Gyrus Medical Limited

Gyrus Group Plc

Mark George Marshall

Colin C O Goble

Francis Amoah

Colin Charles Owen Goble

Kester J Batchelor

Frank D D'Amelio

Coliin C O Goble

Julian Mark Ebbutt

Kelvin John Varney

Matthew R Hall

Kelvin J Varney

Colin CO Goble

Frances Amoah

A device for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient comprises a stationary tube having a distal end portion, and a bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly located at the distal end of the tube. The electrosurgical electrode assembly comprises first and second electrodes separated by an insulation member, the bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly extending around the circumference of the distal edge of the tube. When an electrosurgical cutting voltage is applied to the electrode assembly, and relative movement is initiated between the tube and the tissue, a core of severed tissue is formed within the tube such that it can be removed from the body cavity of the patient. A tissue-pulling device such as a jaw assembly can be employed to pull tissue against the distal end of the tube.

Surgical instrument

A device for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient comprises a stationary tube () having a distal end portion (), and a bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly () located at the distal end of the tube. The electrosurgical electrode assembly () comprises first and second electrodes () separated by an insulating member (), the bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly extending around the circumference of the distal edge of the tube (). When a pulsed electrosurgical cutting voltage is applied to the electrode assembly () and relative movement is initiated between the tube () and the tissue, a core of severed tissue is formed within the tube such that it can be removed from the body cavity of the patient. Temperature sensors () can be used to measure the temperature at the distal end of the tube (), and to vary the duty cycle of the pulsed cutting voltage.

An electrosurgical instrument includes a handpiece, an electrode assembly comprising one or more electrodes attached to the handpiece, and connection means for connecting the handpiece to an electrosurgical generator. The handpiece comprises a housing, fluid supply lines for directing a cooling fluid to and from the electrode assembly, and a pump for driving cooling fluid through the fluid supply lines. The handpiece may also include a fluid reservoir. The pump, the fluid supply lines, and the reservoir are all wholly contained within the housing.

Electrosurgical instrument

An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprises a bipolar cutting blade, and fluid supply lines for directing a cooling fluid to the cutting blade, the cutting blade comprising first, second and third electrodes, and electrical insulators spacing apart the electrodes, the fluid supply lines being such that cooling fluid enters the cutting blade via the first electrode, passes through an aperture in the second electrode, and exits the cutting blade via the third electrode.

An electrosurgical cutting blade () comprises a first electrode (), a second electrode (), and an electrical insulator () separating the first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes have dissimilar characteristics (cross-sectional area, thermal conductivity etc.) such that the first electrode () is encouraged to become an active electrode and the second electrode () is encouraged to become a return electrode. The spacing between the first and second electrodes (between 0.25 mm and 3.0 mm) and the peak voltage supplied to the electrodes (and) are both selected such that arcing does not occur directly between the electrodes, but between the first electrode and the tissue at the target site. The arrangement is such that, in use, a thermal differential of at least 50&#xb0; C. is established between the first and second electrodes (and), such that the second electrode is maintained below a temperature of 70&#xb0; C. This is achieved either by thermally insulating the second electrode from the first electrode, and/or by transferring heat away from the second electrode, e.g. by conduction, forced cooling, or by means of a heat pipe ().

Surgical system

A surgical instrument comprises at least two elongate hollow tubes (), each having an aperture () at the distal end portion. The inner tube () is disposed within the other tube (), and is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A cutting tool () is located at the distal end of the tube (), and is positioned adjacent to the apertures (). A motor () is provided for rotating the inner tube (), and the inner tube () has a central lumen () through which tissue cut by the cutting tool () is removed under the action of a source of suction (). Heat is supplied to the tissue, prior to, or simultaneously with, the cutting thereof, such that the tissue being cut by the cutting tool () is coagulated tissue. In one embodiment, there is a third tube (), and saline is fed to the apertures () via a channel () between the tubes () and (). The outer tube () constitutes an active electrode, and the inner tube () constitutes the return electrode of an electrosurgical device. A radio frequency signal, supplied to the electrosurgical device, causes tissue to be coagulated prior to being cut by the cutting tool (), resulting in smaller pieces of cut tissue which are easier to remove through the lumen ().

Surgical system and method

An electrosurgical instrument for use in cutting and/or coagulating tissue includes one or more electrode surfaces (and) at least partly coated with tungsten disulphide. The tungsten disulphide coating acts to reduce the incidence of tissue becoming adhered to the or each electrode surface (). Examples of electrosurgical instruments employing such coated electrodes include forceps, scissors or scalpel blade instruments.

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Winnersh, United Kingdom

Mark George Marshall