Creo Medical Limited

Bangor University

George Christian Ullrich

Christopher Paul Hancock

David Edward Webb

Louis Turner

Patrick Burn

Steven Morris

Malcolm White

Simon Meadowcroft

Shaun Preston

Julian Mark Ebbutt

Sandra May Swain

John Bishop

Jessi E Johnson

Steve Morris

Thomas Craven

William Taplin

Leif Geoghegan

Dan Crocker

Miriam Taimisto

Sam James

Mark Ebbutt

Paul Horwitz

An electrosurgical resector tool comprising: an energy conveying structure for carrying radiofrequency electromagnetic energy and/or microwave electromagnetic energy; a tool tip mounted at a distal end of the energy conveying structure, wherein the tool tip comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises a first pair of electrodes that are electrically isolated. The first pair of electrodes is coupled to the energy conveying structure. The first and second jaw are movable relative to each other between a closed position in which the first and second jaw lie alongside each other, and an open position in which the second jaw is spaced from the first jaw for receiving biological tissue. The first jaw extends in a distal direction beyond the second jaw in the closed position. The first jaw includes a distal end face, the first pair of electrodes being exposed on the distal end face.

Electrosurgical resector tool

An electrosurgical resector tool having an energy delivery structure that provides a plurality of operational modalities that facilitate biological tissue cutting and sealing using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and/or microwave EM energy. The tool comprises a static first blade element, and a pivotable second blade element that has a length commensurate with the first blade element whereby, in a closed position, it lies adjacent to a laterally facing surface of the first blade element. The blade elements constitute an energy delivery mechanisms that is compact enough to enable the tool to be insertable through an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, gastroscope or bronchoscope.

In one aspect, the disclosure presents an electrosurgical instrument for performing haemostasis by radiating microwave energy from a distal tip, where conductive radiating electrodes are coated in an insulating non-stick material. In another aspect, the disclosure provides an electrosurgical instrument for performing haemostasis using radiofrequency or microwave electromagnetic energy, where a distal tip of the instrument comprises a conductive hollow needle for conveying fluid to or from a treatment site, wherein the hollow needle is electrically grounded.

Electrosurgical instrument

Various embodiments provide an electrosurgical system for treating biological tissue. The system comprises: an electrosurgical generator configured to supply pulsed microwave energy; and an electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible coaxial cable arranged to convey the pulsed microwave energy; and a radiating tip portion connected at a distal end of the coaxial cable and configured to receive the pulsed microwave energy. The radiating tip portion has a maximum outer diameter that is 1.0 mm or less, and wherein the maximum outer diameter of the radiating tip portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the coaxial cable. Also, the radiating tip portion comprises: a proximal coaxial transmission line for conveying the pulsed microwave energy; and a distal needle tip mounted at a distal end of the proximal coaxial transmission line, the distal needle tip being arranged to deliver the pulsed microwave energy into biological tissue.

Electrosurgical system

An electrosurgical instrument for delivering pressurised fluid to a biological tissue, and for delivering radiofrequency electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy to the biological tissue. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible shaft with an instrument tip connected to its distal end. The instrument tip comprises a planar body made of a first dielectric material separating a first conductive element from a second conductive element, for delivering EM energy to the biological tissue. The instrument tip has a nozzle for delivering the pressurised fluid directly to the biological tissue. An outer sleeve extends over the flexible shaft and a proximal section of the instrument tip to reinforce the flexible shaft and a junction between the flexible shaft and instrument tip.

An electrosurgical instrument having a radiating tip portion capable performing tissue ablation using microwave energy and electroporation (e.g. non-thermal irreversible electroporation) in a minimally invasive manner. The electrosurgical instrument may be used to perform microwave ablation and electroporation separately (e.g. sequentially) or simultaneously. The radiating tip portion may be dimensioned to be suitable for insertion into a pancreas via a surgical scoping device, to provide a rapid and accurate alternative to known RF ablation techniques. By enabling tumours within the pancreas to be treated using a minimally invasive procedure, it may be a viable option to use ablation and/or electroporation treatment for both curative as well as palliative reasons.

An energy conveying structure for invasive electrosurgery that provide for combined delivery of (i) RF or microwave electromagnetic energy for tissue treatment (e.g. ablation, coagulation or cutting), and (ii) optical radiation within a common structure that may form an instrument cable of a surgical scoping device. The structure resembles a hollow coaxial transmission line with an optical channel formed within it. The optical channel can lie within a passage that is formed within the inner conductive layer or within other layers of the coaxial transmission. The structure may be used to form an electrosurgical device capable of delivering RF/microwave EM energy, optical radiation and ultrasonic signals to a treatment site along an instrument cable of a surgical scoping device.

Electrosurgical energy conveying structure and electrosurgical device incorporating the same

An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

Electrosurgical apparatus and method

An electrosurgical apparatus comprising an electrosurgical forceps instrument that combines la robust jaw opening mechanism with an a microwave energy delivery mechanism. The instrument includes a rigid bracket mounted at a distal end of a flexible shaft, wherein a pair of jaws are pivotably mounted on the rigid bracket. The instrument includes an energy delivery structure comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having a first electrode and an second electrode formed on one of the pair of jaws, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged to emit microwave energy. The electrosurgical apparatus may also comprise a handpiece that combines rotation control of an electrosurgical instrument with both power delivery and end effector actuation (e.g. jaw closure, blade retraction or the like).

Electrosurgical apparatus

Embodiments of the invention provide a hollow cable for transmitting radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to an electrosurgical instrument, wherein the hollow cable is provided with electrical connectors for forming a bipolar electrical connection with an electrosurgical instrument that fits within, e.g. slides relative to, the hollow cable. The connectors can be conductive protrusions extending in an axial direction on opposite sides of the cable. The protrusions can be tabs, fins, rods, pins, or wires. The protrusions can be strips which engage corresponding terminals on the instrument. The transmission line structure of the invention can have a greater diameter then convention coaxial cables, which can minimise loss whilst still providing access for control wires and/or fluid to reach an surgical instrument. The cable can be used with multiple instruments.

Cable for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to an electrosurgical instrument

Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to the feed cable.

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Bangor, United Kingdom

George Christian Ullrich