HK40017742B - Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with conductive contacts on top, bottom, sides and cutting edge of blade - Google Patents

Description

Superpolar electrosurgical blade and assembly having conductive contacts on the top, bottom, sides and cutting edge of the blade

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application relates to provisional patent application serial nos. 62/467,739 and 62/576,213 and their related patent application serial No. 15/913,569, filed on 6/3/2018. Further, the present application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/470,400, filed on 3/13/2017, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/576,222, filed on 24/10/2017, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a super-polar electrosurgical blade and a super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly that cut and coagulate using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode. The super polar electrosurgical blade is the same as disclosed in provisional application serial No. 62/467,739 and serial No. 62/576,213 and their related utility model serial No. 15/913,569 [ which includes a top thin elongated conductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member vertically aligned with each other and spaced apart from each other along their length, wherein each elongated conductive member (one of which functions as an active electrode and the other functions as a return electrode) includes opposing planar sides, a sharp cut end and an opposing non-cut end, and a non-conductive coating covering both opposing sides of the top thin elongated conductive member and the bottom thin elongated conductive member and a space therebetween where at least a portion of the cut ends of the top elongated conductive member and the bottom elongated conductive member and their opposing non-cut ends remain exposed ], but further includes an active conductive layer and a return conductive layer on each side of the non-conductive coating, the active conductive layer and the return conductive layer covering the top thin elongated conductive member and the bottom thin elongated conductive member. The return conductive layers on each side of the non-conductive coating may be joined by a return conductive layer extending over the non-conductive top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade, thereby providing a continuous return conductive layer extending from one non-conductive coating side of the super polar electrosurgical blade to the other non-conductive coating side of the super polar electrosurgical blade. Similarly, the active conductive layers on each side of the non-conductive coating may be joined by an active conductive layer that extends over the non-conductive top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade, providing a continuous active conductive layer that extends from one non-conductive coating side of the super polar electrosurgical blade to the other non-conductive coating side of the super polar electrosurgical blade. The super polar electrosurgical blade may also include a non-conductive support member/receptacle having two openings therein that are vertically aligned with one another, wherein a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member and the bottom thin elongated conductive member near the non-cutting ends thereof are contained within one of the two openings of the support member/receptacle, respectively, such that the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention may be seated and retained in an electrosurgical pencil. The super polar electrosurgical blades of the present invention are capable of cutting tissue with the sharp conductive cutting ends of the blade without the use of RF energy, and with the sharp non-conductive cutting ends/edges located between the sharp conductive cutting ends. Further, the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention is capable of coagulating tissue and/or enhancing tissue cutting by providing low power to the super polar electrosurgical blade and simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by cutting tissue with the sharp cutting end of the super polar electrosurgical blade and simultaneously by applying low power to the super polar electrosurgical blade to coagulate tissue.

The present invention also relates to an argon-beam capable super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly comprising the previously described super-polar electrosurgical blade, a non-conductive tubular member having a hollow tubular opening contained therein and a slot positioned over a portion of the electrosurgical blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubular member, wherein the conductive hollow tubular member comprises a conductive projection extending from one end of the conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member. The argon gas supplied into the non-conductive pipe member through the conductive hollow tubular member is ionized and guided by the conductive protrusion of the conductive hollow tubular member. The non-conductive coating is a continuous coating that also fills any space between the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members to form a sharp non-conductive cutting end of the super polar electrosurgical blade between the sharp conductive cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members. The conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member may also include a slot located over the top of the super polar electrosurgical blade. The argon beam capable super polar electrosurgical blade assembly provides argon plasma tissue coagulation and/or argon plasma assisted cutting and/or argon plasma assisted tissue coagulation depending on the location and configuration of the active and return electrodes and the active and return contact layers of the super polar electrosurgical blade.

Background

Electrosurgery uses an RF electrosurgical generator (also known as an electrosurgical unit or ESU) and a handpiece with electrodes to provide a high frequency, alternating Radio Frequency (RF) current input at various voltages to cut or coagulate biological tissue. The handle may be a monopolar instrument having one electrode, or a bipolar instrument having two electrodes. When using a monopolar instrument, a return electrode pad is attached to the patient and high frequency current flows from the generator to the monopolar instrument, through the patient to the patient's return electrode pad, and back to the generator. Monopolar electrosurgery is commonly used because of its versatility and effectiveness. However, the high power required to perform monopolar electrosurgery and the excessive heat generated by monopolar electrosurgery can result in excessive tissue damage and tissue necrosis because the return electrode positioned on the back of the patient results in a high voltage and high RF energy passing through the patient.

In bipolar electrosurgery, both active output and patient return functions occur at the surgical site because both the active and return electrodes are contained in a bipolar instrument. Thus, the path of the current is limited to the biological tissue located between the active electrode and the return electrode. While bipolar electrosurgery enables the use of lower voltages and less energy, and thereby reduces or eliminates the likelihood of tissue damage and sparking associated with monopolar electrosurgery, bipolar electrosurgery has limited ability to cut and coagulate areas of large bleeding.

Since surgical tools and devices currently available to surgeons require switching between cutting and coagulation modes during the surgical procedure, there is a need for a surgical device or tool that enables the surgeon or user to employ the best method of cutting and stopping bleeding at the surgical site, either together or simultaneously, in addition to being able to use them individually. An electrosurgical blade having a sharp edge for cutting and RF for coagulation would meet this need. The inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade using monopolar energy in bipolar mode has sharp cutting edges made of hard conductive material such as stainless steel, tungsten, etc. separated by sharp non-conductive cutting edges, all of which can be used to precisely cut tissue without the use of any RF energy. However, RF energy may also be used for coagulation with the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade. When the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade is powered with a low voltage for coagulation, the sharp cutting edge of the super polar electrosurgical blade may be used for cutting at the same time without the need to provide a higher voltage to the super polar electrosurgical blade for cutting. Thus, there is no need to switch to a cutting mode to perform cutting, but rather cutting and coagulation can be performed simultaneously at the low power level supplied by the generator.

There is also a need for a surgical tool or device that enables a surgeon or user to use low power monopolar energy in a bipolar mode while performing electrosurgery to avoid or eliminate current diversion, reduce or eliminate lateral damage to patient tissue, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of the procedure and reduce procedure time. The low power used to cut and coagulate using the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention greatly reduces the damage to the side tissue and the tissue will not stick to the super polar blade. Further, since the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade includes top and bottom conductive members/electrodes and active and return conductive contact layers, both attached to the generator, only a very small amount of patient tissue between or adjacent to the electrodes or conductive contact layers is included in the circuit, eliminating the risk that current transfer to other parts of the patient may occur in a monopolar system with the entire patient in the circuit.

It is also common to use argon beam coagulators during electrosurgery. In an Argon Beam Coagulator (ABC), plasma gas is applied to the tissue by a directed beam of ionized argon gas (plasma gas), which results in a uniform and shallow coagulation surface, preventing blood loss. In some cases, electrosurgery is often the best method of cutting, and argon beam coagulation is often the best method of hemostasis during surgery. Surgeons typically need to switch between argon beam coagulation and electrosurgical modes depending on what happens during surgery and what effect they need to achieve at specific nodes in the surgery, such as making incisions in tissue by cutting, or hemostasis at the surgical site. Accordingly, there is also a need for a surgical device or tool that enables a surgeon or user to perform electrosurgery using an electrosurgical blade and coagulate tissue using argon beam coagulation simultaneously or together at the surgical site without switching between argon coagulation and electrosurgery modes. Still further, since different approaches may have optimal results depending on the surgical procedure and circumstances that may present themselves during surgery, there is also a need for an electrosurgical device that enables a user or surgeon to select from a variety of different methods of tissue cutting and coagulation, either alone or in combination.

The argon beam capable super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention is capable of coagulating patient tissue using only argon plasma without contacting the patient tissue (i.e., non-contact argon beam coagulation). In this embodiment of the super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly, the exposed portion of the return electrode of the super-polar electrosurgical blade is positioned near the top of the electrosurgical blade such that it is aligned with the conductive hollow tubular member into which the argon gas is introduced, and the conductive projection extends from one end of the conductive tubular member such that a complete electrical circuit is formed to ionize the argon gas for argon plasma condensation. The inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly also enables the use of the sharp cutting edge (including both conductive and non-conductive materials) of the super polar blade to cut tissue of a patient without the use of any RF energy and without the use of any argon plasma. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention may also enhance the cutting of patient tissue using the sharp conductive cutting edge of the super polar blade by also supplying RF energy to the super polar electrosurgical blade. Further, the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly with sharp cutting edges and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon to simultaneously cut and coagulate by performing argon plasma assisted cutting and coagulation without switching between cutting and coagulating modes. For example, the sharp cutting edge of the super polar blade may be used for cutting without any RF energy while a conductive tube is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive tube and the conductive tube being contained in a non-conductive tube. In another example, low power may be applied to the super polar blade to coagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue, while a conductive tube is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive tube and the conductive tube being contained in a non-conductive tube.

Both the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade and the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly with argon beam capability may be used with an electrosurgical handle/pencil with or without smoke evacuation capability. The inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade and the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly with argon-beam capability enable a surgeon or user to improve the efficiency and accuracy of a procedure by performing different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue separately or simultaneously. In the case where tissue cutting and coagulation are performed simultaneously without switching between modes or methods, operating time is reduced and lateral damage to the tissue is reduced or eliminated. Further, the monopolar energy of using the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade and the inventive argon beam capable super polar electrosurgical blade assembly in bipolar mode substantially eliminates the risk of current transfer that may occur in monopolar systems. Furthermore, performing tissue cutting and coagulation and smoke evacuation simultaneously will protect the surgeon and staff from inhaling smoke and particles. It also enables the surgeon or user to more clearly view the surgical site to ensure accuracy during the procedure without the need to stop and switch modes to stop bleeding at the surgical site before the surgical site can be clearly seen.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a super polar electrosurgical blade using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode and comprising: a) top and bottom thin elongated conductive members vertically aligned with and spaced apart from each other along their length, wherein each of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members comprises opposing planar sides, a sharp cutting end for cutting and an opposing non-cutting end, b) a non-conductive coating covering both opposing planar sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the space therebetween to form opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade, wherein the cut ends of the thin elongated conductive members and their opposing non-cutting ends remain exposed, and c) a return conductive contact layer and an active conductive contact layer positioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade. During use, one of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members functions as an active electrode, while the other elongated conductive member functions as a return electrode. Further, the return conductive contact layers on the two opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade may be in communication with the non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member that functions as a return electrode, and the active conductive contact layers on the two opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade may be in communication with the non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member that functions as an active electrode. Further, the return conductive contact layers on the opposite non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade may be connected to each other by extending the return conductive contact layers over the top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade, and the active conductive contact layers on the opposite non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade may be connected to each other by extending the active conductive contact layers over the top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade.

The super polar electrosurgical blade may further comprise a non-conductive support member/receptacle having two openings positioned therein, the two openings being vertically aligned with each other, wherein a portion of each of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members near its non-cutting end is contained within one of the two openings of the support member/receptacle, respectively, such that the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention may be positioned in and connected to an electrosurgical pencil. The non-conductive support member may have different configurations and shapes depending on whether the super-polar electrosurgical blade is used in a retractable or non-retractable electrosurgical pencil.

The top and bottom thin elongated conductive members may be formed from a single thin conductive member having vertically aligned top and bottom elongated conductive members spaced apart from each other along their lengths, each conductive member having a single sharp cut end at one end and a non-cut end at its opposite end, wherein the non-cut ends of the conductive members are joined together. A non-conductive coating may then be applied to the single thin conductive member (which includes the top and bottom elongated conductive members and the space therebetween) to form the electrosurgical blade, wherein at least a portion of the cut ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members and their joined opposing non-cut ends remain exposed and uncovered by the non-conductive coating. The joined non-cut ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members may then be removed to create exposed and unconnected non-cut ends for the top and bottom elongated conductive members, respectively, which may be inserted into non-conductive support members/receptacles having two openings, respectively (as described above).

One advantage of forming the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade using a single thin conductive member having vertically aligned top and bottom elongated conductive members spaced apart from each other along their length, having a single sharp cutting end at one end and a joined non-cutting end at its opposite end, wherein the joined ends are subsequently removed to create the single non-cutting end, is that it facilitates construction and production of the super polar electrosurgical blade by providing an integral component of the individual elements used to form the blade, thereby improving the uniformity and precision of the blade. Another advantage of this formation of a super polar electrosurgical blade is that it increases the efficiency of blade production and reduces production costs. Yet another advantage of this type of blade forming the super polar electrosurgical blade for the present invention is that it enhances the strength of the blade and the proper functioning of the blade.

In one exemplary embodiment of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade, the non-conductive coating covers at least a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member and at least a portion of the bottom thin elongated conductive member. The non-conductive coating may be a continuous coating that also fills any space between the sharp cut ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members. In another exemplary embodiment of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade, a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member top is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating on top of the electrosurgical blade and a portion of the bottom thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating on bottom of the electrosurgical blade. The inventive ultra-polar electrosurgical blade may have a sharp cutting edge comprised of sharp cutting ends of a top thin elongated conductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member separated by a sharp non-cutting end comprising a non-conductive coating.

The top and bottom thin elongated conductive members (and the single thin conductive member from which the top and bottom elongated members may be formed) may comprise a hard metal such as, for example, stainless steel, titanium, and/or tungsten. The non-conductive coating and the non-conductive support member of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade may be comprised of a ceramic material. The return contact layer and the active contact layer are conductive layers and may comprise stainless steel, copper and/or tungsten.

The inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade using monopolar energy in bipolar mode has sharp cutting edges made of hard conductive material such as stainless steel, tungsten, etc. separated by sharp non-conductive cutting edges, all of which can be used to precisely cut tissue without the use of any RF energy. However, RF energy may also be used with the super polar electrosurgical blades of the present invention for performing tissue coagulation and/or using the super polar electrosurgical blades to enhance tissue cutting. When the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention is powered with low voltage for coagulation, the sharp cutting edge of the super polar electrosurgical blade can be used for cutting at the same time without the need to provide a higher voltage to the super polar electrosurgical blade to perform the cutting. Thus, there is no need to switch to a cutting mode to perform cutting, but rather cutting and coagulation can be performed simultaneously at the low power level supplied by the generator.

Very low power is required for cutting and coagulating with the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade, thereby greatly reducing trauma to the patient's lateral tissue. The cutting is performed using the sharp cutting edge/tip of the super polar blade and coagulation may be performed using any conductive member or conductive contact layer that comprises a portion of the blade. For example, the ultra-polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention may be supplied with low power, and the exposed sharp conductive cutting end of the elongated conductive member covered by the non-conductive coating may be used to coagulate tissue. In another example, low power may be supplied to the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade and tissue coagulation may be performed by tilting the sides of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade so that the active and return conductive layers on the non-conductive coating of the super polar electrosurgical blade contact the patient tissue to seal small blood vessels and prevent bleeding. Further, since the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade includes an active conductive member/electrode and a return conductive member/electrode, both attached to the generator, only a very small amount of patient tissue between or adjacent to the electrodes is included in the circuit, thereby eliminating the risk that current transfer to other parts of the patient may occur in a monopolar system with the entire patient in circuit.

The invention also relates to a super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly with argon beam capability. The present invention is a super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly comprising the above-described super-polar electrosurgical blade and further comprising a non-conductive tubular member having a hollow tubular opening contained therein and a slot positioned over a top portion of the electrosurgical blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubular member. In one exemplary embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention, a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member top is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating located on top of the super polar electrosurgical blade and contained within the non-conductive tubular member, and the super polar electrosurgical blade assembly further comprises a conductive tab extending from the conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member. In another exemplary embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention, the non-conductive coating covers the top of the top thin elongated conductive member between the conductive hollow tubular member and the exposed cutting end of the top thin elongated conductive member, and the super polar electrosurgical blade assembly further comprises a conductive tab extending from an end of the conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member.

The conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member may include a slot that, similar to the slot in the non-conductive tubular member, is also positioned over at least a portion of the top of the super polar electrosurgical blade. Similar to the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members of the super polar electrosurgical blade, the conductive hollow tubular member and the conductive projections may comprise a hard metal such as, for example, stainless steel, titanium, and/or tungsten. Further, the non-conductive tubular member may be comprised of a ceramic material, similar to the non-conductive coating of the super polar electrosurgical blade.

The argon beam capable super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention is capable of coagulating patient tissue using only argon plasma without contacting the patient tissue (i.e., non-contact argon beam coagulation). In this embodiment of the super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly, the exposed portion of the return electrode of the super-polar electrosurgical blade is positioned near the top of the electrosurgical blade such that it is aligned with the conductive hollow tubular member into which the argon gas is introduced, and the conductive projection extends from one end of the conductive tubular member such that a complete electrical circuit is formed to ionize the argon gas for argon plasma condensation. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention is also capable of cutting tissue of a patient using the sharp cutting edge (including both conductive and non-conductive materials) of the super polar blade without using any RF energy and without using any argon plasma. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention may also enhance the cutting of patient tissue using the sharp conductive cutting edge of the super polar blade by also supplying RF energy to the super polar electrosurgical blade. Further, the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly with sharp cutting edges and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon to simultaneously cut and coagulate by performing argon plasma assisted cutting and coagulation without switching between cutting and coagulating modes. For example, the sharp cutting edge of the super polar blade may be used for cutting without any RF energy while a conductive tube is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive tube and the conductive tube being contained in a non-conductive tube. In another example, low power may be applied to the super polar blade to coagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue, while a conductive tube is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive tube and the conductive tube being contained in a non-conductive tube.

Both the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade and the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly with argon beam capability may be used with an electrosurgical handle/pencil with or without smoke evacuation capability. The inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade and the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly with argon-beam capability enable a surgeon or user to improve the efficiency and accuracy of a procedure by performing different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue separately or simultaneously. In the case where tissue cutting and coagulation are performed simultaneously without switching between modes or methods, operating time is reduced and lateral damage to the tissue is reduced or eliminated. Further, the monopolar energy of using the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade and the inventive argon beam capable super polar electrosurgical blade assembly in bipolar mode substantially eliminates the risk of current transfer that may occur in monopolar systems. Furthermore, performing tissue cutting and coagulation and smoke evacuation simultaneously will protect the surgeon and staff from inhaling smoke and particles. It also enables the surgeon or user to more clearly view the surgical site to ensure accuracy during the procedure without the need to stop and switch modes to stop bleeding at the surgical site before the surgical site can be clearly seen.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a thin conductive member having a top thin elongated conductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member used to make a super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a thin conductive member having a top thin elongated conductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member used to make the ultra-polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates what the present invention's super polar electrosurgical blade will look like at an intermediate stage in the process of making the super polar electrosurgical blade and illustrates the exemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member of FIG. 1 coated with a non-conductive coating, except for the cut ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the joined non-cut ends, where the non-conductive coating is represented by light-shaded thin strip markings and/or thin strip markings made up of unconnected points;

fig. 4 is a front end view of a support member/receptacle/connector member that retains a portion of the unconnected non-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade to facilitate connection of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade to an electrosurgical pencil.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a fragmentary intermediate stage blade of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 with the thin conductive member shown in phantom;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a fragmentary intermediate stage blade of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 with the thin conductive member shown in phantom;

FIG. 7 is an exterior side view showing a fragmentary intermediate stage blade of the super polar electrosurgical blade shown in FIG. 3 with the joining portions of the non-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members removed and the top and bottom elongated conductive members covered by the non-conductive coating represented by dashed lines;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a fragmentary intermediate stage blade of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade shown in FIG. 7 with the top elongated conductive member covered by the non-conductive coating represented by dashed lines;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a partial intermediate stage blade of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade shown in FIG. 7 with the bottom elongated conductive member covered by the non-conductive coating represented by dashed lines;

FIG. 10 is a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a support member/connector member into which the unconnected non-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members of the super polar electrosurgical blade are placed so that the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention may be connected, disconnected or removed from an electrosurgical pencil;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the support member/connector member shown in FIG. 10, the drawing showing the electrically conductive, unconnected, non-cutting end of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention retained within an opening in the support member/connector member;

FIG. 12 is a partial top view of another partial broken intermediate stage blade of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention showing a sharp cutting end beveled on both sides to form a sharp cutting tip;

FIGS. 13-14 are opposite exterior side views illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention made from the partial intermediate stage blade embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5-9;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention shown in FIGS. 13-16;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are opposing perspective side views of the exemplary embodiment of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade illustrated in FIGS. 13-16 to further reveal the shape of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade;

20-21 illustrate different views of an exemplary non-conductive support member/receptacle/connector member that includes a portion of the super-polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention when used in a non-telescoping electrosurgical pencil;

22-23 illustrate different views of an exemplary non-conductive support member/receptacle/connector member that includes a portion of the super-polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention when used in a telescoping electrosurgical pencil;

FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention having argon beam capability for providing argon plasma assisted coagulation;

FIG. 25 is a side perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention having argon beam capability for providing argon plasma assisted coagulation with a return electrode extending along a portion of the bottom of the super polar blade; and

fig. 26 is a partial perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention having argon beam capability capable of providing argon plasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade and argon-beam capable super polar electrosurgical blade assembly improve the efficiency and accuracy of the procedure by enabling the surgeon or user to perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue, either separately or simultaneously. The super polar electrosurgical blades of the present invention are capable of cutting tissue with the sharp conductive cutting ends of the blade without the use of RF energy, and with the sharp non-conductive cutting ends/edges located between the sharp conductive cutting ends. Further, the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention is capable of coagulating and/or enhancing tissue cutting by providing very low power, such as 5 to 15 watts, to the super polar electrosurgical blade and simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by cutting tissue with the sharp cutting end of the super polar electrosurgical blade and simultaneously applying very low power to the super polar electrosurgical blade to coagulate the tissue.

The inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly with sharp cutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon to perform cutting and coagulation without switching between cutting and coagulation modes. The above-described super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly also enables a user or surgeon to select from a variety of different tissue cutting and coagulating methods, either alone or in combination, as the different methods may have optimal results depending on the surgical procedure and environment present themselves during surgery. The argon beam capable super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention is capable of coagulating patient tissue using only argon plasma without contacting the patient tissue (i.e., non-contact argon beam coagulation). The inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly also enables the use of the sharp cutting edge (including both conductive and non-conductive materials) of the super polar blade to cut tissue of a patient without the use of any RF energy and without the use of any argon plasma. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly of the present invention may also enhance the cutting of patient tissue using the sharp conductive cutting edge of the super polar blade by also supplying RF energy to the super polar electrosurgical blade.

Further, the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly with sharp cutting edges and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon to simultaneously cut and coagulate by performing argon plasma assisted cutting and coagulation without switching between cutting and coagulating modes. For example, the sharp cutting edge of the super polar blade may be used for cutting without any RF energy while a conductive tube is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive tube and the conductive tube being contained in a non-conductive tube. In another example, low power may be applied to the super polar blade to coagulate tissue using the active electrode and the return electrode or the active conductive layer and the return conductive layer, or to enhance cutting of tissue using the active electrode and the return electrode, while a conductive tube is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive tube and the conductive tube being contained in a non-conductive tube.

The identification of elements/features associated with the labels shown in the figures is as follows:

10. incomplete intermediate stage blade of super-polar electrosurgical blade

11. Thin conductive member

12. Top thin elongated conductive member

14. Thin and elongated conductive member at the bottom

16. An elongated space between the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members

18 Opposing planar sides (of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members)

22. Sharpened cutting end of thin elongated conductive member at top

24. Sharp cutting end of thin elongated conductive member at bottom

26. Opposite non-cut ends of a thin elongated conductive member at the top

28. Opposite non-cut ends of a thin elongated conductive member at the bottom

30. Portions of the thin conductive member joining the opposing non-cut ends 26 and 28 of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members

31. Thin conductive member

32. Top thin elongated conductive member

34. Thin and elongated conductive member at the bottom

36. An elongated space between the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members

38 Opposing planar sides (of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members)

42. Sharpened cutting end of thin elongated conductive member at top

44. Sharp cutting end of thin and long conducting member at bottom

46. Opposite non-cut ends of a thin elongated conductive member at the top

48. Opposite non-cut ends of a thin elongated conductive member at the bottom

50. Portions of the thin conductive member joining the opposing non-cut ends 46 and 48 of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members

60. Non-conductive coating/housing

62. Non-conductive support member/socket/connection member

63 Rounded top (of non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member)

65 Circular base (of non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member)

64. Two vertically aligned openings

66. Top of thin elongated conductive member

68. Bottom of thin elongated conductive member

70. Sharp non-conductive cutting tip

72. Non-conductive support/receptacle/connection member for a super polar telescopic electrosurgical pencil

73 Circular top (for non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member of super polar telescopic electrosurgical pencil)

74. Two vertically aligned openings

80. The invention relates to a super-polar electrosurgical blade

82 Relatively non-conductive side (of the super-polar electrosurgical blade 80)

84. Return conductive layer

86. Active conductive layer

100. Superpolar electrosurgical blade assembly

120. Non-conductive pipe member

122 Hollow tubular opening (of non-conductive tubular member)

124 Slots (of non-conductive tubular members)

130. Conductive hollow tubular member

132. Conductive protrusion

200. Super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly

220. Non-conductive pipe member

222 Hollow tubular opening (of non-conductive tubular member)

224 Slots (of non-conductive tubular members)

230. Conductive hollow tubular member

232. Conductive protrusion

300. Superpolar electrosurgical blade assembly

320. Non-conductive pipe member

322 Hollow tubular opening (of non-conductive tubular member)

324 Slots (of non-conductive tubular members)

330. Conductive hollow tubular member

332. Conductive protrusion

334 Slots (of electrically conductive hollow tubular members)

Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a thin conductive member 11, the thin conductive member 11 having a top thin elongated conductive member 12 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 14 used to make a nonpolar electrosurgical blade 10 of the present invention. The thin conductive member 11 comprises a top thin elongated conductive member 12 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 14, which are vertically aligned with each other and separated from each other along their length by a space 16. The top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 each have opposing planar sides 18, sharply cut ends 22, 24, and opposing non-cut ends 26, 28, with the opposing non-cut ends 26, 28 joined by a portion 30 of the thin conductive member 11. In one exemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member 11, the sharp cut ends 22, 24 of the thin conductive member 11 form an angle X with respect to a plane horizontally aligned with the bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member 14, where X is an angle of sixty degrees.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a thin conductive member 31, the thin conductive member 31 having a top thin elongated conductive member 32 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 34 for making the ultra-polar electrosurgical blade 10 of the present invention. Similar to the thin conductive member 11 shown in fig. 1, the thin conductive member 31 includes a top thin elongated conductive member 32 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 34, which are vertically aligned with each other and separated from each other along their lengths by a space 36. The top and bottom elongated conductive members 32, 34 each have opposing planar sides 38, sharp cut ends 42, 44, and opposing non-cut ends 46, 48, wherein the opposing non-cut ends 46, 48 are joined by a portion 50 of the thin conductive member 31. As shown in fig. 2, the sharp cut end 42 of the top thin elongated conductive member 32 extends far beyond the sharp cut end 44 of the bottom thin elongated conductive member 34, and the angle of the sharp cut end 44 relative to the bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member 34 is steeper than the angle of the sharp cut end 42 relative to the bottom of the top thin elongated conductive member 32. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members of the super polar electrosurgical blade may comprise any number of shapes and/or configurations depending on the type and environment of surgical procedure being performed using the super polar electrosurgical blade.

Fig. 3 illustrates what the inventive ultra-polar electrosurgical blade looks like at an intermediate stage in the process of manufacturing the ultra-polar electrosurgical blade, and shows an exemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member 11 of fig. 1, the thin conductive member 11 being coated with a non-conductive coating 60 in addition to the cut ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14 and the joined non-cut ends 26, 28, 30, wherein the non-conductive coating 60 is represented by light-shaded thin-strip markings and/or thin-strip markings made up of unconnected points. Fig. 5 is a top view of the partial intermediate stage blade 10 of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade shown in fig. 3 with the thin conductive member 11 indicated in phantom lines, and fig. 6 is a bottom view of the partial intermediate stage blade 10 of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade shown in fig. 3 with the thin conductive member 11 indicated in phantom lines. As can be seen in fig. 3 and 5-6, the non-conductive coating 60 covers the thin conductive member 11, except for the following: the sharp cut ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14, a portion of the top 66 of the top elongated conductive member 12, a portion of the bottom 68 of the bottom elongated conductive member 14, the non-cut ends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14, and the portion 30 of the thin conductive member 11 joining the non-cut ends 26, 28.

As shown in fig. 7, after the non-conductive coating 60 is applied to the thin conductive member 11 and the coating 60 is applied, the portion 30 joining the non-cutting ends 26, 28 is removed to provide an intermediate stage super polar electrosurgical blade 10 having unconnected conductive non-cutting ends 26, 28 supported by a support member/socket/connection member 62, which support member/socket/connection member 64 facilitates connection of the super polar electrosurgical blade 10 of the present invention with an electrosurgical pencil. Fig. 7 is an external side view showing a partial, mid-stage blade 10 of the super polar electrosurgical blade shown in fig. 3, with the joining portions 30 of the non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 removed, and with most of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 covered by the non-conductive overlay 60 represented in phantom. Advantages of using a single thin conductive member 11 to form the inventive super-polar electrosurgical blade include: 1) facilitating the construction and production of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade by providing an integral component for producing a separate element of the blade thereby improving the consistency and precision of the blade, 2) improving blade production efficiency and reducing production costs, and 3) enhancing the strength of the blade and enhancing proper functioning of the blade, the single thin conductive member 11 having vertically aligned top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 spaced apart from each other along their length, having a separate sharp cutting end 22, 24 at one end and a joined non-cutting end 26, 28, 30 at its opposite end, wherein the joined ends are subsequently removed to produce the separate non-cutting ends 26, 28.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the partial intermediate stage blade 10 of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade shown in fig. 7 with the top elongated conductive member 12 covered by the non-conductive coating 60 represented by dashed lines. A portion of the top 66 of the top elongated conductive member 12 is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating 60 on top of the super polar electrosurgical blade. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the partial intermediate stage blade 10 of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade shown in fig. 7, wherein the bottom elongated conductive member 14 covered by the non-conductive coating 60 is represented by dashed lines. A portion of the bottom 68 of the bottom elongated conductive member 14 is exposed between portions of the non-conductive cladding 60 on the bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade.

Further, as shown in fig. 7, the non-conductive coating is a continuous coating that fills the elongated spaces 16 between the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 and any spaces between the sharp cut ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14. The space between the sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 filled with the non-conductive coating 60 forms a sharp non-conductive cutting end 70, which sharp non-conductive cutting end 70 is positioned between the sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24 of the super polar electrosurgical blade.

Fig. 10 is a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a support member/receptacle/connector member 62 into which the unconnected non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 of the super polar electrosurgical blade are placed so that the super polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention can be connected, disconnected or removed from an electrosurgical pencil. The support member/receptacle/connector member 62 includes two vertically aligned openings 64 so that the electrically conductive non-cutting ends 26, 28 can be retained in the two openings, respectively. Fig. 11 shows an end view of the support member/connector member 62 shown in fig. 10, which shows the electrically conductive unconnected non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the super-polar electrosurgical blade of the present invention held within openings 64 in the support member/receptacle/connector member 62.

Fig. 12 shows a partial top view of another partial, incomplete intermediate stage blade 10 of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade showing the sharp cutting ends beveled on both sides to form a sharp cutting tip 22.

Fig. 13-14 are opposing exterior side views illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade 80 of the present invention made from the partial intermediate stage blade embodiment 10 shown in fig. 3 and 5-9. The non-conductive overlay 60 covers the two opposing planar sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the space therebetween (as shown in fig. 3 and 7) to form the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80, wherein the cut ends 22, 24 (not shown because they are covered by the non-conductive overlay 60) of the thin elongated conductive members and their opposing non-cut ends 26, 28 remain exposed. Both return conductive layer 84 and active conductive layer 86 are positioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. During use, one of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members functions as an active electrode (see 22) and the other elongated conductive member functions as a return electrode (see 24). Further, the return conductive layers 84 on the two opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 can communicate with the non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member (see 28) that functions as a return electrode, and the active conductive contact layers 86 on the two opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 can communicate with the non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member (see 26) that functions as an active electrode.

As shown in fig. 13, the end of the return conductive layer 84 on the non-conductive side 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 is located near the cutting end 22 of the thin elongated conductive member that functions as the active electrode. The return conductive layer 84 extends diagonally across the non-conductive side 82 of the blade 80 and the other end of the return conductive layer 84 communicates with the non-cut end of the thin elongated conductive member (see fig. 28) which functions as the return electrode. An active conductive layer 86 located on the conductive side 82 of the blade 80 is positioned below the return conductive layer 84 and in vertical alignment with the return conductive layer 84, and one end of the active conductive layer 86 is located near the cut end 24 of the thin elongated conductive member, which cut end 24 functions as the return electrode. The other end of active conductive layer 86 terminates near the bottom of blade 80 near the middle portion of blade 80. As shown in fig. 14, the return conductive layer 84 and the active conductive layer 86 on the opposite non-conductive side 82 of the blade 80 are diametrically opposed to their return conductive layer configuration and active conductive layer configuration in fig. 13. The path/configuration of the active conductive layer 86 on the opposite non-conductive side 82, not shown, is shown in phantom in fig. 13, while the path/configuration of the return conductive layer 84 on the opposite non-conductive side 82, not shown, is shown in phantom in fig. 14.

Further, the return conductive contact layers 84 on the opposite non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 can be connected to each other by extending the return conductive contact layers 84 over the top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80, and the active conductive contact layers 86 on the opposite non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 can be connected to each other by extending the active conductive contact layers 86 over the top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. Fig. 15 is a top view and fig. 16 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade 80 shown in fig. 13 and of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade 80 shown in fig. 13. Fig. 13 and 15 show return conductive layers 84 connected to each other by extending over the top of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80, while fig. 14 and 16 show active conductive layers 86 connected to each other by extending over the bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80.

Fig. 17 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 of the present invention shown in fig. 13-16. Fig. 17 clearly shows the sharp electrically conductive cut ends 22, 24, which function as the active and return electrodes, respectively, and the sharp electrically non-conductive cut end 74, which is formed by the non-conductive coating 60 located between the sharp electrically conductive cut ends 22, 24. Fig. 17 also clearly shows a portion of the top portion 66 of the top elongated conductive member 12 exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating 60 on top of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 and communicating with the sharp cutting end 22. Both the return conductive layer 84 and the active conductive layer 86 are located on each of the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super-polar electrosurgical blade.

Fig. 18 and 19 are opposing side views of the exemplary embodiment of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade 80 shown in fig. 13-16 to further disclose the shape of the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade. The non-conductive overlay 60 covers the two opposing planar sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the space therebetween to form the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80, wherein the cut ends 22, 24 of the thin elongated conductive members and their opposing non-cut ends 26, 28 remain exposed. Both return conductive layer 84 and active conductive layer 86 are positioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. During use, one of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members functions as an active electrode (see 22) and the other elongated conductive member functions as a return electrode (see 24). The return conductive layers 84 on the two opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 communicate with the non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member (see 28) that functions as a return electrode, and the active conductive layers 86 on the two opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 communicate with the non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member (see 26) that functions as an active electrode.

Fig. 20-21 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive support member/receptacle/connector member 62 that comprises a portion of a super polar electrosurgical blade 80 of the present invention when used in a non-telescoping electrosurgical pencil, and fig. 22-23 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive support member/receptacle/connector member 72 that comprises a portion of a super polar electrosurgical blade 80 of the present invention when used in a telescoping electrosurgical pencil. The non-conductive support member/receptacle/connection member 62 includes a circular top 63, a circular bottom 65, and two vertically aligned openings 64 for receiving the non-cut ends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 and/or a portion of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 near the non-cut ends 26, 28. The non-conductive support member/receptacle/connection member 72 includes a circular top 73 and two vertically aligned openings 74 for receiving the non-cut ends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 and/or a portion of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 near the non-cut ends 26, 28.

Fig. 24 illustrates a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 100 of the present invention, the super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 100 having argon beam capability for providing argon plasma assisted coagulation. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 100 includes the previously described super polar electrosurgical blade 80 and further includes a non-conductive tube member 120, the non-conductive tube member 120 having a hollow tubular opening 122 and a slot 124, the hollow tubular opening 122 being contained in the non-conductive tube member 120 and the slot 124 being positioned over the top of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. The super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly 100 also includes a conductive hollow tubular member 130, the conductive hollow tubular member 130 being contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubular member 120. The conductive hollow tubular member 130 may also include a conductive protrusion 132. The sharp cutting edge (which includes the conductive cutting ends 22, 24 separated by the sharp non-conductive cutting end 70), or a portion of the sharp cutting edge, may be used for cutting without RF energy while introducing argon gas through the conductive hollow tubular member 130 contained within the non-conductive tubular member 120 while activating the conductive hollow tubular member 130, and the conductive protrusions 132 may direct ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Alternatively, low power may be applied to the super polar blade 80 to coagulate tissue (using the conductive cutting edges 22, 24 acting as active and return electrodes or return conductive layers 84 and 86) or to enhance cutting of tissue (using the conductive cutting edges 22, 24 acting as active and return electrodes), while introducing argon gas through the conductive hollow tubular member 130 contained within the non-conductive tubular member 120 while activating the conductive hollow tubular member 130, and the conductive protrusions 132 may direct ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

Fig. 25 is a side perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 200 of the present invention having argon beam capability for providing an argon plasma to assist coagulation, with a return electrode extending along a portion of the bottom of the super polar blade 80. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 200 includes the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 previously described, and further includes a non-conductive tube member 220, the non-conductive tube member 220 having a hollow tubular opening 222 and a slot 224, the hollow tubular opening 222 being contained in the non-conductive tube member 220, and the slot 224 being positioned over the top of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. The super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly 200 also includes a conductive hollow tubular member 230, the conductive hollow tubular member 230 being contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubular member 220. The conductive hollow tubular member 230 may also include a conductive protrusion 232. The sharp cutting edge (which includes the conductive cutting ends 22, 24 separated by the sharp non-conductive cutting end 70), or a portion of the sharp cutting edge, may be used for cutting without RF energy while introducing argon gas through the conductive hollow tubular member 230 contained within the non-conductive tubular member 220 while activating the conductive hollow tubular member 230, and the conductive protrusion 232 may direct ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Alternatively, low power may be applied to the super polar blade 80 to coagulate tissue (using the conductive cutting edges 22, 24 acting as active and return electrodes or using the return conductive layer 84 and the active conductive layer 86) or to enhance the cutting of tissue (using the conductive cutting edges 22, 24 acting as active and return electrodes) while introducing argon gas through the conductive hollow tubular member 230 contained within the non-conductive tubular member 220 while activating the conductive hollow tubular member 230, and the conductive protrusions 232 may direct ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of the tissue to assist with the cutting and/or coagulation with the argon plasma.

Fig. 26 is a partial perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300 of the present invention having argon beam capabilities capable of providing argon plasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300 includes the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 previously described, and further includes a non-conductive tube member 320, the non-conductive tube member 320 having a hollow tubular opening 322 and a slot 224, the hollow tubular opening 322 being contained in the non-conductive tube member 320, and the slot 324 being positioned over the top of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. The super-polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300 further includes a conductive hollow tubular member 330, the conductive hollow tubular member 330 being contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubular member 320. The conductive hollow tubular member 330 may also include a conductive protrusion 332. In this embodiment of the super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300, the exposed portion of the return electrode 22 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 is positioned near the top of the electrosurgical blade 80 comprised of the non-conductive cladding 60 such that it is aligned with the conductive hollow tubular member 330 through which argon gas is introduced, and the conductive projection 332 extends from one end of the conductive tubular member 332 such that a complete electrical circuit is formed to ionize the argon gas for argon plasma condensation. The present invention super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300 is also capable of cutting tissue of a patient using only the sharp cutting edges of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 (including the conductive cutting ends 22, 24 separated by the sharp non-conductive cutting end 70) without using any RF energy and without using any argon plasma. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300 of the present invention may also enhance the cutting of patient tissue using the sharp conductive cutting edge of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 by also supplying RF energy to the exposed portion of the active electrode 24 of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80. Further, the inventive super polar electrosurgical blade assembly 300 with sharp cutting edges and argon beam capability simultaneously cuts and coagulates by enabling a user or surgeon to perform argon plasma assisted cutting and coagulation without switching between cutting and coagulation modes. For example, the sharp cutting edge of the super polar electrosurgical blade 80 may be used for cutting without any RF energy, while the conductive hollow tubular member 330 is activated and directed via the conductive protrusion 332 to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue, the argon gas being introduced through the conductive hollow tubular member 330, and the conductive hollow tubular member 330 being contained in the non-conductive tube member 320. In another example, low power may be applied to the super polar blade 80 to coagulate tissue (using the conductive cutting edges 22, 24 acting as return and active electrodes or using the return and active conductive layers 84, 86) or to enhance cutting of tissue (using the conductive cutting edges 22, 24 acting as return and active electrodes) while argon gas is introduced through and the conductive hollow tubular member 330 contained within the non-conductive tube member 320 is activated and directed via the conductive protrusion 332 to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

The figures and description herein of exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrate 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 exemplary embodiments and modes of implementation as well as any equivalent modes or embodiments known or obvious to those skilled in the art. Moreover, all included examples are non-limiting illustrations of exemplary embodiments and modes that similarly benefit from any equivalent mode or embodiment known or apparent to those of skill in the art.

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

It is the applicants' intention that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the applicable arts, unless otherwise indicated. To the extent that these meanings are different, the words and phrases in the specification and claims should be given the broadest possible generic meaning. If any other special meaning is used for any word or phrase, the specification will expressly state and define that special meaning.

Claims (15)

1. A super polar electrosurgical blade, the super polar electrosurgical blade comprising:

a top thin elongated conductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member vertically aligned with each other and spaced apart from each other along more than half of their length by a first width and spaced apart from each other along less than half of their length by a second width that is greater to form a space between the top thin elongated conductive member and the bottom thin elongated conductive member, wherein each of the top thin elongated conductive member and the bottom thin elongated conductive member comprises opposing planar sides, a sharply cut end, and an opposing non-cut end;

a non-conductive coating covering opposite sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and filling the space between the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members having the first width to form opposite non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade, wherein at least a portion of the sharp cut ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the opposite non-cut ends thereof remain exposed; and

a return conductive contact layer and an active conductive contact layer both positioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade, wherein the return conductive contact layers on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade are connected to each other by extending the return conductive contact layer over a top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade and the active conductive contact layers on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the super polar electrosurgical blade are connected to each other by extending the active conductive contact layer over a top or bottom of the super polar electrosurgical blade.

2. The super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 1, wherein the return conductive contact layer is in communication with the non-cutting end of one of the top or bottom thin elongated conductive members and the active conductive contact layer is in communication with the non-cutting end of the other of the top or bottom thin elongated conductive members.

3. The super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 1, further comprising a non-conductive support member having two openings therein, the openings being vertically aligned with one another, wherein a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member is contained within one of the two openings and the bottom thin elongated conductive member is contained within the other of the two openings.

4. The super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive coating covers at least a portion of a top portion of the top thin elongated conductive member and at least a portion of a bottom portion of the bottom thin elongated conductive member.

5. The super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive coating is a continuous coating that also fills a portion of the space between the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members to form sharp non-conductive cutting ends between the sharp cutting ends.

6. The super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating on the top portion of the electrosurgical blade and at least a portion of the bottom thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating on the bottom portion of the electrosurgical blade.

7. The super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members comprise a hard metal and the non-conductive coating comprises a ceramic material.

8. A super polar electrosurgical blade assembly comprising the super polar electrosurgical blade of claim 1 and further comprising:

a non-conductive tubular member having a hollow tubular opening and a slot contained therein, wherein the slot is positioned over a top of the super polar electrosurgical blade; and

a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubular member.

9. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly according to claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating that are on top of the super polar electrosurgical blade and contained within the non-conductive tubular member, and further comprising a conductive protrusion extending from the conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member.

10. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly according to claim 8, wherein the non-conductive coating covers a top portion of the top thin elongated conductive member between the conductive hollow tubular member and the exposed cut end of the top thin elongated conductive member, and further comprising a conductive protrusion extending from an end of the conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tubular member.

11. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a non-conductive support member having two openings therein, the openings being vertically aligned with one another, wherein a portion of the top thin elongated conductive member is contained within one of the two openings and the bottom thin elongated conductive member is contained within the other of the two openings.

12. The ultra-polar electrosurgical blade assembly of claim 8, wherein the non-conductive coating is a continuous coating that also fills a portion of the space between the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members to form sharp non-conductive cutting ends between the sharp cutting ends.

13. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly according to claim 8, wherein the return conductive contact layer is in communication with the non-cutting end of one of the top or bottom thin elongated conductive members and the active conductive contact layer is in communication with the non-cutting end of the other of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members.

14. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly according to claim 8, wherein the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the conductive hollow tubular member comprise a hard metal.

15. The super polar electrosurgical blade assembly according to claim 8, wherein the non-conductive coating and the non-conductive tube member comprise a ceramic material.