Medicor Corporation

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Advanced Surgical Materials, Inc.

James R Morris

An exceptionally durable insulating coating for surgical instruments and other implements is provided. The coating is a ceramic and polyurethane composite, and exhibits excellent insulative properties in the 500 KHZ to 1 MHZ frequency range. The ceramic coating can be readily applied by plasma deposition techniques. A polyurethane over coating is applied over the ceramic coating and is obtained using a polyester-based aliphatic polyurethane composition.

Implements with composite coating

In a bipolar surgical shears, pivoted cutting members serve as a first electrode, and separate conductors, mounted on the cutting members and insulated therefrom, serve as second and third electrodes. One of the second and third electrodes is connected to a terminal on the opposite cutting member through a pivot pin comprising an insulating tube, so that all power supply connections are mounted on one of the pivoted cutting members. A power supply can be switched selectably to a selected one, or both, of the second and third electrodes.

Bipolar surgical shears

A device suitable for testing the integrity of insulation coating an electrosurgical instrument is described. The device includes a test sleeve and a fault detection unit. The test sleeve is generally tubular and defines an open bore with a resilient conductive lining mounted therein. The fault detection unit is coupled to the conductive lining such that establishment of an erroneous current path between the conductive lining and an electrosurgical device is detected.

Electrical insulation testing device and method for electrosurgical

An exceptionally durable electrical insulation coating for electro-surgical instruments is provided. The insulation coating is ceramic and exhibits excellent insulative properties in the 500 KHZ to 1 MHZ frequency range. This feature drastically reduces, if not totally eliminates, many problems of current electrical insulation materials used in electrosurgery. The insulating ceramic coating can be readily applied by plasma deposition techniques to new or existing mono/bipolar surgical instruments. The insulating ceramic coating is thermally sprayed, anisotropic, and exhibits a Young's Modulus value of no more than about 30.times.10.sup.6 psi parallel to the coating plane.

Electro-surgical instrument and fabrication method

An electrosurgical instrument has a conductive elongated member, a connector for connecting an external electrical power supply to the proximal end of the elongated member, an electrosurgical implement at the distal end of the elongated member, and an insulative parylene coating covering the elongated member. The thickness of the parylene coating is in the range of approximately 1 to 6 mil inches, and preferably 2 to 3.5 mil inches. In the preferred embodiment, the surfaces of the instrument that are to remain uncoated are first masked. The unmasked surfaces are roughened and then dipped in a liquid silicone. The parylene coating is then applied by vacuum vapor phase deposition and annealed. A parylene coating can also be applied to portions of the electrosurgical implement for insulation. A thin parylene coating can be applied to the blade of the instrument as a non-stick coating for easier cleaning. If the instrument is an endoscopic electrosurgical instrument used with a trocar sleeve having a valve to receive the shaft, wear between the valve and the shaft can be reduced by applying a parylene coating to the interior surface of the valve.

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Sedalia, CO, United States of America

James R Morris