US6254600B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems for tissue ablation and aspiration
Assignee: Arthrocare Corp
•
Filing: 1999-06-11
•
Granted: 2001-07-03
•
Expires: 2019-06-11
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within or on a patient's body. In particular, methods and apparatus are provided for resecting, cutting, partially ablating, aspirating or otherwise removing tissue from a target site, and ablating the tissue in situ. The methods and systems of the present invention are particularly useful for removing tissue within joints, e.g., synovial tissue, meniscus, articular cartilage and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher L. Willink
- 👤 Phillip M. Olsen
- 👤 Terry S. Davison
- 👤 Jimmy V. Ngo
- 👤 Hira V. Thapliyal
- 👤 Philip E. Eggers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/1206; A61B18/14; A61B18/148; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1485; A61B18/149; A61B18/1492; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00101; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00119; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00172; A61B2018/00178; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00321; A61B2018/00327; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/00505; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00583; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/0066; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/0072; A61B2018/00726; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00779; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00982; A61B2018/1213; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1273; A61B2018/1467; A61B2018/1472; A61B18/16; A61B2018/162; A61B2018/165; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An electrosurgical instrument for removing tissue from a target site within or on a patient's body comprising: a shaft having proximal and distal end portions and an active electrode on the distal end portion, the active electrode comprising a substantially planar tissue treatment surface; a return electrode on the shaft spaced from the active electrode; an aspiration lumen within the shaft having a distal opening at the distal end portion of the shaft; and wherein the active electrode extends across a portion of the distal opening of the aspiration lumen to inhibit clogging of the lumen and wherein the active electrode comprises an L-shaped electrode having a first portion extending axially from the distal end portion of the shaft and a second portion continuous with, and perpendicular to, the first portion, the second portion having a substantially planar surface opposite the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electrosurgical instrument for removing tissue from a target site within or on a patient's body comprising: a shaft having proximal and distal end portions and an active electrode on the distal end portion, the active electrode comprising a substantially planar tissue treatment surface; a return electrode on the shaft spaced from the active electrode; an aspiration lumen within the shaft having a distal opening at the distal end portion of the shaft; and wherein the active electrode extends across a portion of the distal opening of the aspiration lumen to inhibit clogging of the lumen and wherein the active electrode comprises an L-shaped electrode having a first portion extending axially from the distal end portion of the shaft and a second portion continuous with, and perpendicular to, the first portion, the second portion having a substantially planar surface opposite the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein the active electrode comprises a peripheral surface facing a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar tissue treatment surface, wherein the active electrode is configured to ablate tissue adjacent to the tissue treatment surface and tissue adjacent to the peripheral surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 2 wherein the peripheral surface extends 360 degrees around the active electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of active electrodes extending across the distal opening of the aspiration lumen and together forming the substantially planar tissue treatment surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The instrument of claim 1 further comprising three L-shaped electrodes, each having a first portion extending axially from the distal end portion of the shaft, and a second portion extending across the distal opening of the aspiration lumen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 1 further comprising an electrically insulating support member between the active and return electrodes, the support member comprising an inorganic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 6 wherein the support member has an axial opening in communication with the aspiration lumen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein the return electrode is spaced from the active electrode such that, when the active electrode is brought adjacent a tissue structure immersed in electrically conductive fluid, the active electrode is positioned between the return electrode and the tissue structure and the electrically conductive fluid completes a conduction path between the active electrode and the return electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The instrument of claim 8 wherein the active and return electrodes are configured, upon the application of a sufficiently high frequency voltage therebetween, to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the active electrode and to induce the discharge of energy from the vapor layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue from a target site within or on a patient's body comprising: a shaft having proximal and distal end portions and a plurality of active electrodes on the distal end portion, the active electrodes together forming a substantially planar tissue treatment surface; a return electrode on the shaft spaced from the active electrodes; an aspiration lumen within the shaft having a distal opening at the distal end portion of the shaft; and wherein the active electrodes extend across a portion of the distal opening of the aspiration lumen to inhibit clogging of the aspiration lumen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue from a target site within or on a patient's body comprising: a shaft having proximal and distal end portions and a plurality of active electrodes on the distal end portion, the active electrodes together forming a substantially planar tissue treatment surface; a return electrode on the shaft spaced from the active electrodes; an aspiration lumen within the shaft having a distal opening at the distal end portion of the shaft; and wherein the active electrodes extend across a portion of the distal opening of the aspiration lumen to inhibit clogging of the aspiration lumen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein the active electrodes each comprise a peripheral surface facing a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar tissue treatment surface, wherein the active electrodes are configured to ablate tissue adjacent to the tissue treatment surface and tissue adjacent to the peripheral surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 11 wherein the peripheral surface extends 360 degrees around the active electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein the active electrodes each comprise an L-shaped electrode having a first portion extending axially from the distal end portion of the shaft and a second portion contiguous with, and perpendicular to, the first portion, the second portion having a substantially planar surface opposite the shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 8 further comprising an electrically insulating support member between the active electrodes and the return electrode, the support member comprising an inorganic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 14 wherein the support member has an axial opening in communication with the aspiration lumen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein the return electrode is spaced from the active electrodes such that, when the active electrodes are brought adjacent a tissue structure immersed in electrically conductive fluid, the active electrodes are positioned between the return electrode and the tissue structure and the electrically conductive fluid completes a conduction path between the active electrodes and the return electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The instrument of claim 16 wherein the active and return electrodes are configured, upon the application of a sufficiently high frequency voltage therebetween, to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the active electrodes and to induce the discharge of energy from the vapor layer.
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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) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |