Patent ID: 6306135
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An electrosurgical electrode for performing an EFL procedure on the forehead of a human patient wherein under endoscopic visualization an electrode inserted above the brow is forced through a space formed between the scalp and the skull until reaching a muscle extending over the brow and severing the muscle with electrosurgical currents supplied by electrosurgical apparatus connected to the electrode, the electrode comprising:(a) an elongated electrically-conductive tubular member having at a first end means for connecting to electrosurgical apparatus and having at a second end a tip with an opening that serves as the working end of the electrode and adjacent the tip an electrode portion,(b) the electrode portion adjacent the tip being generally spade-shaped and comprising, in order, an electrically-conductive active first section and a second section, the first and second sections extending in a straight line aligned with the immediately-adjacent portion of the tubular member,(c) the active first section being bare so as to allow electrosurgical currents to enter contacted tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,(d) the second section having a thin electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent electrosurgical currents to enter contacted tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,(e) the tubular member comprising a duct leading to the opening for connection to a source of suction,(f) the tubular member having a generally curved shape that follows the curvature of the forehead of a patient such that the electrode can be inserted into the space between the scalp and skull at the forehead and advanced until a muscle under the brow is reached and the muscle severed with electrosurgical currents by activating the electrosurgical apparatus while activating the source of suction to remove any smoke or plume.