1088 results about "Active electrode" patented technology

A method is disclosed for treating benign conditions, such as enlarged tonsils and / or adenoids located in a patient's throat or nasopharynx, or soft tissue lesions located in a patient's oropharynx or larynx. According to the method, a space containing the patient's nasopharynx, oropharynx or pharynx and larynx is isolated from the patient's trachea and lungs using an inflatable cuff tracheostomy tube or nasotracheal tube inserted in the patient's trachea. The cuff is inflated to occlude the trachea. The patient is placed in a supine position, whereupon at least a portion of the space containing the nasopharynx and / or oropharynx and larynx is filled with saline. An endoscope is then inserted into the space to view the operative site in which the tonsils or tissue lesion are to be treated. An electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode and a return electrode connected to an electrosurgical generator is then inserted into the space, either along side the endoscope or through the endoscope's working channel. The generator is then operated to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, whereby a conduction path is formed between the active and return electrodes, at least partially through the saline, whereupon the active electrode is manipulated to debulk or otherwise treat the soft tissue lesion or enlarged tonsils and / or adenoids.

A surgical cutting and tissue vaporizing instrument, also referred to as an electrosurgical instrument, is in the form of a scalpel or scissors. The scalpel has a handle portion and a blade portion mounted on the handle portion. The blade portion has a smaller front section which acts as an active electrode, a larger rear section which acts as a return electrode, and an insulating middle section separating the two electrodes. A plurality of ports and conduits are formed in the blade portion, with the conduits extending through the handle portion, so that saline may be supplied to the handle and blade portions and out of the ports to the targeted area for tissue transection, and so that excess saline may be drawn by suction through other ports formed on the blade portion. The scissors include two cross-pivotally joined blades, each having a tip portion functioning as either an active electrode or as a return electrode. Ports and conduits are formed in each blade to elute saline onto the targeted area for tissue transection and to remove by suction excess saline from the targeted area.

A feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device includes a conductive ferrule conductively coupled to a housing of the medical device, a feedthrough capacitor conductively coupled to the ferrule, an inductor closely associated with the capacitor in non-conductive relation, and a conductive terminal pin extending through the capacitor and the inductor. The terminal pin extends through the inductor in non-conductive relation and is conductively coupled to active electrode plates of the capacitor. In one preferred form, the terminal pin is wound about the inductor. Additionally, the inductor may be maintained in close association with the capacitor without forming a direct physical attachment therebetween.

A mapping catheter is positioned in a heart chamber, and active electrode sites are activated to impose an electric field within the chamber. The blood volume and wall motion modulates the electric field, which is detected by passive electrode sites on the preferred catheter. Electrophysiology measurements, as well as geometry measurements, are taken from the passive electrodes and used to display a map of intrinsic heart activity.

Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.