The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 02, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 17, 2002
J. Remberto Carranza, San Francisco, CA (US);
Hugh R. Sharkey, Redwood City, CA (US);
John E. Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Gary S. Fanton, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Oratec Interventions, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument is provided which includes a holding formation, a probe shaft, an electric conductor, and a probe tip. The probe shaft is secured to the holding formation and has an elongated section extending therefrom. The electric conductor extends along the elongated section. The probe tip is located on a distal end of the probe shaft opposing the holding formation. The probe tip defines a volatization chamber with a mouth out of the probe tip. The probe tip includes an electrode, to which RF current is provided through the electric conductor. The electrode heats an area adjacent to the probe tip. The electrode also heats a liquid in the first volatization chamber to evaporate the liquid into a vapor pocket that ejects from the first volatization chamber through the mouth out of the probe tip. A pump effect is created so that the liquid maintains the probe tip at a more stable temperature.