US5766153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for surgical cutting
Assignee: Arthrocare Corp
•
Filing: 1996-12-05
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Granted: 1998-06-16
•
Expires: 2016-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An electrosurgical system for applying electrical energy to a tissue structure within a patient's body comprises an electrosurgical probe and one or more high frequency power supplies. The probe comprises a shaft having an electrode array of isolated electrode terminals at its distal end. The terminals are each coupled to one of a multiplicity of current limiting elements, such as inductors. The inductors, together with the inherent capacitance of the load, form a series resonant output circuit having a resonant frequency greater than the operating frequency of the power supply.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip E. Eggers
- 👤 Hira V. Thapliyal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/1206; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1485; A61B18/149; A61B18/1492; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B18/148; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00092; A61B2017/00097; A61B2017/00101; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00172; A61B2018/00178; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00583; A61B2018/00601; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/0066; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00726; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00886; A61B2018/1213; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1273; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1467; A61B2018/1472; A61B18/16; A61B2018/162; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2493; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: an electrosurgical power supply; an electrical load coupled to the generator including one or more electrodes, the electrical load being inherently capacitive; and a conductor electrically coupling the electrical load to the generator, wherein the power supply includes at least one current limiting element in series with the conductor, the capacitance of the electrical load and the current limiting element together forming a series resonant output circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: an electrosurgical power supply; an electrical load coupled to the generator including one or more electrodes, the electrical load being inherently capacitive; and a conductor electrically coupling the electrical load to the generator, wherein the power supply includes at least one current limiting element in series with the conductor, the capacitance of the electrical load and the current limiting element together forming a series resonant output circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the current limiting element comprises an inductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein inductor has an inductance of about 200 to 2500 microhenries.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series resonant output circuit has a resonant frequency higher than the operating frequency of the power supply.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one capacitor in series with the inductor to form a lumped capacitance coupled across the power supply output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical load comprises a bipolar unit including a pair of electrodes each connected to a respective output terminal of the power supply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical load comprises a bipolar unit including a common electrode and a plurality of active electrode terminals each connected to a respective output terminal of the power supply.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the operating frequency of the power supply is about 50 kHz to about 400 kHz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: a power supply having an output stage with one or more independent current-limited current sources; one or more conductors adapted for coupling to one or more electrodes; and one or more output terminals for independently coupling each of the conductors to one of the current-limited current sources, the output terminals being coupled in series between the current-limited current sources and the conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: a power supply having an output stage with one or more independent current-limited current sources; one or more conductors adapted for coupling to one or more electrodes; and one or more output terminals for independently coupling each of the conductors to one of the current-limited current sources, the output terminals being coupled in series between the current-limited current sources and the conductors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the output stage includes a parallel resonant output circuit, the conductors being connected in series between the resonant output circuit and the associated output terminals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the current limiting element comprises an inductor for forming a series resonant circuit with electrodes, the series resonant circuit having a capacitance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the inductor has an inductance of about 200 to 2500 microhenries.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the parallel resonant output circuit has a resonant frequency higher than the operating frequency of the power supply.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising at least one capacitor in series with the inductor to form a lumped capacitance coupled across the power supply output.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the operating frequency of the power supply is about 50 kHz to about 400 kHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: an instrument handle having one or more power supply conductors for delivering radio frequency power from an electrosurgical power supply; an electrode unit mounted on a distal end portion of the instrument handle, the electrode unit comprising one or more electrodes each independently coupled to one of the power supply conductors; and a current limiting element connected across the power supply conductors to supplement the inherent capacitance of the electrode unit and the power supply conductors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: an instrument handle having one or more power supply conductors for delivering radio frequency power from an electrosurgical power supply; an electrode unit mounted on a distal end portion of the instrument handle, the electrode unit comprising one or more electrodes each independently coupled to one of the power supply conductors; and a current limiting element connected across the power supply conductors to supplement the inherent capacitance of the electrode unit and the power supply conductors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the capacitance of the electrical load and the current limiting element together form a series resonant output circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the current limiting element comprises a capacitor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the current limiting element comprises one or more inductors coupled in series between the power supply conductors and the power supply.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the instrument handle further comprises a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and the electrode unit comprises an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the shaft, said array including a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals disposed over a contact surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a common electrode on the shaft, wherein one of the power supply conductors electrically couples the common electrode to the power supply.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
the apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a temperature sensor located in the electrode array.
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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) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |