Patent ID: 11864824
Assignee: MEDTRONIC ADVANCED ENERGY LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method of surgically cutting and sealing tissue comprising:
positioning a distal end region of an electrosurgical device at an operative site within a patient, the electrosurgical device including:
an outer shaft comprising a lumen and a distal end comprising a cutting edge forming an outer shaft window,
an inner shaft rotatably disposed within the lumen of the outer shaft, the inner shaft having a distal portion comprising an inner shaft cutter forming an inner shaft window,
the outer shaft and the inner shaft forming a fluid passage therebetween, the fluid passage being open to a first fluid distribution point located proximal the outer shaft window, and
first and second electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another and positioned at the distal end region;

cutting tissue at the operative site with the inner shaft cutter and the outer shaft cutting edge by moving the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft;
arranging the electrosurgical device in a closed position in which the inner shaft cutter is shielded;
supplying RF energy to the first and second electrodes while the electrosurgical device is in the closed position to apply the RF energy to tissue of the operative site; and
dispensing, during the step of supplying, fluid from the first fluid distribution point and across at least one of the first and second electrodes.