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:
Feb. 19, 2013
Filed:
May. 27, 2011
Kobi Iki, San Carlos, CA (US);
William M. Ambrisco, Mountain View, CA (US);
Douglas M. Lorang, Ripon, CA (US);
Alan P. Gannon, Amesbury, MA (US);
Richard M. Ranalli, Berwick, ME (US);
Mathew E. Mitchell, Pelham, NH (US);
Mark Markel, Middleton, WI (US);
Ryland B. Edwards, Iii, Middleton, WI (US);
Kobi Iki, San Carlos, CA (US);
William M. Ambrisco, Mountain View, CA (US);
Douglas M. Lorang, Ripon, CA (US);
Alan P. Gannon, Amesbury, MA (US);
Richard M. Ranalli, Berwick, ME (US);
Mathew E. Mitchell, Pelham, NH (US);
Mark Markel, Middleton, WI (US);
Ryland B. Edwards, III, Middleton, WI (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument for ablating cartilage while limiting collateral damage includes a non-conducting head with a small electrically conductive surface. The head of the instrument is coupled to a shaft by a flexible portion. The flexible portion biases the electrically conductive surface towards a tissue surface. The head is pivotably coupled to the shaft such that the electrically conductive surface is oriented substantially parallel to the tissue surface as the head slides across the tissue surface. A method of performing electrosurgery includes positioning the electrically conductive surface adjacent to the tissue surface, and sliding the shaft across the tissue surface with the head pivoting such that the electrically conductive surface is oriented substantially parallel to the tissue surface.