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Publication Number
US-8992524-B1
Publication Date
2015-03-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electrosurgical Cobb elevator instrument, a soft tissue dissection and/or retraction tool, can be used with and without suction, and is capable of delivering monopolar or bipolar RF energy for cutting and coagulating soft tissue. The device is capable of footswitch or handswitch activation. The tool has a spoon-shaped edge that is preferably sharp to provide blunt dissection in addition to the energy-driven dissection. The instrument of the invention could be used in any procedure that requires soft tissue dissection and/or coagulation.
Core Innovation
The electrosurgical instrument includes an axially elongated body detachably connectable to an electrosurgical generator and having an active electrosurgical end. An internal path electrically connects the active electrosurgical end and the first end so that electrosurgical currents are supplied to patient tissue when connected to the generator. The active end extends into a spoon-shaped portion that comprises a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface with an edge extending from the spoon-shaped portion for elevating and displacing patient tissue from a bone when pulled along the bone.
The concave upper surface has a substantially smooth and curved shape adapted to direct the patient tissue away from the bone. An exposed groove recessed into the concave upper surface extends axially along the concave upper surface from the active electrosurgical end and terminates at an end position before reaching the edge extending from the spoon-shaped portion. The exposed groove extends axially with respect to a longitudinal axis, where its end position is located at a most distal position from the axially elongated body relative to a remainder of the groove.
A conduit extends through the axially elongated body from the first end to the second end, and the exposed groove is axially aligned with the conduit. The conduit and the exposed groove are capable of establishing suction at the concave upper surface of the spoon-shaped portion to remove materials that form during removal of the patient tissue. The instrument supports monopolar or bipolar electrosurgical modalities in which, for monopolar use, the spoon surfaces are insulated except for the exposed edge, and for bipolar use the spoon is axially split into two insulated segments forming bipolar active poles.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are supported by an electrosurgical Cobb elevator instrument configuration that includes both an active electrosurgical end and a suction-enabled spoon with an exposed axially extending groove. The coverage focuses on a detachable, generator-connected electrode body with a spoon-shaped tissue-elevating edge and an axially aligned suction path for removing materials that form during tissue removal.
Detachable electrosurgical generator-connected active end with internal current path
An axially elongated body detachably connectable to an electrosurgical generator and having an active electrosurgical end, with an internal path electrically connecting the active electrosurgical end and the first end so electrosurgical currents are supplied to patient tissue.
Spoon-shaped portion with concave/convex surfaces and bone-elevating edge
A spoon-shaped portion extending from the active electrosurgical end with a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface, and an edge extending from the spoon-shaped portion capable of elevating and displacing patient tissue from a bone when applied to a patient tissue edge and pulled along the bone.
Exposed axially extending groove recessed in the concave upper surface
The concave upper surface has a substantially smooth and curved shape adapted to direct patient tissue away from the bone, and an exposed groove recessed into the concave upper surface extends axially from the active electrosurgical end and terminates at an end position before reaching the edge.
Axially aligned conduit establishing suction at the concave upper surface
A conduit extending through the axially elongated body with the exposed groove axially aligned with the conduit, where the conduit and exposed groove are capable of establishing suction at the concave upper surface to remove materials that form during removal of the patient tissue.
Groove-to-edge positional constraints preventing groove intersection with distal edge
The exposed groove extends axially so that its end position is located at a most distal position relative to the remainder, and is positioned on the spoon-shaped portion between a distal edge portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the transverse width such that the exposed groove does not intersect the distal edge portion or the edge extending from the spoon-shaped portion.
Overall, the independent-claim coverage centers on a detachable generator-connected electrosurgical instrument with a spoon-shaped concave/convex tissue-elevating working edge, an exposed axially extending recessed groove, and an axially aligned conduit that establishes suction at the concave upper surface to remove materials formed during tissue removal, with additional refinements specifying monopolar/bipolar electrode arrangements and insulating/geometry features.
Stated Advantages
Reduced surgeon effort
Hemostasis control
Improved visualization
Reduced smoke exposure
Documented Applications
Soft-tissue dissection and coagulation in orthopedic/spinal procedures including spinal fusion and scoliosis
Soft-tissue dissection and coagulation in hip replacement
Soft-tissue dissection and coagulation in long bone fractures
Soft-tissue dissection and coagulation in knee replacement
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