Monopolar electrosurgery blade and electrosurgery blade assembly

Abstract

Electrosurgery blades including electrosurgery blade assemblies having argon beam capability. The electrosurgery blade includes a thin conductive member having a lead sharp cutting end and an opposite noon-cutting end and a non-conductive coating covering the thin conductive member such that at least a portion of the lead cutting end and at least a portion of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive member remain exposed. An electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability includes the previously described electrosurgery blade, a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening positioned on top of the electrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.

Claims

1. An electrosurgery blade assembly comprising: an electrosurgery blade comprising: a thin conductive member having opposing planar sides, a lead sharp cutting end, an opposite non-cutting end, and a planar horizontal opening therethrough located between the lead sharp cutting end and the opposite non-cutting end wherein a middle width of the thin conductive member and a width of the non-cutting end of the thin conductive member are both less than a largest width of the lead sharp cutting end of the thin conductive member; and a non-conductive coating covering both opposing planar sides of the thin conductive member and its planar horizontal opening such that at least a portion of the lead sharp cutting end and at least a portion of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive member remain exposed; a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein positioned on a top of said electrosurgery blade such that it is in physical contact with the electrosurgery blade; and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.

2. The electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein the non-conductive coating covers a top and bottom of the thin conductive member while still leaving at least a portion of the top and bottom of the thin conductive member exposed.

3. The electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein the opposite non-cutting end comprises opposing prong members.

4. The electrosurgery blade of claim 3 further comprising a conductive shaft having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is positioned between and in contact with the opposing prong members of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive member.

5. The electrosurgery blade of claim 4 wherein the non-conductive coating completely covers the first end of the conductive shaft.

6. The electrosurgery blade of claim 4 wherein the conductive shaft comprises a hard metal.

7. The electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein a middle width of the thin conductive member is less than a width of the thin conductive member located near the lead sharp cutting end of the thin conductive member.

8. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 further comprising a conductive projection extending from an end of the conductive hollow tubular member.

9. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the thin conductive member is exposed on a top of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the non-conductive tube member.

10. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 9 further comprising a conductive projection extending from the portion of the thin conductive member that is exposed on the top of the elearosurgery blade and contained within the non-conductive tube member.

11. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-conductive tube member comprises a ceramic.

12. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the conductive hollow tubular member comprises a hard metal.

13. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-conductive coating of the electrosurgery blade comprises a ceramic.

14. The electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the thin conductive member of the electrosurgery blade comprises a hard metal.

15. An electrosurgery blade assembly comprising: an electrosurgery blade comprising: a thin conductive planar member having opposing planar sides, an angled sharp cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end terminating in opposing prongs wherein a middle width of the thin conductive planar member and a width of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive planar member immediately preceding the opposing prongs are both the same and less than a largest width of the angled sharp cutting end of the thin conductive planar member; and a non-conductive coating covering the thin conductive member such that at least a portion of the angled sharp cutting end and at least a portion of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive member remain exposed; a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein positioned on a top of said electrosurgery blade such that it is in physical contact with the electrosurgery blade; and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a. portion of the non-conductive tube member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member of the monopolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the monopolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention which shows the internal components of the blade including the thin conductive member shown in FIG. 1 and a conductive shaft, and which further identifies the exposed sharp conductive cutting end of the electrosurgery blade by showing it with slanted hash marks (note that all of the thin conductive member 12 and the conductive shaft 30 are conductive even though only those portions nut covered by non-conductive coating 40 are shown with slanted hash marks in the drawing);

(4) FIG. 3 is an external side view showing the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-3 within the conductive shaft and with the portion of the thin conductive member contained within the non-conductive coating shown in phantom;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-3 without the conductive shaft and with the portion of the thin conductive member contained within the non-conductive coating shown in phantom;

(7) FIG. 6 is an end view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-3 with the conductive shalt shown with slanted hash marks; and

(8) FIG. 7 is an external side view showing internal components of an exemplary embodiment of the monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon, beam capability of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is an external side view showing internal components of another exemplary embodiment of the monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION or EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(10) The exemplary embodiments of the, monopolar electrosurgery blade and monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability of the present invention enable the surgeon or user to increase both the efficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or user to perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue either separately or simultaneously. In instances where tissue cutting and coagulation are performed at the same time without switching between modes or methods, operating time is decreased and the lateral damage to the tissue is reduced or eliminated. Exemplary embodiments of the monopolar electrosurgery blade and the monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention include an electrosurgery blade that has a thin conductive member having a lead cutting end and an opposite non-cutting end and a non-conductive coating covering the thin conductive member so that a portion of the lead cutting end of the thin conductive member and a portion of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive member remain exposed. The thin conductive member may include an opening through it which is located between the lead cutting end and the opposite non-cutting cud where the opening is completely covered by the non-conductive coating. This configuration facilitates construction of the electrosurgery blade while enhancing the strength and functioning of the blade. In addition, in one exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the top of the thin conductive member may also remain exposed and not covered by the non-conductive coating. In another exemplary embodiment, the non-cutting end of the thin conductive member may include opposing prong members located opposite the lead cutting end and a conductive shaft having a first end and a second end where the first end of the conductive shaft is positioned between and in contact with the opposing prong members of the thin conductive member where the non-conductive coating covering the thin conductive member also covers at least a portion of the conductive shaft.

(11) The electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability includes the monopolar electrosurgery blade described above, a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening and a slot which can be positioned over a portion of the electrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member, through which an inert gas can be supplied, contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube. The electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention is capable of 1) cutting tissue using the sharp cutting edge of the blade alone, 2) coagulating tissue using argon plasma alone, 3) simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by performing argon plasma assisted cutting using the sharp cutting edge of the blade to cut and the conductive tube contained within the non-conductive tube to introduce argon gas for argon plasma coagulation, and 4) coagulating tissue by performing argon plasma assisted coagulation using the conductive cutting edge of the blade to coagulate tissue at low power and the conductive tube contained within the non-conductive tube to introduce argon gas for argon plasma coagulation.

(12) The identity of the elements/features that relate to the numbers shown in the drawing figures are as follows:

(13) 10 electrosurgery

(14) 12 thin conductive member

(15) 13 opposing planar sides

(16) 14 top (of thin conductive member)

(17) 16 bottom (of thin conductive member)

(18) 18 lead sharp cutting end (of thin conductive member)

(19) 19 exposed area (of thin conductive member extending along top of blade from lead sharp cutting end)

(20) 20 opposite non-cutting end (of thin conductive member)

(21) 22 opposing prong members (of opposite non-cutting end)

(22) 24 opening (in thin conductive member)

(23) 30 conductive shaft

(24) 32 first end (of conductive shaft)

(25) 34 second end (of conductive shall)

(26) 40 non-conductive coating

(27) 50 electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability

(28) 52 thin conductive member

(29) 54 top (of thin conductive member)

(30) 56 bottom (of thin conductive member)

(31) 58 lead cutting end (of thin conductive member)

(32) 70 conductive shaft

(33) 72 first end (of conductive shaft)

(34) 74 second end (of conductive shaft)

(35) 80 non-conductive coating

(36) 90 non-conductive tube member

(37) 92 hollow tubular shaped opening (in non-conductive tube member)

(38) 93 slot (in non-conductive tube member)

(39) 94 conductive hollow tubular member

(40) 96 conductive projection (of hollow conductive tubular member)

(41) 150 electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability

(42) 152 thin conductive member

(43) 154 top (of thin conductive member)

(44) 156 bottom (of thin conductive member)

(45) 158 lead cutting end (of thin conductive member)

(46) 159 exposed area (of this conductive member extending along top of blade from lead sharp cutting end)

(47) 170 conductive shaft

(48) 180 non-conductive coating

(49) 190 non-conductive tube member

(50) 192 hollow tubular shaped opening (in non-conductive tube member)

(51) 193 slot (in non-conductive tube member)

(52) 194 conductive hollow tubular member

(53) 195 conductive projection (extending from top of thin conductive member contained within non-conductive tube member)

(54) A side view of an exemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member 12 of the monopolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Thin conductive member 12 has opposing planar sides 13, a top 14, a bottom 16, a lead sharp cutting end 18 and an opposite non-cutting end 20. The opposite non-cutting end 20 may include two opposing prong members 22. The thin conductive member 12 may also include an opening 24 located between the lead sharp cutting end 18 and the opposite non-cutting end 20.

(55) FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the monopolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention which shows the internal components of the blade including the thin conductive member 12 shown in FIG. 1 and a conductive shaft 30. In addition to the thin conductive member 12, the monopolar electrosurgery blade 10 further includes a non-conductive coating 40 which covers the thin conductive member 12 except for a portion of the lead cutting edge 18 which remains exposed as shown by the slanted hash marks. Accordingly, at least a portion of the top 14 of the thin conductive member 12 and a portion of the bottom 16 of thin conductive member 12 remain exposed. The electrosurgery blade 10 may further include a conductive shaft 30 having a first end 32 and a second end 34 where the first end 32 is positioned between, and in contact with, the opposing prong members 22 of the thin conductive member 12. It should be noted that all of the thin conductive member 12 and the conductive shaft 30 shown in FIG. 2 are conductive even though only those portions not covered by non-conductive coating 40 are shown with slanted hash marks. Non-conductive coating 40 covers the opening 24 in the thin conductive member 12 and the first end 32 of the conductive shaft 30. The opening 24 within the thin conductive member 12 facilitates the construction of the electrosurgery blade 10 while enhancing the strength and function of the electrosurgery blade. The ends of opposing prong members 22 may also he covered by non-conductive coating 40 or they may remain exposed.

(56) FIG. 3 is an external side view showing the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 3, non-conductive coating 40 covers almost all of thin conductive member 12 except for the leading cutting edge 18 and it also covers the first end 32 of conductive shaft 30 which is positioned between and in contact with opposing prong members 22 of thin conductive member 12. The second end 34 of conductive shaft 30 remains exposed for electrical connection within an electrosurgery pencil (not shown) which utilizes the electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention. Some of conductive shaft 30 that extends beyond the ends of opposing prong members 22 of the thin conductive member 12 may also be covered with non-conductive coating 40 or an insulating material as long as at least a part of the second end 34 of conductive shaft 30 remains exposed for electrical connection within an electrosurgery pencil. In addition, the ends of opposing prong members 22 of thin conductive member 12 may remain exposed as shown in FIG. 6 or may also be covered with non-conductive coating 40. FIG. 6 is, an end view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-3 with the conductive shaft 30 shown with slanted hash marks.

(57) FIG. 4 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-3 without the conductive shaft and with the portion of the thin conductive member contained within the non-conductive coating shown in phantom and FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-3 without the conductive shaft and with the portion of the thin conductive member contained within the non-conductive coating shown in phantom. As can he seen in FIG. 4, one exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention may include an exposed area 19 of the thin conductive member 12 located at a top of the electrosurgery blade 10 and extending further along the top of the electrosurgery blade 10 from the portion of the thin conductive member exposed at the lead sharp cutting end 18 of the thin conductive member 12.

(58) An external side view showing internal components of exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly 50 with argon beam capability of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7. Electrosurgery blade assembly 50 includes the same electrosurgery blade previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-6, namely an electrosurgery blade having a thin conductive member 52, a non-conductive coating 80 which covers the thin conductive member 52 except for a portion of the lead cutting edge 58 which remains exposed as shown by the slanted hash marks. Accordingly, at least a portion of the top 54 of the thin conductive member 52 and a portion of the bottom 56 of thin conductive member 52 remain exposed. The electrosurgery blade may further include a conductive shaft 70 having a first end positioned between, and in contact with, opposing prong members of the thin conductive member 52 as shown in FIG. 2. Non-conductive coating 80 covers an opening in the thin conductive member 52 and the first end of the conductive shaft 70. The electrosurgery blade assembly 50 further includes a non-conductive tube member 90 having a hollow tubular shaped opening 92 and a slot 93 for positioning the non-conductive tube member 90 over a top of the electrosurgery blade and a conductive hollow tubular member 94 contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member 90. Conductive hollow tubular member 94 may include a conductive projection 96 extending from an end of the conductive hollow tubular member 94 that is contained within the non-conductive tube member 90. Argon gas that is supplied through the conductive hollow tubular member 94 and into the non-conductive tube member 90 is ionized and directed by the conductive projection 96 of the conductive hollow tubular member 94. Active conductive components of the electrosurgery blade assembly 50 of the present invention are represented by having slanted hash marks.

(59) FIG. 8 is an external side view showing internal components of another exemplary embodiment of the monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly 150 with argon beam capability of the present invention. Like electrosurgery blade assembly 50 shown in FIG. 7, electrosurgery blade assembly 150 includes the same electrosurgery blade previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-6, namely an electrosurgery blade having a thin conductive member 152, a non-conductive coating 180 which covers the thin conductive member 152 except for a portion of the lead cutting edge 158 which remains exposed as shown by the slanted hash marks. Accordingly, at least a portion of the top 154 of the thin conductive member 152 and a portion of the bottom 156 of thin conductive member 152 remain exposed. Further, as shown in this exemplary embodiment, there is an exposed area 159 of the thin conductive member 152 located at a top of the electrosurgery blade and extending further along the top of the electrosurgery blade from the portion of the thin conductive member 152 exposed at the lead sharp cutting end 158 of the thin conductive member 152. The electrosurgery blade may further include a conductive shall 170 having a first end positioned between, and in contact with, opposing prong members of the thin conductive member 152 as shown in FIG. 2. Non-conductive coating 180 covers an opening in the thin conductive member 152 and the first end of the conductive shaft 170. The electrosurgery blade assembly 150 further includes a non-conductive tube member 190 having a hollow tubular shaped opening 192 and a slot 193 for positioning the non-conductive tube member 190 over a top of the electrosurgery blade and a conductive hollow tubular member 194 contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member 190. A conductive projection 195 may extend from the exposed area 159 of the thin conductive member on the top of the electrosurgery blade that is contained within the non-conductive tube member 190. The exposed area 159 of the thin conductive member on the top of the electrosurgery blade is in contact with, or located very near, the conductive hollow tubular member 194 contained within the non-conductive tube member 190 and the conductive hollow tubular member 194 may also include a slot for positioning the conductive hollow tubular member 194 over a top of the electrosurgery blade. Argon gas that is supplied through the conductive hollow tubular member 194 and into the non-conductive rube member 190 is ionized and directed by the conductive projection 195 extending from the exposed area 159 of the thin conductive member of the electrosurgery blade. Alternatively, the conductive hollow tubular member 190 may include a conductive projection, like that previously described with reference to FIG. 7, that directs ionized gas. Active conductive components of the electrosurgery blade assembly 150 of the present invention are represented by having slanted hash marks.

(60) The exemplary embodiments of the monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention can perform argon plasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation. More specifically, the exemplary embodiments of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention are capable of 1) cutting tissue using the sharp cutting edge of the blade alone, 2) coagulating tissue using argon plasma alone, 3) simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by performing argon plasma assisted cutting using the sharp cutting edge of the blade to cut and the conductive tube contained within the non-conductive tube to introduce argon gas for argon plasma coagulation, and 4) coagulating tissue by performing argon plasma assisted coagulation using the conductive cutting edge of the blade to coagulate tissue at low power and the conductive tube contained within the non-conductive tube to introduce argon gas for argon plasma coagulation.

(61) The non-conductive coating of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example. The thin conductive member and conductive shaft of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention may comprise one or more hard conductive materials such as, for example, stainless steel, titanium, and tungsten. Like the non-conductive coating in the electrosurgery blade, the non-conductive tube member of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example. The conductive hollow tubular member of the electrosurgery blade assembly may comprise a hard metal such as, for example, stainless, titanium, and tungsten.

(62) The description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein shows various exemplary embodiments of the invention. These exemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended to teach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes and any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples are non-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, which similarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.

(63) Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the instant invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, can he varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters, or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of the instant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.

(64) Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonly accepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used by those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance where these meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification and the claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. If any other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, the specification will clearly state and define the special meaning.

(65) The following claims are included as exemplary claims only and are not intended to define or limit the scope of patentable subject matter contained within the provisional patent application.