Patent JPS5622505A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4091813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument having self-regulated electrical proximity heating of its cutting edge and method of using the same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-14
•
Granted: 1978-05-30
•
Expires: 1995-03-14
Abstract
Abstract The cutting edge of a scalpel blade is heated to a preselected constant temperature range by conduction of high frequency current through the blade of ferromagnetic material in a region thereof which is in close proximity to a conductor positioned along the cutting edge. Selective heating of regions of the cutting edge that are locally cooled by the tissue contact during surgical cutting is provided by constructing the blade of ferromagnetic materials that have a Curie point in the operating temperature range and that provide large increases in magnetic permeability for temperature decrements below the Curie point.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Shaw
- 👤 David E. Stutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 75
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A blade comprising: a cutting means including a cutting edge having an electrically conductive material disposed in the region of said cutting edge; and an electrical conductor means disposed adjacent the cutting edge and between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to said electrically conductive material and being conductively connected to the material only near the distal end of the cutting means (edge) for providing a conductive path through the material along said cutting means (edge) between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said cutting means (edge).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A blade comprising: a cutting means including a cutting edge having an electrically conductive material disposed in the region of said cutting edge; and an electrical conductor means disposed adjacent the cutting edge and between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to said electrically conductive material and being conductively connected to the material only near the distal end of the cutting means (edge) for providing a conductive path through the material along said cutting means (edge) between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said cutting means (edge).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hemostatic cutting device as in claim 1 wherein said material has an electrical parameter that varies as a function of temperature to increase power dissipation on applied electrical signal in the regions of the cutting edge which are selectively cooled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A blade as in claim 2 wherein the material has a thermal coefficient of resistance which varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said material has a permeability which varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said material exhibits a Curie point about which a transition in permeability with temperature occurs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A blade as in claim 4 wherein said material exhibits a Curie point about a temperature within the range of 300° C. to 1000° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said material includes ferromagnetic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said material includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A blade as in claim 1 comprising a layer of insulation disposed over said blade and over said electrical conductor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The hemostatic cutting device claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said blade in the region of said conductive current path is greater than the maximum skin depth of said conductive current path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein the material of said cutting means is capable of varying the skin depth of the conducting path for alternating electrical current therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A blade as in claim 1 comprising circuit means coupled to the proximal end of said electrical conductor means and to the proximal end of said cutting means for applying alternating signal thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A blade as in claim 1 comprising: sensor means responsive to the temperature of a region along the cutting edge for producing a representative control signal; and means responsive to the control signal for altering a selected parameter of an alternating signal applied to the electrical conductor means from the circuit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A blade as in claim 13 wherein the means responsive to the control signal alters one of the amplitude and frequency of the alternating signal from the circuit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the cutting means in the region of said conductive current path is greater than the maximum skin depth of the conductive current path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein the material of the cutting means includes a semiconductor material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherien the material of the cutting means includes one of the elements of the group consisting of silicon and germanium and compounds thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein the material of the cutting means includes electrolytic ceramic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein the material of the cutting means includes beta alumina zirconia.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A blade as in claim 1 wherein said conductive path is utilized to elevate the temperature in the region of the cutting edge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
148 words
A surgical blade (instrument) for cutting tissue with simultaneous hemostasis, (the instrument) comprising: a cutting (element) means of electrically conductive material having a tissue-cutting edge, said material containing a metal being selected from a group consisting of iron, nickel, and cobalt and exhibiting a Curie point about a temperature within the range of 300° C to 1,000° C; and an electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue cutting edge between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means (thereof), said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to said material of said cutting (element) means and being conductively connected to said cutting (element) means only near the distal end of said (tissue) cutting means for providing a conductive current path through the material of said cutting means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor and the proximal end of said cutting means;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
148 words
A surgical blade (instrument) for cutting tissue with simultaneous hemostasis, (the instrument) comprising: a cutting (element) means of electrically conductive material having a tissue-cutting edge, said material containing a metal being selected from a group consisting of iron, nickel, and cobalt and exhibiting a Curie point about a temperature within the range of 300° C to 1,000° C; and an electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue cutting edge between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means (thereof), said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to said material of said cutting (element) means and being conductively connected to said cutting (element) means only near the distal end of said (tissue) cutting means for providing a conductive current path through the material of said cutting means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor and the proximal end of said cutting means;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The surgical blade claimed in claim 21 further comprising a layer of insulation disposed over said cutting and over said electrical conductor means for insulating tissue being cut from said surgical instrument.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
102 words
A hemostatic scalpel blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue-cutting edge of electrically conductive material; and an electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue-cutting edge between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the material of said cutting means and being conductively connected to said cutting means only near the distal end of said cutting means for providing a conductive current path through the material of said cutting means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said cutting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
102 words
A hemostatic scalpel blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue-cutting edge of electrically conductive material; and an electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue-cutting edge between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the material of said cutting means and being conductively connected to said cutting means only near the distal end of said cutting means for providing a conductive current path through the material of said cutting means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said cutting means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 wherein said material of said cutting means has an electrical parameter that varies as a function of temperature to increase power dissipation in the regions of said tissue-cutting edge which are selectively cooled upon contact with tissue being cut.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 wherein the material of said cutting means has a permeability which varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hemostatic scaplel blade claimed in claim 25 wherein the material of said cutting means exhibits a Curie point about which a transition in permeability with temperature occurs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 26 wherein the material of said cutting means exhibits a Curie point about a temperature within the range of 300° C. to 1,000° C.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 wherein said cutting means includes ferromagnetic material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 wherein said material of said cutting means includes an element selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 further comprising a layer of insulation disposed over said cutting means and over said electrical conductor means for insulating tissue being cut from said hemostatic scalpel blade.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 wherein the material of said cutting means has a thermal coefficient of resistance which varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 23 wherein the thickness of said cutting means in the region of said conductive current path is greater than the maximum skin depth of said conductive current path when said cutting blade is operated between about 300° C. and about 1,000° C.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hemostatic surgical cutting blade as in claim 23 wherein said material has a coefficient of resistance which varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
159 words
A hemostatic scalpel blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue-cutting edge of electrically conductive material and being further described as including a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt and having an electrical parameter that varies as a function of temperature to increase power dissipation in the regions of said tissue-cutting edge which are selectively cooled upon contact with tissue being cut; and an electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue-cutting edge between distal and proximal ends of said cutting edge, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the material of said cutting blade and being conductively connected to said cutting (blade) means only near the distal end of said (tissue-) cutting means (edge) for providing a conductive current path through the material of said cutting (blade) means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said (tissue-) cutting means (edge).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
159 words
A hemostatic scalpel blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue-cutting edge of electrically conductive material and being further described as including a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel and cobalt and having an electrical parameter that varies as a function of temperature to increase power dissipation in the regions of said tissue-cutting edge which are selectively cooled upon contact with tissue being cut; and an electrical conductor means disposed near said tissue-cutting edge between distal and proximal ends of said cutting edge, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the material of said cutting blade and being conductively connected to said cutting (blade) means only near the distal end of said (tissue-) cutting means (edge) for providing a conductive current path through the material of said cutting (blade) means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said (tissue-) cutting means (edge).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 34 wherein the material of said cutting means has a permeability which varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 34 wherein the material of said cutting means exhibits a Curie point about which a transition in permeability with temperature occurs.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 34 further comprising a layer of insulation disposed over said cutting means and over said electrical conductor means for insulating tissue being cut from said hemostatic scalpel blade.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of utilization of a hemostatic scalpel blade having a cutting blade of electrically conductive material and an electrical conductor means disposed between the distal and proximal ends of said blade comprising: insulating said electrical conductor from said cutting blade except at said distal blade end; passing electrical current through said electrical conductor thereby heating said cutting blade; contacting tissue with said cutting blade; and thereby cauterizing said tissue contacted by said cutting blade.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of utilization of a hemostatic scalpel blade having a cutting blade of electrically conductive material and an electrical conductor means disposed between the distal and proximal ends of said blade comprising: insulating said electrical conductor from said cutting blade except at said distal blade end; passing electrical current through said electrical conductor thereby heating said cutting blade; contacting tissue with said cutting blade; and thereby cauterizing said tissue contacted by said cutting blade.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of utilization of a hemostatic scalpel blade claimed in claim 38 further comprising:
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
increasing power dissipation in the regions of said cutting blade which are selectively cooled upon contact with the tissue being cut responsive to the permeability of said electrically conductive material which varies inversely wih temperature between about 300° C. and about 1,000° C.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
43 words
increasing power dissipation in the regions of said cutting blade which are selectively cooled upon contact with the tissue being cut responsive to the permeability of said electrically conductive material which varies inversely wih temperature between about 300° C. and about 1,000° C.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
78 words
The method of cutting using a blade having a cutting means with a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method including the steps of: conducting an alternating current through an electrical conductor which is disposed along the cutting edge; and conducting current in a return path through the blade substantially only in close proximity to the cutting edge of the cutting means which is disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the electrical conductor.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
78 words
The method of cutting using a blade having a cutting means with a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method including the steps of: conducting an alternating current through an electrical conductor which is disposed along the cutting edge; and conducting current in a return path through the blade substantially only in close proximity to the cutting edge of the cutting means which is disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the electrical conductor.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of cutting as in claim 40 wherein said cutting means includes means for increasing the power dissipation on applied electrical signal in the regions of the cutting edge when said regions of said cutting edge are selectively cooled.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of cutting as in claim 40 wherein in the step of conducting current, the skin depth of the alternating current conductor path through the cutting means is varied as a function of the temperature of the return path in close proximity to the electrical conductor.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of cutting as in claim 42 wherein in the step of conducting current, the skin depth varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of cutting as in claim 40 wherein in the step of conducting current, the thermal coefficient of resistance of the material of the cutting means varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of cutting as in claim 40 wherein in the step of conducting current, one of the frequency and amplitude of an alternating electrical signal is altered in response to changes in temperature along the cutting edge.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of cutting as in claim 40 wherein in the step of conducting current, the permeability of the material of the cutting means varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of cutting as in claim 40 wherein the step of conducting current, the material of the cutting means exhibits a Curie about which a transition in permeability with temperature occurs.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
108 words
A hemostatic surgical blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue-cutting edge having an electrically conductive material disposed in the region of said cutting edge; and an electrical conductor means disposed adjacent the cutting edge and between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to said electrically conductive material and being conductively connected to the material only near the distal end of the cutting means for providing a conductive path through the material along said cutting means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said cutting means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
108 words
A hemostatic surgical blade comprising: a cutting means including a tissue-cutting edge having an electrically conductive material disposed in the region of said cutting edge; and an electrical conductor means disposed adjacent the cutting edge and between distal and proximal ends of said cutting means, said electrical conductor means being disposed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to said electrically conductive material and being conductively connected to the material only near the distal end of the cutting means for providing a conductive path through the material along said cutting means between the conductive connection to said electrical conductor means and the proximal end of said cutting means.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the material of the cutting means is capable of varying the skin depth of the conducting path for alternating electrical current therethrough.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 comprising circuit means coupled to the proximal end of said electrical conductor means and to the proximal end of cutting means for applying alternating signal thereto.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
53 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 comprising: sensor means responsive to the temperature of a region along the cutting edg for producing a representative control signal; and means resonsive to the control signal and altering a selected parameter of an alternating signal applied to the electrical conductor means from the circuit means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the means resonsive to the control signal alters one of the amplitude and frequency of the alternating signal from the circuit means.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
53 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the thickness of the cutting means in the region of said conductive current path is greater than the maximum skin depth of the conductive current path when the cutting means is operated in a selected temperature range between about 300° C and about 1000° C.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the material of the cutting means includes a semiconductor material.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the material of the cutting means includes one of the elements of the group consisting of silicon and germanium and compounds thereof.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the material of the cutting means includes electrolytic ceramic.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
18 words
A surgical blade as in claim 48 wherein the material of the cutting means includes beta alumina zirconia.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of homostatic cutting using a cutting means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method including the steps of: conducting an alternating current through an electrical conductor which is disposed along the cutting edge; and conducting current in a return path through the blade substantially only in close proximity to the cutting edge of the blade which is dispoed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the electrical conductor.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of homostatic cutting using a cutting means having a cutting edge operating at an elevated temperature, the method including the steps of: conducting an alternating current through an electrical conductor which is disposed along the cutting edge; and conducting current in a return path through the blade substantially only in close proximity to the cutting edge of the blade which is dispoed in electromagnetically coupled and electrically insulated relationship to the electrical conductor.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 56 wherein said cutting means includes means for increasing the power dissipation on applied electrical signal in the regions of the cutting edge when said regions of said cutting edge are selectively cooled.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 59 wherein in the step of conducting current, the skin depth varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 58 wherein in the step of conducting current, the skin depth of the alternating current conductor path through the cutting means is varied as a function of the temperature of the return path in close proximity to the electrical conductor.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 58, wherein in the step of conducting current, the thermal coefficient of resistance of the material of the cutting means varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 58 wherein in the step of conducting current, one of the frequency and amplitude of an alternating electrical signal is altered in response to changes in temperature along the cutting edge.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 58 wherein in the step of conducting current, the permeability of the material of the cutting means varies inversely with temperature.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of hemostatic cutting as in claim 58 wherein the step of conducting current, the material of the cutting means exhibits a Curie point about which a transition in permeability with temperature occurs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-29 | 1981-11-28 | 1982-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-29 | 1985-11-28 | 1986-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-29 | 1989-11-28 | 1990-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |