Arthrocare Corporation

Innerdyne, Inc.

Steve Masterson

Jean Woloszko

Theodore C Ormsby

Terry S Davison

John E Carlson

Craig K Tsuji

Christopher Lee Willink

Andrew Lee

Mike Orth

Tellis Hartridge

Electrosurgical methods and apparatus for removing tissue from a target site of a patient. An electrosurgical suction apparatus includes an aspiration channel in communication with a distal aspiration port, and an electrode support having a plurality of active electrodes disposed thereon, the plurality of active electrodes spanning the aspiration port. Each of the plurality of active electrodes is adapted for removing tissue from a target site to form low molecular weight ablation by-products. Each of the plurality of active electrodes is also adapted for digesting resected tissue fragments to yield low molecular weight ablation by-products. Ablation by-products and resected tissue fragments are readily removed from the target site via an aspiration stream flowing proximally through the aspiration channel. In one embodiment, each of a plurality of active electrodes protrude in different directions from a beveled treatment surface of the electrode support, and each of the plurality of active electrodes extend from the beveled treatment surface by substantially the same orthogonal distance.

Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treating tissue

An adjustable pnemostasis valve and method for providing a fluid seal around the periphery of endoscopic viewing scopes and instruments having a wide variety of cross-sectional sizes. The valve (8) comprises a first valve member (50) having an opening for receiving an elongated object, such as a percutaneous access device, viewing scope or an endoscopic instrument, and a flexible membrane (60) defining an aperture substantially aligned with the opening in the first valve member. A second valve member (40) is coupled to the flexible membrane for moving the membrane relative to the first valve member. As the membrane is moved by the second valve member, the size of the aperture varies so that the membrane can accommodate various sized instruments.

Adjustable introducer valve

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Steve Masterson