Arthrocare Corporation

Arthocare Corporation

Athrocare Corporation

Robert H Dahla

Jean Woloszko

Irma Gutierrez

Scott Ciarrocca

Michael A Baker

Francois Antounian

Theodore C Ormsby

Terry S Davison

James L Pacek

Cindy Truc Nguyen

Hardev Kahlon

Adelina Villaruel

An electrosurgical instrument with a movable fluid delivery sheath assembly for variable fluid supply during surgical procedures is disclosed. The instrument comprises at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, positioned on the instrument distal end. The sheath assembly has an outer sheath that is external to the instrument shaft, to provide a lumen. The sheath assembly lumen is axially movable between first and second positions relative to a fluid delivery element, for varying target site treatment and fluid delivery. In the first position the shaft distal end is axially distal to a leading edge of the sheath assembly. In the second position the sheath assembly distal leading edge is positioned axially adjacent or distal to the end of the shaft. The fluid delivery element comprises an inner lumen extending through at least a portion of the shaft, and at least one port extending radially through the shaft. The port is in communication with the inner lumen. A fluid supply source provides fluid through the port, sheath lumen and inner lumen.

System, method and apparatus for electrosurgical instrument with movable fluid delivery sheath

An electrosurgical instrument having active and return electrodes with a movable suction sheath for variable fluid and debris removal during surgical procedures is disclosed. The suction apparatus has an outer sheath that is external to a shaft to provide a lumen. The sheath assembly is axially movable relative to the fluid aspiration element between first and second positions for treating the target site and fluid and debris removal, respectively. The first position positions the distal end of the shaft axially distal to a leading edge of the sheath assembly. The second position positions the distal leading edge of the sheath assembly axially adjacent to the end of the shaft. The fluid aspiration element comprises an inner lumen extending through the shaft, and at least one port extending radially through the shaft. The port is in communication with the inner lumen. A vacuum provides suction through the port and inner lumen.

System, method and apparatus for electrosurgical instrument with movable suction sheath

Electrosurgical systems, apparatus, and methods for the controlled removal and treatment of a target tissue. An instrument of the invention includes a rotating member housed longitudinally within a shaft, a tissue removal port disposed at the shaft distal end portion, and an active electrode disposed at the instrument distal end. The active electrode is adapted to electrosurgically remove at least a portion of the target tissue as the rotating member rotates within the shaft. According to alternative embodiments, the active electrode may be disposed on the rotating member or on the shaft.

Rotary electrosurgical apparatus and methods thereof

Apparatus and methods for ablating, severing, cutting, shrinking, coagulating, or otherwise modifying a target tissue to be treated. In a method for treating a target tissue, an active electrode of an electrosurgical probe is positioned in at least close proximity to the target tissue in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode and a return electrode, wherein, the high frequency voltage is sufficient to volumetrically remove (ablate), sever, or modify at least a portion of the target tissue. The probe comprises a multi-lumen shaft having a plurality of internal lumens, and a return electrode coil oriented substantially parallel to the shaft distal end. The active electrode may be in the form of a metal disc, a hook, or an active electrode coil. In the latter embodiment, the active electrode coil is typically arranged substantially orthogonal to the return electrode coil. Methods of making an active electrode coil, a return electrode coil, and an electrosurgical probe are also disclosed.

Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treatment and removal of tissue

An electrosurgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure on a target site, comprising a shaft having a distal end portion, the distal end portion comprising an active electrode including a fuse leg, the fuse leg adapted to break and disable the instrument upon applying a voltage differential between the active electrode and a return electrode for a predetermined amount of time. In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of performing an electrosurgical procedure on a target tissue, comprising: placing an electrosurgical instrument in close proximity to the target tissue, the electrosurgical instrument comprising an active electrode having a pre-selected portion adapted to break and disable the instrument upon applying a voltage differential thereto for a working time; and applying the voltage differential.

Fuse-electrode electrosurgical apparatus

Systems and methods are provided for applying a high frequency voltage in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. High frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s) to volumetrically remove or ablate at least a portion of the target tissue. In one embodiment a tissue treatment surface includes spacers or a chamber for containing the electrodes.

Systems and methods for electrosurgical tissue treatment

The present invention provides systems, apparatus, and methods for dissecting, resecting, severing, cutting, contracting, coagulating, or otherwise modifying a tissue or organ of a patient. An apparatus of the invention includes an electrosurgical probe configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the probe including an active electrode terminal, a fixed return electrode disposed proximal to the active electrode terminal, and a movable return electrode configured to move linearly with respect to the active electrode terminal between the open configuration and the closed configuration. A method of the present invention comprises clamping a blood vessel between the active electrode terminal and the movable return electrode, coagulating the clamped blood vessel by application of a first high frequency voltage, and severing the coagulated blood vessel by application of a second high frequency voltage.

Electrosurgical probe with movable return electrode and methods related thereto

Systems, apparatus, and methods for monitoring temperature at a region near a surgical site during a procedure. A temperature-indicating element of an electrosurgical device comprises an indicator composition adapted to undergo a change in appearance in response to a pre-defined temperature range. The change in appearance of the temperature-indicating element indicates to the operator of the device a temperature condition at the working end of the device.

Temperature indicating electrosurgical apparatus and methods

Electrosurgical methods, systems, and apparatus for the controlled ablation of tissue from a target site of a patient. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes an active electrode assembly having an active electrode screen surrounded by a plurality of flow protectors. Each flow protector defines a shielded region of the active electrode screen, each shielded region of the screen characterized by enhanced plasma formation. The active electrode assembly is adapted for removing tissue from a surgical site, and the active electrode screen is adapted for digesting fragments of resected tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus is particularly suited to simultaneously removing both hard and soft tissue in, or around, a joint.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Robert H Dahla