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:
Dec. 21, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2002
Colin Charles Owen Goble, Surrey, GB;
Gyrus Group PLC, Berkshire, GB;
Abstract
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 ( and ) 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 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° C. is established between the first and second electrodes, such that the second electrode is maintained below a temperature of 70° 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.