Bipolar Electrosurgical Instrument with Movable Floating Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrosurgical devices face challenges in reliably and selectively controlling tissue treatment depth during deep tissue desiccation procedures, often leading to extended operative times and unsatisfactory results due to varying contact area between the electrode and tissue.

Innovation Solution

An electrosurgical instrument featuring a pair of electrodes and a movable floating electrode that allows surgeons to control tissue desiccation by positioning the floating electrode between the active electrodes, enabling precise control of the electrosurgical effect through mechanisms like coolant delivery, heat pipe cooling, and bipolar operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a typical electrosurgical device with fixed electrodes is used, then the device structure is simple, but the surgeon cannot reliably and selectively control tissue treatment depth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue treatment depth controlVSAvoidelectrode configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a movable floating electrode that can be selectively positioned between the first and second active electrodes. This dynamic element allows the surgeon to control the depth and intensity of the electrosurgical effect by adjusting the floating electrode's position, thereby achieving precise tissue treatment depth control while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floating electrode acts as an intermediary element between the two active electrodes. By positioning this intermediate electrode at different locations within the electric field, the surgeon can modulate the electrosurgical effect's penetration depth and intensity, enabling selective control of tissue treatment without complicating the fundamental bipolar electrode configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the surgeon manipulates tissue with the electrodes to retract and separate tissue, then tissue manipulation is possible, but operative times are extended and contact area varies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue manipulationVSAvoidoperative time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floating electrode provides additional tissue manipulation capability without requiring the surgeon to use the active electrodes for both treatment and manipulation tasks. The floating electrode can be used to retract and separate tissue independently, allowing the active electrodes to focus solely on electrosurgical treatment, thereby reducing operative time and maintaining consistent contact area during treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the contact area between electrode and tissue varies during manipulation, then tissue manipulation is flexible, but the electrosurgical effect becomes unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation flexibilityVSAvoidelectrosurgical effect consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrosurgical system is segmented into multiple functional electrodes: two active electrodes for delivering electrosurgical energy and one floating electrode for tissue manipulation. This segmentation allows the manipulation function to be separated from the treatment function, ensuring that variations in contact area during manipulation do not affect the consistency of the electrosurgical effect delivered by the active electrodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The movable floating electrode enhances the ability to selectively control the intensity and depth of the electrosurgical effect, improving surgical precision and reducing undesired tissue effects, thus optimizing surgical outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

Such electrosurgical devices utilize electrical energy to effectuate hemostasis and desiccation by heating the tissue and blood vessels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a movable floating electrode that enables a surgeon to effectively control tissue desiccation... positioned between an extended position where the floating electrode is disposed within an area between the first active electrode and a second active electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical field modulation: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

coolant delivery, heat pipe cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction cooling: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12357369B2Bipolar electrosurgical instrument with movable electrode and related systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom, a pair of active electrodes at a distal end of the shaft, and a movable, electrically floating electrode selectively positionable between the active electrodes. The floating electrode, when positioned to contact tissue between the active electrodes, modifies the electrosurgical current flows through tissue. The resultant modified current flows enables a surgeon to more effectively to control tissue desiccation by focusing electrosurgical energy toward targeted tissue and by reducing peripheral current flows. Embodiments are provided wherein the active electrodes include cooling provisions. Related electrosurgical systems and method of use are also provided.