Arthrocare Corporation

Other

Terry S Davison

Philip E Eggers

Hira V Thapliyal

Ronald A Underwood

Brian Warne

Jean Woloszko

Theodore C Ormsby

Phillip M Olsen

Christopher Lee Willink

Martin Kwende

David C Hovda

Maria B Ellsberry

Michael A Baker

Robert H Dahla

Steve Masterson

Jimmy V Ngo

An electrosurgical method for sterilizing chronic wound tissue, comprising: positioning an active electrode in proximity to the chronic wound tissue; delivering an electrically conductive fluid proximate the active electrode; and applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of the electrically conductive liquid sufficient to generate an ionized vapor layer at the active electrode, wherein the ionized vapor layer sterilizes at least a portion of the chronic wound tissue.

Electrosurgical system and method for sterilizing chronic wound tissue

An electrosurgical method for treating chronic wound tissue, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the chronic wound, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode sufficient to develop a high electric field intensity associated with a vapor layer proximate the active electrode and in close proximity to the wound tissue; and stimulating an expression of at least one healing mediator.

Electrosurgical system and method for treating chronic wound tissue

An electrosurgical method for treating foot ulcer, including diabetic foot ulcer, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the ulcer, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, the voltage potential being sufficient to generate plasma at the active electrode; and stimulating the ulcer with the active electrode to increase blood flow, remove unhealthy tissue and induce the body's natural healing response.

Electrosurgical method and system for treating foot ulcer

Systems and methods are provided for applying a high frequency voltage in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid to create a relatively low-temperature plasma for ablation of tissue adjacent to, or in contact with, the plasma. In one embodiment, an electrosurgical probe or catheter is positioned adjacent the target site so that one or more active electrode(s) are brought into contact with, or close proximity to, a target tissue in the presence of electrically conductive fluid. High frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s) to non-thermally generate a plasma adjacent to the active electrode(s), and to volumetrically remove or ablate at least a portion of the target tissue. The high frequency voltage generates electric fields around the active electrode(s) with sufficient energy to ionize the conductive fluid adjacent to the active electrode(s). Within the ionized gas or plasma, free electrons are accelerated, and electron-atoms collisions liberate more electrons, and the process cascades until the plasma contains sufficient energy to break apart the tissue molecules, causing molecular dissociation and ablation of the target tissue.

Systems and methods for electrosurgical tissue treatment

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for treating herniated or swollen discs within a patient's spine by applying sufficient electrical energy to the disc tissue to contract or shrink the collagen fibers within the nucleus pulposis. This causes the pulposis to shrink and withdraw from its impingement on the spinal nerve.

Systems and methods for electrosurgical tissue contraction within the spine

Electrosurgical methods and apparatus for the controlled ablation of tissue from a target site of a patient. The instrument includes a shaft having proximal and distal end portion and an active screen electrode on the distal end portion; a return electrode arranged on the shaft spaced from the screen electrode; at least one electrical connector extending through the shaft that connects the active electrode with a high frequency power supply; at least one electrical coupling member (such as a ball wire) adapted to secure the active screen electrode to the shaft and to electrically couple the screen electrode to the at least one electrical connector; and an aspiration lumen within the shaft having a distal opening coupled to the single active electrode wherein the screen electrode inhibits clogging of the aspiration lumen.

Electrode screen enhanced electrosurgical apparatus and methods for ablating tissue

Systems and methods are provided for performing electrosurgical interventions, such as selectively contracting soft collagen tissue and other body structures, while limiting thermal damage or molecular dissociation of such tissue and limiting the thermal damage to tissue adjacent to and underlying the treatment site. The systems and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for surgical procedures in electrically conducting environments, such as arthroscopic procedures in the joints, e.g., shoulder, knee, hip, hand, foot, elbow or the like. The present invention is also useful in relatively dry environments, such as treating and shaping the cornea, and dermatological procedures involving surface tissue contraction of tissue underlying the surface of the skin for tissue rejuvenation, wrinkle removal and the like.

Systems and methods for electrosurgical tissue contraction

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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Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Terry S Davison