C of the shaft 126. The insulator portion 126D of the shaft 126 can cover the interface between the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the conductive portion 126C of the shaft 126. In this arrangement, the insulator portion 126D can help reduce arc discharge and / or help supply electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128. Additionally, the shaft 126 can include a layer of insulator material 126E that covers the remainder of the conductive portion 126C of the shaft 126 (e.g., the portion not covered by the insulator portion 126D of the shaft 126) to help reduce arc discharge and / or help supply electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128.

[0094] Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end 126B of the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 as seen along the longitudinal axis 1082 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the distal portion 128A of the electrosurgical electrode 128 can define a working end configured to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 can include a first leg 1284A extending from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126 and a second leg 1284B extending from the distal end of the conductive portion 126C of the shaft 126.

[0095] In FIG. 12, the first leg 1284A and the second leg 1284B face each other in a diametric direction along the periphery of the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. Additionally, the surface 1285 facing the proximal side of the proximal portion 128B of the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be tapered in the distal direction toward the central axis of the shaft 126 so as to define a gap 1286 between the surface 1285 facing the proximal side and the plane 1287 at the most distal end of the shaft 126. The gap 1286 can help enhance the air flow and suction force at the distal end 126B of the shaft 126.

[0096] Referring again to FIG. 11, the shaft 126 can include an electrical contact 1170 that engages an electrical housing conductor 134 that extends along the housing 124 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 1082 (as shown in FIG. 10) of the housing 124. The electrical contact 1170 can be configured to remain engaged with the housing conductor 134 while the shaft 126 moves telescopically relative to the housing 124. For example, the electrical contact 1170 can be fixedly coupled to the shaft 126 such that the electrical contact 1170 moves with the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124. In this arrangement, the electrical contact 1170 can continuously engage and be electrically coupled to the housing conductor 134 while the electrical contact 1170 slides along the housing conductor 134 in response to axial movement of the shaft 126 relative to the housing 124.

[0097] Additionally, the electrical contact 1170 can extend along the circumference of the shaft 126 such that the electrical contact 1170 remains engaged with the housing conductor 134 at all rotational positions of the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124. Thereby, the electrical contact 1170 can facilitate supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode 128 at any rotational position and / or any axial position of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124.

[0098] In one embodiment, the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be rotatable more than 360 degrees relative to the housing 124. In this embodiment, the electrical contact 1170 can extend over the entire circumference of the shaft 126. In another embodiment, the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can be rotatable less than 360 degrees relative to the housing 124. In such an embodiment, the electrical contact 1170 can extend over at least a portion around the shaft 126 sufficient to maintain an electrical connection between the shaft 126 and the housing conductor 134 over the entire range of rotational positions that the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can occupy relative to the housing 124.

[0099] As described above, the electrosurgical electrode 128 can include a proximal portion 128B extending from the distal end of the shaft 126 and a distal portion 128A having a working end configured to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue. In FIGS. 10 - 12, the central axis of the distal portion 128A of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the central axis of the smoke exhaust channel 148 are collinear. In this arrangement, the smoke exhaust channel 148 can have a substantially constant size along the circumference of the electrosurgical electrode 128. This can help provide a relatively constant suction force at each point around the electrosurgical electrode 128. However, in other embodiments, the central axes of the electrosurgical electrode 128 and the shaft 126 can be offset from each other and parallel.

[0100] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 10 - 12, the smoke exhaust channel 148 can define a space without other structures between the proximal end 148A of the smoke exhaust channel 148 and the distal end 148B of the smoke exhaust channel 148. This can provide for more efficient use of the relatively limited - sized internal cavity 1068 to increase the suction force through the smoke exhaust channel 148 as compared to other embodiments where the electrosurgical electrode 128 and / or other components are disposed in the smoke exhaust channel 148.

[0101] Additionally, as described above, the smoke exhaust channel 148 can be rotationally fixed relative to the housing 124 such that the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 are rotatable relative to the smoke exhaust channel 148. FIGS. 13 - 14 show the smoke exhaust channel 148 and the shaft 126 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 - 14, at least a portion of the smoke exhaust channel 148 can have a non - circular shape to prevent rotation of the smoke exhaust channel 148 relative to the housing 124 while the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 rotate relative to the housing 124.

[0102] For example, the proximal end 148A of the smoke exhaust channel 148 can include a non - circular fitting configured to engage a corresponding - shaped structure in the housing 124, and the non - circular fitting can have a non - circular cross - sectional shape. In FIGS. 11 and 13, for example, the proximal end 148A of the smoke exhaust channel 148 has hexagonal features that engage a hexagonal socket formed in the inner wall of the housing 124 to prevent rotation between the smoke exhaust channel 148 and the housing 124. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 14, a gap can be defined between the shaft 126 and the smoke exhaust channel 148 to provide for rotation of the shaft 126 relative to the smoke exhaust channel 148.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 13, the non-rotating fitting at the proximal end 148A of the smoke exhaust channel 148 can include a through bore 1374 having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the main body 148C of the smoke exhaust channel 148, which is proximal to the non-rotating fitting. The relatively smaller size of the through bore 1374 can assist in directing the smoke into a space of relatively smaller volume when the smoke exits from the proximal end 148A of the smoke exhaust channel 148. This can advantageously help reduce or prevent exposing the electrical components in the internal bore 125 of the housing 124 to the smoke.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 11, the electrosurgical device 112 can also include a light source 140, an optical lens 1178, and / or a heat sink 1180. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the light source 140 can be in the internal cavity 1068 of the shaft 126. As described above, the light source 140 is configured to emit light in a direction toward the distal end 126B of the shaft 126.

[0105] FIG. 15 shows a partially exploded view of an assembly of a light source 140, an optical lens 1078, and a heat sink 1080 in the smoke exhaust channel 148, according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, the light source 140 is an LED PCB including three light sources (e.g., LEDs) equally spaced from each other around the electrosurgical electrode 128. Providing at least three light sources arranged around the electrosurgical electrode 128 can help reduce shadows and provide a higher uniformity of illumination in all rotational arrangements of the electrosurgical electrode 128 with respect to the housing 124 and / or the electrosurgical device 112 with respect to the target tissue. Although the light source 140 includes three light sources in FIGS. 11 and 15, the light source 140 can include a different number of light sources in other embodiments.

[0106] Additionally, as described above, the optical lens 1078 can be configured to transmit light distally from the light source 140 and emit the light from the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. As an example, the optical lens 1078 can include three parabolic lenses, and each parabolic lens can be aligned with one of the light sources. The parabolic lenses of the optical lens 1078 can be configured to direct off-axis light (e.g., light lateral to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 126) toward the distal end 126B of the shaft 126. In other embodiments, the electrosurgical device 112 can include another optical structure 142 in addition to or instead of the optical lens 1078 as described above. Alternatively, the electrosurgical device 112 can omit the optical structure 142 as described above.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 15, the smoke exhaust channel 148 can extend through the opening in the optical lens 1067 and the opening in the light source 140. This can help to position the smoke exhaust channel 148 at the center of the shaft 126 (e.g., the central axis of the smoke exhaust channel 148 and the central axis of the shaft 126 can be collinear), which can increase the suction force at the surgical site. Additionally, this can help to disperse the light around the entire circumference of the electrosurgical electrode 128, which can help to reduce shadows and provide a higher uniformity of illumination in all rotational arrangements of the electrosurgical electrode 128 relative to the housing 124 and / or the electrosurgical device 112 relative to the target tissue.

[0108] In one embodiment, the light source 140, the optical lens 1078 and / or the heat sink 1080 can be fixedly coupled to the housing 124. In this arrangement, the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 can rotate about the light source 140, the optical lens 1078 and / or the heat sink 1080. For example, the light source 140, the optical lens 1078 and / or the heat sink 1080 can have a non-circular shape that engages the non-circular shape of the body 148C of the smoke exhaust channel 148 to prevent rotation of the light source 140, the optical lens 1078 and / or the heat sink 1080 relative to the housing 124 while the shaft 126 and the electrosurgical electrode 128 rotate relative to the housing 124. In FIG. 15, the non-circular shape is elliptical. However, the light source 140, the optical lens 1078, the heat sink 1080 and / or the smoke exhaust channel 148 can have other non-circular shapes in other embodiments.

[0109] Additionally, in this arrangement, the light source 140, the optical lens 678 and the heat sink 680 can be telescopically movable relative to the housing 124 together with the shaft 126. As described above, the housing conductor 134 and the shaft conductor 136 can provide for electrically coupling the light source 140 to the DC power source 144 during such telescopic movement. As shown in FIG. 15, the shaft 126 can include a positive conductor 1536A and a negative conductor 1536B that slidably engage corresponding electrical conductors in the housing 124 while the shaft 126 moves telescopically axially relative to the housing 124.

[0110] Referring now to FIG. 16, a flowchart of a process 1600 for operating an electrosurgical device according to an embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 16, at block 1610, process 1600 includes providing an electrosurgical device. The electrosurgical device includes a housing defining an internal bore, a shaft coupled to the housing, and an electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft. The shaft extends distally from the internal bore of the housing. The shaft is fixed relative to the housing in a rotational direction. The shaft includes a smoke evacuation channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft. A distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode extends distally from the shaft. The electrosurgical electrode is rotatable relative to the housing and the shaft.

[0111] At block 1612, process 1600 includes rotating the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and the shaft. At block 1614, process 1600 can include supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode.

[0112] FIGS. 17-30 illustrate additional aspects of process 1600 according to further embodiments. As shown in FIG. 17, process 1600 can include telescopically moving a telescopically movable shaft in the internal bore of the housing to adjust the distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode at block 1616.

[0113] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the electrosurgical device further includes a suction sleeve fluidly coupled to the smoke evacuation channel, a distal portion of the suction sleeve extending distally from the distal end of the shaft, and the electrosurgical electrode extending through the suction sleeve. As shown in FIG. 18, process 1600 can include applying a suction force to the smoke evacuation channel at block 1618.

[0114] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the aspiration sleeve is spaced from the electrosurgical electrode to define a smoke inlet that can extend circumferentially about the central axis of the distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode. As shown in FIG. 19, applying a suction force to the smoke channel at block 1618 can include discharging smoke through the smoke inlet around the electrosurgical electrode at block 1620.

[0115] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the aspiration sleeve is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the electrosurgical electrode. As shown in FIG. 20, rotating the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and shaft at block 1612 can include rotating the aspiration sleeve relative to the shaft to produce a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the shaft at block 1622.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 21, rotating the aspiration sleeve relative to the shaft at block 1622 can include engaging one or more teeth of the aspiration sleeve with one or more slots of the electrosurgical electrode at block 1624.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 22, process 1600 can include telescopically moving the aspiration sleeve within the internal cavity of the shaft to adjust the distance between the aspiration sleeve and the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode at block 1626.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 23, process 1600 can include observing the electrosurgical electrode through a substantially transparent aspiration sleeve at block 1628.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 24, rotating the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the housing and the shaft in block 1612 can include electrically coupling the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode and the electrical contact of the shaft at all rotational positions of the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the electrical contact of the shaft while rotating the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the electrical contact in block 1630.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 25, process 1600, in block 1632, frictionally engages the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode with the electrical contact such that (i) when a force less than the threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode, the electrical contact prevents rotation of the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the electrical contact, and (ii) when a force greater than the threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode, the electrical contact allows rotation of the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the electrical contact.

[0121] As shown in FIG. 26, process 1600 includes, in block 1634, engaging a shoulder of the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode with a stopper of the shaft to prevent axial movement of the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the shaft.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 27, process 1600 includes, in block 1636, emitting light in a direction toward the distal end of the shaft by a light source in the internal cavity of the shaft.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 28, process 1600 can include, in block 1638, transmitting light from the light source in a distal direction by an optical lens and emitting the light from the distal end of the shaft. The electrosurgical electrode can extend through an aperture in the optical lens and an aperture in the light source.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 29, process 1600 can include, at block 1640, telescopically moving a shaft axially relative to a housing, where the shaft includes a positive conductor and a negative conductor. Also in FIG. 29, process 1600 can include, at block 1642, while telescopically moving the shaft axially relative to the housing, (i) slidably engaging the positive and negative conductors with (ii) a plurality of conductors in the housing.

[0125] As shown in FIG. 30, rotating an electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and the shaft at block 1612 can include rotating the electrosurgical electrode more than 360 degrees relative to the housing and the shaft at block 1644.

[0126] Referring now to FIG. 31, a flowchart of a process 3100 for operating an electrosurgical device according to another embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 31, process 3100 can include, at block 3110, providing an electrosurgical device. The electrosurgical device includes a housing defining an internal bore, a shaft extending distally from the internal bore of the housing, a smoke evacuation channel in an internal cavity of the shaft, and an electrosurgical electrode extending distally from a distal end of the shaft. The shaft is rotatable relative to the housing. The shaft has a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft. The smoke evacuation channel is fixed relative to the housing in a rotational direction. The electrosurgical electrode is electrically coupled to the shaft.

[0127] Process 3100 also includes, at block 3112, rotating the shaft relative to the housing to effect a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing. Process 3100 further includes, at block 3114, supplying electrosurgical energy from the shaft to the electrosurgical electrode.

[0128] Figures 32 to 40 show additional aspects of process 3100 according to further embodiments. As shown in Figure 32, process 3100 can include applying a suction force to the smoke exhaust channel at block 3116.

[0129] As shown in Figure 33, applying a suction force to the smoke exhaust channel at block 3116 can include discharging smoke through the smoke exhaust channel at block 3118, where the smoke exhaust channel defines a space with no other structures between the proximal end and the distal end of the smoke exhaust channel.

[0130] As shown in Figure 34, discharging smoke through the smoke exhaust channel at block 3118 can include (i) discharging smoke through the body of the smoke exhaust channel at block 3120, and (ii) after discharging smoke through the body of the smoke exhaust channel at block 3120, discharging smoke through the through - bore of a non - rotating fitting that engages a corresponding - shaped structure in the housing at block 3122. In Figure 34, the through - bore can have a cross - sectional area smaller than the cross - sectional area of the body of the smoke exhaust channel proximal to the non - rotating fitting.

[0131] As shown in Figure 35, process 3100 can include telescopically moving a shaft in an internal bore of the housing at block 3124 to adjust the distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode.

[0132] As shown in Figure 36, rotating the shaft relative to the housing at block 3112 to cause a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing can include rotating the shaft and the electrosurgical electrode more than 360 degrees relative to the housing at block 3126.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 37, process 3100 can include, at block 3128, emitting light in a direction toward the distal end of the shaft using a light source in the internal cavity of the shaft.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 38, process 3100 can include, at block 3130, transmitting light from the light source in a distal direction by an optical lens and emitting the light from the distal end of the shaft. In FIG. 38, the smoke exhaust channel can extend through an opening in the optical lens and an opening in the light source.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 39, process 3100 can include, at block 3132, telescopically moving the shaft axially relative to the housing. The smoke exhaust channel can include a positive conductor and a negative conductor. Also, as shown in FIG. 38, process 3100 can include, at block 3132, while telescopically moving the shaft axially relative to the housing, at block 3134, slidably engaging (i) the positive conductor and the negative conductor with (ii) a plurality of conductors in the housing.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 40, process 3100 can include, at block 3136, telescopically moving the shaft axially relative to the housing. In FIG. 40, the shaft can include an electrical contact that engages a housing conductor extending along the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Also, in FIG. 40, process 40 can include, at 3138, continuously engaging the electrical contact with the housing conductor while the shaft moves telescopically relative to the housing.

[0137] The description of different advantageous arrangements is presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the disclosed form. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Further, different advantageous embodiments may describe different advantages compared to other advantageous embodiments. One or more of the selected embodiments are selected and described so that other persons skilled in the art can understand the disclosure of various embodiments that explain the principles of the embodiments, practical applications, and have various modifications suitable for the specific uses contemplated.

[0138] Also, any optional features of the described alternative aspects of the invention may be shown and claimed independently or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Similarly, reference to singular items includes the possibility that there are multiple like items. More specifically, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "and", "said", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Further, note that the claims may be written to exclude any optional elements. Thus, this description is intended to serve as a precedent for the use of such exclusive terms as "solely", "only", etc. in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or for the use of "negative" limitations. Unless otherwise defined herein, all technical and chemical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The scope of the present application is not limited by the specification of the subject matter, but only by the plain meaning of the claim terms employed. In addition, the technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiments are described below in terms of their aspects. [Aspect 1] An electrosurgical device comprising: a housing defining an internal bore; a shaft coupled to the housing, the shaft extending distally from the internal bore of the housing, the shaft being fixed relative to the housing in a rotational direction, the shaft comprising a smoke exhaust channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft; an electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft, a distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode extending distally from the shaft, the electrosurgical electrode being rotatable relative to the housing and the shaft; and an electrosurgical device comprising the same. [Aspect 2] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 1, wherein the shaft is telescopically movable in the internal bore of the housing to adjust a distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 3] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, wherein the shaft has a central axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and the electrosurgical electrode has a central axis that is collinear with the central axis of the shaft. [Aspect 4] Further comprising a suction sleeve fluidly coupled to the smoke exhaust channel, a distal portion of the suction sleeve extending distally from the distal end of the shaft, and the electrosurgical electrode extending through the suction sleeve, the electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3. [Aspect 5] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 4, wherein the suction sleeve is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the electrosurgical electrode such that rotation of the suction sleeve relative to the shaft results in corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the shaft. [Aspect 6] The suction sleeve comprises one or more teeth. The electrosurgical electrode includes one or more slots, The electrosurgical device according to aspect 5, wherein each of the one or more teeth of the suction sleeve engages one of the one or more slots so as to rotate the electrosurgical electrode in response to rotation of the suction sleeve, and each of the one or more teeth of the suction sleeve fits into each of the one or more slots one by one. [Aspect 7] The suction sleeve is telescopically movable within the internal cavity of the shaft to adjust the distance between the suction sleeve and the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode, The electrosurgical device according to aspect 6, wherein each of the one or more teeth is configured to slide longitudinally one by one with each of the one or more slots in response to the suction sleeve moving telescopically relative to the shaft. [Aspect 8] The electrosurgical device according to any one of aspects 4 to 7, wherein the suction sleeve is substantially transparent so that the electrosurgical electrode is visible through the suction sleeve. [Aspect 9] The shaft includes an electrical contact coupled to a proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode, The electrosurgical electrode is rotatable relative to the electrical contact, The electrosurgical device according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the electrosurgical electrode and the electrical contact are electrically coupled at all rotational positions of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact. [Aspect 10] (i) When a force smaller than a threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode, the electrical contact blocks rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact, and (ii) when a force greater than the threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode, the electrical contact allows rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact. The electrical contact engages the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode by friction. The electrosurgical device according to aspect 9. [Aspect 11] The electrosurgical device according to aspect 9 or aspect 10, wherein the electrical contact extends over at least half of the circumference of the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 12] The electrosurgical device according to any one of aspects 9 to 11, wherein the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode includes a shoulder that engages a stopper of the shaft to prevent axial movement of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the shaft. [Aspect 13] The electrical contact is a first end coupled to the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode; a second end extending into the housing; comprising; the second end engages a housing conductor extending along the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing; The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 9 to 12, wherein the second end of the electrical contact is configured to remain engaged with the housing conductor while the shaft moves telescopically relative to the housing. [Aspect 14] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, further comprising a light source in an internal cavity of the shaft, the light source being configured to emit light in a direction towards the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 15] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 14, further comprising an optical lens configured to transmit the light distally from the light source and emit the light from the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 16] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 15, wherein the electrosurgical electrode extends through an aperture in the optical lens and an aperture in the light source. [Aspect 17] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 16, wherein the light source includes at least three light sources spaced equally from each other around the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 18] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 14 to 17, wherein the shaft comprises a positive conductor and a negative conductor that slidably engage corresponding conductors in the housing while the shaft moves axially and telescopically relative to the housing. [Aspect 19] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 14 to 18, further comprising a heat sink coupled to the proximal side of the light source. [Aspect 20] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 19, wherein the electrosurgical electrode is rotatable more than 360 degrees relative to the shaft. [Aspect 21] An electrosurgical device, comprising: a housing defining an internal bore; a shaft extending distally from the internal bore of the housing, the shaft being rotatable relative to the housing and having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft; a smoke exhaust channel in an internal cavity of the shaft, the smoke exhaust channel being fixed relative to the housing in a rotational direction. An electrosurgical electrode extending distally from the distal end of the shaft, wherein (i) the shaft conducts electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode, and (ii) rotation of the shaft relative to the housing causes corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing. An electrosurgical device comprising the same. [Aspect 22] The electrosurgical electrode includes a proximal portion extending from the distal end of the shaft and a distal portion having a working end configured to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 21, wherein a central axis of the distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode and a central axis of the smoke exhaust channel are collinear. [Aspect 23] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 21 or Aspect 22, wherein the smoke exhaust channel defines a space in which there is no other structure between the proximal end and the distal end of the smoke exhaust channel. [Aspect 24] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 23, wherein the electrosurgical electrode and the shaft are formed as a monolithic structure. [Aspect 25] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 23, wherein the electrosurgical electrode and the shaft are separate components coupled to each other. [Aspect 26] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 25, wherein the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode includes a first leg extending from the distal end of the shaft and a second leg extending from the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 27] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 26, wherein the first leg and the second leg are diametrically opposed to each other around the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 28] The electrosurgical device according to Aspect 26 or Aspect 27, wherein a surface facing the proximal side of the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode is tapered in the distal direction toward the central axis of the shaft so as to define a gap between the surface facing the proximal side and a plane at the most distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 29] The electrosurgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 28, wherein the shaft is telescopically movable in the inner bore of the housing to adjust the distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 30] The electric surgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 29, wherein the shaft and the electric surgical electrode are rotatable by more than 360 degrees with respect to the housing. [Aspect 31] The electric surgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 30, wherein at least a part of the smoke exhaust channel has a non-circular shape so as to prevent rotation of the smoke exhaust channel with respect to the housing while the shaft and the electric surgical electrode rotate with respect to the housing. [Aspect 32] The proximal end of the smoke exhaust channel includes a non-rotating fitting configured to engage with a structure of a corresponding shape in the housing. The electric surgical device according to Aspect 31, wherein the non-rotating fitting has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. [Aspect 33] The electric surgical device according to Aspect 31 or 32, wherein the non-rotating fitting includes a through bore having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the main body of the smoke exhaust channel on the proximal side of the non-rotating fitting. [Aspect 34] The electric surgical device according to any one of Aspects 21 to 33, further comprising a light source in the internal cavity of the shaft, the light source being configured to emit light in a direction toward the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 35] The electric surgical device according to Aspect 34, further comprising an optical lens configured to transmit the light in a distal direction from the light source and emit the light from the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 36] The electric surgical device according to Aspect 35, wherein the smoke exhaust channel extends through an opening in the optical lens and an opening in the light source. [Aspect 37] The electric surgical device according to Aspect 36, wherein the light source includes at least three light sources arranged at equal intervals around the smoke exhaust channel. [Aspect 38] The electric surgical device according to any one of Aspects 34 to 37, wherein the smoke exhaust channel includes a positive conductor and a negative conductor that slidably engage with corresponding conductors in the housing while the shaft moves telescopically in an axial direction with respect to the housing. [Aspect 39] The electric surgical device according to any one of Aspects 34 to 38, wherein the light source has a non-circular shape to prevent rotation of the light source with respect to the housing while the shaft and the electric surgical electrode rotate with respect to the housing. [Aspect 40] The electrosurgical device according to any one of aspects 21 to 39, wherein a gap is defined between the shaft and the smoke exhaust channel to provide rotation of the shaft with respect to the smoke exhaust channel. [Aspect 41] The shaft includes an electrical contact that engages a housing conductor extending along the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The electrosurgical device according to any one of aspects 21 to 40, wherein the electrical contact is configured to remain engaged with the housing conductor while the shaft moves telescopically relative to the housing. [Aspect 42] A housing defining an inner bore, A shaft coupled to the housing, the shaft extending distally from the inner bore of the housing, the shaft being fixed in a rotational direction with respect to the housing, the shaft including a smoke exhaust channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft. An electrosurgical electrode coupled to the shaft, a distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode extending distally from the shaft, the electrosurgical electrode being rotatable with respect to the housing and the shaft. A method of operating an electrosurgical device comprising: Providing the electrosurgical device; Rotating the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the housing and the shaft; Supplying electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode. A method comprising. [Aspect 43] The method according to aspect 42, further comprising telescopically moving a shaft that is telescopically movable in the inner bore of the housing to adjust the distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 44] The electrosurgical device further comprises a suction sleeve fluidly coupled to the smoke exhaust channel, a distal portion of the suction sleeve extending distally from the distal end of the shaft, and the electrosurgical electrode extending through the suction sleeve. The method according to aspect 42 or aspect 43, further comprising applying a suction force to the smoke exhaust channel. [Aspect 45] The suction sleeve is spaced apart from the electrosurgical electrode to define a smoke inlet that can extend circumferentially around a central axis of the distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode. Applying suction to the smoke channel, as described in aspect 44, includes discharging smoke through the smoke inlet around the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 46] The suction sleeve is fixed in a rotational direction relative to the electrosurgical electrode, Rotating the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and the shaft, as described in aspect 44 or aspect 45, includes rotating the suction sleeve relative to the shaft so as to cause a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the shaft. [Aspect 47] Rotating the suction sleeve relative to the shaft, as described in aspect 46, includes engaging one or more teeth of the suction sleeve with one or more slots of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 48] The method according to any one of aspects 44 to 46 further includes telescopically moving the suction sleeve in the internal cavity of the shaft to adjust the distance between the suction sleeve and the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 49] The method according to any one of aspects 42 to 48 further includes observing the electrosurgical electrode through the substantially transparent suction sleeve. [Aspect 50] Rotating the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing and the shaft, as described in any one of aspects 42 to 49, includes electrically coupling the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode and the electrical contact at all rotational positions of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact while rotating the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact of the shaft. [Aspect 51] The method according to aspect 50 further includes frictionally engaging the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode and the electrical contact such that (i) when a force smaller than a threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode, the electrical contact blocks rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact, and (ii) when a force greater than the threshold force is applied to the electrosurgical electrode, the electrical contact allows rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the electrical contact. [Aspect 52] The method according to aspect 50 or aspect 51 further includes engaging a shoulder of the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode with a stopper of the shaft to prevent axial movement of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the shaft. [Aspect 53] The method according to any one of Aspects 42 to 52, further comprising emitting light by a light source in an internal cavity of the shaft in a direction toward a distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 54] The method further comprising transmitting the light in a distal direction from the light source by an optical lens and emitting the light from the distal end of the shaft, The method according to Aspect 53, wherein the electrosurgical electrode extends through an opening in the optical lens and an opening in the light source. [Aspect 55] Axially telescopically moving the shaft including a positive conductor and a negative conductor relative to the housing, and While axially telescopically moving the shaft relative to the housing, slidably engaging (i) the positive conductor and the negative conductor with (ii) a plurality of conductors in the housing, The method according to Aspect 53 or 54, further comprising. [Aspect 56] Rotating the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the housing and the shaft includes rotating the electrosurgical electrode with respect to the housing and the shaft by more than 360 degrees, the method according to any one of Aspects 42 to 55. [Aspect 57] A housing defining an internal bore, A shaft extending distally from the internal bore of the housing, the shaft being rotatable relative to the housing, the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft, A smoke exhaust channel in an internal cavity of the shaft, the smoke exhaust channel being fixed in a rotational direction relative to the housing, An electrosurgical electrode extending distally from the distal end of the shaft, the electrosurgical electrode being electrically coupled to the shaft, A method of operating an electrosurgical device comprising: Providing the electrosurgical device, Rotating the shaft relative to the housing to cause a corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing, and Supplying electrosurgical energy from the shaft to the electrosurgical electrode, Including, method. [Aspect 58] The method according to Aspect 57, further comprising applying a suction force to the smoke exhaust channel. [Aspect 59] Applying suction to the smoke exhaust channel includes discharging smoke through the smoke exhaust channel, and the method according to aspect 58, wherein the smoke exhaust channel defines a space in which there is no other structure between the proximal end of the smoke exhaust channel and the distal end of the smoke exhaust channel. [Aspect 60] Discharging the smoke through the smoke exhaust channel includes discharging the smoke through the body of the smoke exhaust channel and, after discharging the smoke through the body of the smoke exhaust channel, discharging the smoke through a through-bore of a non-rotating fitting that engages a corresponding-shaped structure in the housing, and the method according to aspect 58 or aspect 59, wherein the through-bore has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the body of the smoke exhaust channel and is on the proximal side of the non-rotating fitting. [Aspect 61] The method according to any one of aspects 57 to 60, wherein the electrosurgical electrode and the shaft are formed as a monolithic structure. [Aspect 62] The method according to any one of aspects 57 to 61, wherein the electrosurgical electrode and the shaft are separate components coupled to each other. [Aspect 63] The method according to any one of aspects 57 to 62, wherein the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode includes a first leg extending from the distal end of the shaft and a second leg extending from the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 64] The method according to aspect 63, wherein the first leg and the second leg are diametrically opposed to each other around the distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 65] The method according to aspect 63, wherein the surface facing the proximal side of the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode is tapered in the distal direction towards the central axis of the shaft so as to define a gap between the surface facing the proximal side and the plane at the most distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 66] The method according to any one of aspects 57 to aspect 65, further including telescopically moving the shaft in the inner bore of the housing to adjust the distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode. [Aspect 67] ​ Rotating the shaft relative to the housing so as to cause corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing includes rotating the shaft and the electrosurgical electrode more than 360 degrees relative to the housing, the method according to any one of Aspects 57 to 66. [Aspect 68] The method according to any one of Aspects 57 to 67, further comprising using a light source in an internal cavity of the shaft to emit light in a direction toward a distal end of the shaft. [Aspect 69] The method further comprises transmitting the light distally from the light source by an optical lens and emitting the light from the distal end of the shaft, The method according to Aspect 68, wherein the smoke exhaust channel extends through an opening in the optical lens and an opening in the light source. [Aspect 70] The smoke exhaust channel includes a positive conductor and a negative conductor, Axially telescopically moving the shaft relative to the housing, While axially telescopically moving the shaft relative to the housing, (i) slidably engaging the positive conductor and the negative conductor with (ii) a plurality of conductors in the housing, The method according to any one of Aspects 57 to 69, further comprising. [Aspect 71] Axially telescopically moving the shaft relative to the housing, the shaft having an electrical contact that engages a housing conductor extending along the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, Continuously engaging the electrical contact with the housing conductor while the shaft telescopically moves relative to the housing, The method according to any one of Aspects 57 to 70, further comprising.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device, comprising: a housing defining an inner bore; a shaft extending distally from the inner bore of the housing, the shaft being rotatable relative to the housing, the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft; a smoke exhaust channel in an inner cavity of the shaft, a tube forming the smoke exhaust channel being fixed in a rotational direction relative to the housing; an electrosurgical electrode extending distally from the distal end of the shaft, (i) the shaft conducting electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical electrode, and (ii) rotation of the shaft relative to the housing causing corresponding rotation of the electrosurgical electrode relative to the housing. The electrosurgical device according to claim 1, further comprising:

2. The electrosurgical electrode includes a proximal portion extending from the distal end of the shaft and a distal portion having a working end configured to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical device according to claim 1, wherein a central axis of the distal portion of the electrosurgical electrode and a central axis of the smoke exhaust channel are collinear.

3. The electrosurgical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode includes a first leg extending from the distal end of the shaft and a second leg extending from the distal end of the shaft.

4. The first leg and the second leg are diametrically opposed to each other around the distal end of the shaft, and a surface facing the proximal side of the proximal portion of the electrosurgical electrode is tapered in a distal direction toward the central axis of the shaft so as to define a gap between the surface facing the proximal side and a plane at the most distal end of the shaft. The electrosurgical device according to claim 3.

5. The electrosurgical device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shaft is telescopically movable in the inner bore of the housing to adjust a distance from the housing to the most distal tip of the electrosurgical electrode.

6. The electrosurgical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shaft and the electrosurgical electrode are rotatable more than 360 degrees relative to the housing.

7. At least a portion of the smoke exhaust channel has a non-circular shape so as to prevent rotation of the smoke exhaust channel relative to the housing while the shaft and the electrosurgical electrode rotate relative to the housing. The proximal end of the smoke exhaust channel is provided with a non-rotating fitting configured to engage with a structure of a corresponding shape in the housing. The non-rotating fitting has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The electrosurgical device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A light source in the internal cavity of the shaft configured to emit light in a direction towards the distal end of the shaft, an optical lens configured to transmit the light distally from the light source and emit the light from the distal end of the shaft, further comprising The smoke exhaust channel extends through an opening in the optical lens and an opening in the light source. The electrosurgical device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The light source has a non-circular shape to prevent rotation of the light source relative to the housing while the shaft and the electrosurgical electrode rotate relative to the housing, and a gap is defined between the shaft and the smoke exhaust channel to provide rotation of the shaft relative to the smoke exhaust channel. The electrosurgical device according to claim 8.

10. The shaft is provided with an electrical contact that engages with a housing conductor extending along the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, The electrical contact is configured to remain engaged with the housing conductor while the shaft moves telescopically relative to the housing. The electrosurgical device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images