Patent Publication Number: US-2022218403-A1

Title: Electrosurgery blade and electrosurgery blade assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of, and claims benefit of priority to, U.S. Nonprovisional patent application having Ser. No. 15/147,730 filed May 5, 2016, currently pending, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to electrosurgery blades including electrosurgery blades having argon beam capability. More particularly, the present invention relates to a monopolar electrosurgery blade which includes a non-conductive planar member having opposite planar sides and a sharp cutting tip, and a conductive layer located on one or both of the opposing planar sides of the non-conductive layer where the conductive layer lies adjacent to at least one edge of an opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member without covering the cutting tip. In one exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade, the non-conductive layer may form a closed loop shaped portion having an open interior through which the non-conductive opposing planar side is exposed. The present invention also relates to an electrosurgery blade assembly which includes the previously described monopolar electrosurgery blade plus a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening, through which an inert gas can be supplied, and a slot which can be positioned over a portion of the electrosurgery blade. At least a portion of the conductive layer of the electrosurgery blade is positioned within the slot of the non-conductive tube member such that the hollow tubular shaped opening of the non-conductive tube member is positioned so that an inert gas supplied through the hollow tubular shaped opening will come in contact with at least a portion of the conductive layer of the electrosurgery blade thereby creating an ionized gas. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typical electrosurgical pencils use an electrode blade which functions as an active electrode for use in performing cutting and coagulation during electrosurgery and a return electrode usually comprising an adhesive for attachment to a patient&#39;s skin. When the electrosurgery pencil is activated, the RF energy circulates from the active electrode to the return electrode through the patient&#39;s body with the distance between the active and return electrodes being fairly significant. Electrosurgery uses a RF generator and handpiece with an electrode to provide high frequency, alternating radio frequency (RF) current input at various voltages (2000-10,000V) depending on the function, namely coagulation vs. cutting. For cutting, heat generated from continuous RF high voltage conduction can create a vapor pocket which vaporizes and explodes a small section of tissue cells which results in an incision. Because of the heat generated, the lateral damage to the tissue is great and the possible necrosis of the tissue is high. For coagulation, voltage is usually lower than in cut mode and the slower heating process results in less heat. As a result, no vapor pocket is formed so the tissue for the most part remains intact but with cells and vessels destroyed and sealed at the point of contact. 
     It is also common to use argon beam coagulators during electrosurgery. In argon beam coagulation (ABC), plasma is applied to tissue by a directed beam of ionized argon gas (plasma) which causes a uniform and shallow coagulation surface thereby stopping blood loss. However, argon beam enhanced cutting may also be performed using application of an ionized argon gas. 
     At present, electrosurgery is often the best method for cutting and argon beam coagulation is often the best method for cessation of bleeding during surgery. Surgeons typically need to switch between argon beam coagulation and electrosurgery modes depending on what is happening during the surgery and what they need to achieve at a particular point in the surgery such as cutting, or making incisions in tissue, or stopping the bleeding at the surgical site. 
     However, since surgical tools and devices currently available to surgeons require switching between these two methods during the surgical procedure, there is a need for a surgical device or tool that enables a surgeon or user to utilize the best methods used for cutting and cessation of bleeding at the surgical site at the same time, or simultaneously, in addition to being able to use them separately. An electrosurgery blade having a sharp edge for cutting and RF and argon beam capability for capsulation would meet this need. The electrosurgery blades with a sharp edge and argon beam capability described with reference to the present invention could be used with an electrosurgery handpiece/pencil that does not have smoke evacuation capability but are also intended to be used with an electrosurgery handpiece/pencil that is capable of smoke evacuation during the electrosurgery procedure. 
     Such a surgical device or tool would enable the surgeon or user to increase both the efficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or user to perform both tissue cutting and coagulation at the same time without switching between modes or methods thereby decreasing operating time and reducing or eliminating the lateral damage to the tissue. In addition, performing both tissue cutting and coagulation at the same time along with smoke evacuation would protect the surgeon and staff form inhaling smoke and particles and also enable 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 in order to stop bleeding at the surgery site before being able to clearly see the surgical site. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an electrosurgery blade for use with an electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation, or an electrosurgery handpiece/pencil without smoke evacuation, that includes a non-conductive planar member having opposite planar sides with opposing elongated edges and a sharp cutting tip, and a conductive layer located on one or both opposing planar sides where the conductive layer lies adjacent to at least one of the opposing edges of the non-conductive planar member without covering the cutting tip. More specifically, at least a portion of the one or more opposing planar sides of the non-conductive planar member is exposed near an end of the sharp cutting tip and is not covered by the conductive layer. In one exemplary embodiment, the conductive layer may form a closed loop shaped portion having an open interior through which the non-conductive opposing planar side is exposed. The conductive layer may further comprise a rectangular shaped portion extending from the closed loop shaped portion of the conductive layer. 
     The non-conductive planar member may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example. The conductive layer may comprise one or more materials such as, for example, stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, and/or titanium. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, there is a conductive layer that forms a closed loop shaped portion located on each of the non-conductive opposite planar sides of the planar member where each of the closed loop shaped portions of the conductive layer extend to the opposing elongated edges of each respective opposite planar side. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the conductive layer covers a portion of the opposing elongated edges of each of the opposite planar sides such that it joins the closed loop portions located on each of the opposite planar sides. In still another exemplary embodiment, the conductive layer may be present on only one of the non-conductive opposite planar sides such that it also extends over the top edge of the non-conductive planar member. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electrosurgery blade may further comprise a shaft in communication with an end of a rectangular shaped portion of the conductive layer located opposite the closed loop portion(s) of the conductive layer where the shaft is capable of being connected to an electrosurgery pencil. 
     The present invention is also directed to an electrosurgery blade assembly which includes the previous described exemplary embodiments of the electrosurgery blade plus a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein, through which an inert gas can be supplied, and a slot which can be positioned over a portion of the electrosurgery blade. At least a portion of the conductive layer of the electrosurgery blade is positioned within the slot of the non-conductive tube member such that the hollow tubular shaped opening of the non-conductive tube member is positioned so that an inert gas supplied through the hollow tubular shaped opening will come in contact with at least a portion of the conductive layer of the electrosurgery blade thereby creating an ionized gas. Like the non-conductive planar member, the non-conductive tube member may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic showing an exemplary embodiment of an electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention which shows an exploded view of the positioning of a non-conductive tube member over the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 1  to provide the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 1  with argon beam capability; 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic showing another exemplary embodiment of an electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention which shows an exploded view of the positioning of a non-conductive tube member over the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 6  to provide the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 6  with argon beam capability; 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 A- 9 A of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of still another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of still another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention having a non-conductive tube member positioned over a portion of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  12 A- 12 A of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The exemplary embodiments of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention enable a user or surgeon to use an electrosurgery blade having a non-conductive planar member with opposite planar sides and a sharp cutting edge, and a conductive layer located on one or both of the opposing sides, for cutting and/or coagulation. Exemplary embodiments of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention include the exemplary embodiments of the electrosurgery blade of the present invention plus a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening and a slot with at least a portion of the conductive layer of the electrosurgery blade positioned within the slot to enable a user or surgeon to separately use a sharp edged electrode for cutting and/or coagulation, separately use an argon beam for cutting and/or coagulation, or simultaneously use a sharp edged electrode and an argon beam for cutting and/or coagulation. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  10  of the present invention having a non-conductive planar member  12  with opposite planar sides  14  having opposing elongated edges  16  and a sharp cutting tip  18 , and a conductive layer  20  located on one or both opposing planar sides  14  where each conductive layer  20  includes a loop shaped portion  22  having an open interior  24  through which the opposing planar side  14  of the non-conductive planar member  12  is exposed. The conductive layer  20  is configured such that it leaves a portion of one or both opposing, planar sides  14  of non-conductive planar member  12  exposed near the sharp cutting tip  18  of non-conductive planar member  12 . The conductive layer  20  also includes a rectangular shaped portion  26  extending from the loop shaped portion  22  of the conductive layer  20 . A shaft  28  is connected to, or in communication with, the rectangular shaped portion  26  of the conductive layer  20  near an end of the rectangular shaped portion  26  that is opposite the loop shaped portion  22  of the conductive layer  20 . The shaft  28  of electrosurgery blade  10  may be connected to an active conductor contained within an electrosurgery pencil. 
     The non-conductive planar member  12  may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example, and the conductive layer  20  may comprise one or more materials such as, for example, stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, and/or titanium. The shaft  28  may comprise a metal or other conductive material that is covered by a sheath of non-conductive material. 
     A top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade depicted in  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , this exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  10  of the present invention includes a conductive layer  20  having a loop shaped portion  22  that extends up and over the opposing elongated edges  16  of each respective opposite planar side  14  thereby providing a conductive layer over a top of the non-conductive planar member  12 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic showing an exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly  30  of the present invention which shows an exploded view of the positioning of a non-conductive tube member  40  over the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  10  shown in  FIG. 1  to provide the electrosurgery blade  10  shown in  FIG. 1  with argon beam capability. Non-conductive tube member  40  includes an outer surface  42 , a hollow tubular shaped opening  44 , and a slot  46  into which electrosurgery blade  10  is placed so that at least a portion of opposing planar sides  14  and at least a portion of conductive layer  20  of electrosurgery blade  10  are positioned within the slot  46  of non-conductive tube member  40 . Further, the electrosurgery blade  10  is located within slot  46  so that the hollow tubular shaped opening  44  is positioned such that an inert gas supplied through hollow tubular shaped opening  44  will come into contact with at least a portion of conductive layer  20  of electrosurgery blade  10  thereby creating an ionized gas (plasma). A side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly  30  of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 4  and a cross-sectional view of the electrosurgery blade assembly  30  taken along line  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 4A . As can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , the hollow tubular shaped opening  44  of non-conductive tube member  40  enables an inert gas, such as argon gas, to pass through non-conductive tube member  40  and over at least a portion of the conductive layer  20  to create an ionized gas (plasma). The ionized gas (plasma) is created when the electrode comes into contact with the body/patient thereby creating a closed circuit with a return electrode attached to the body/patient which enables argon beam cutting and/or coagulation with the electrosurgery blade  30 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As previously described above, a source of inert argon gas can be supplied through hollow tubular shaped opening  44  of non-conductive tube member  40  thereby enabling a user or surgeon to use the electrosurgery blade assembly  30  shown in  FIGS. 3-5  to perform cutting and/or coagulation separately with the combination of the non-conductive planar member and conductive layer, cutting and/or coagulation separately using an argon beam, or cutting and/or coagulation while simultaneously using the combination of the non-conductive planar member and conductive layer with the argon beam. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of still another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  50  of the present invention having a non-conductive planar member  52  with opposite planar sides  54  having opposing elongated edges  56  and a sharp cutting tip  58 , and a conductive layer  60  located on one or both opposing planar sides  54  where each conductive layer  60  includes an elongated loop shaped portion  62  having an open interior  64  through which the opposite planar side  54  of the non-conductive planar member  52  is exposed. The conductive layer  60  is configured such that it leaves at least a portion of one or both opposing planar sides  54  of non-conductive planar member  52  exposed near the sharp cutting tip  58  of the non-conductive planar member  52 . The conductive layer  60  also includes a rectangular shaped portion  66  extending from the elongated loop shaped portion  62  of the conductive layer  60 . A shaft  68  is connected to, or in communication with, the rectangular shaped portion  66  of the conductive layer  60  near an end of the rectangular shaped portion  66  that is opposite the elongated loop shaped portion  62  of the conductive layer  60 . The shaft  68  of electrosurgery blade  50  may be connected to an active conductor contained within an electrosurgery pencil. 
     The non-conductive planar member  52  may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example, and the conductive layer  60  may comprise one or more materials such as stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, and/or titanium. The shaft  68  may comprise a metal or other conductive material that is covered by a sheath of non-conductive material. 
     A top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  50  depicted in  FIG. 6  is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , this exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  50  of the present invention includes a conductive layer  60  on each opposite planar side  54  of non-conductive planar member  52  having an elongated loop shaped portion  62  that extends to, and covers, the opposing elongated edges  56  of each respective opposite planar side  54  thereby joining and connecting the elongated closed loop portions  62  of the conductive layer  60  located on each of the opposite planar sides  54  of the non-conductive planar member  52 . 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic showing another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly  70  of the present invention which shows an exploded view of the positioning of a non-conductive tube member  80  over the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  50  shown in  FIG. 6  to provide the electrosurgery blade  50  shown in  FIG. 6  with argon beam capability. Non-conductive tube member  80  includes an outer surface  82 , a hollow tubular shaped opening  84 , and a slot  86  into which electrosurgery blade  50  is placed so that at least a portion of opposing planar side  54  and at least a portion of conductive layer  60  of electrosurgery blade  50  is positioned within slot  86  of non-conductive tube member  80 . A side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly  70  of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 8  is shown in  FIG. 9  and a cross-sectional view of the electrosurgery blade assembly  70  taken along line  9 A- 9 A of  FIG. 9  is shown in  FIG. 9A . As can be seen in  FIGS. 9 and 9A , the hollow tubular shaped opening  84  of non-conductive tube member  80  enables an inert gas, such as argon gas, to pass through non-conductive tube member  80  and over at least a portion of the conductive layer  62  to create an ionized gas (plasma) when the electrode comes into contact with the body/patient thereby creating a closed circuit with a return electrode attached to the body/patient which enables argon beam cutting and/or coagulation with the electrosurgery blade  70 . 
     As previously described with reference to the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  30  show in in  FIGS. 3-5 , a source of argon gas can be provided through hollow tubular shaped opening  84  of non-conductive tube member  80  thereby enabling a user or surgeon to use the electrosurgery blade  70  show in  FIGS. 8-9  to perform cutting and/or coagulation separately with the combination of the non-conductive planar member and conductive layer, cutting and/or coagulation separately using an argon beam, or cutting and/or coagulation while simultaneously using the combination of the non-conductive planar member and conductive layer with the argon beam. 
       FIG. 10  shows a side view of a still another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  100  of the present invention having a non-conductive planar member  112  with opposite planar sides  114  having opposing elongated edges  116  and a sharp cutting tip  118 , and a conductive layer  120  located on one or both opposing planar sides  114  where each conductive layer  120  includes a hook shaped portion  122 . The conductive layer  120  is configured such that at least a portion of one or both opposing planar sides  114  of non-conductive planar member  112  are exposed near the sharp cutting tip  118  of non-conductive planar member  112 . The conductive layer  120  also includes a rectangular shaped portion  126  extending from the hook shaped portion  122  of the conductive layer  120 . A metal contact  128  is connected to, or in communication with, the rectangular shaped portion  126  of the conductive layer  120  near an end of the rectangular shaped portion  126  that is opposite the hook shaped portion  122  of the conductive layer  120 . The metal contact  128  of electrosurgery blade  110  may be connected to an electrosurgery pencil via a conductive wire  150  or similar type of conductive contact or medium contained within the electrosurgery pencil. 
     The non-conductive planar member  112  may comprise an inorganic, non-metallic solid material, such as a ceramic, for example, and the conductive layer  120  may comprise one or more materials such as, for example, stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, and/or titanium. The metal contact  128  may comprise a metal that is covered by a sheath of non-conductive material. 
     A top view of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  100  depicted in  FIG. 10  is shown in  FIG. 12 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , this exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  100  of the present invention includes a conductive layer  120  that extends up and over the opposing elongated edges  116  of each respective opposite planar side  114  thereby providing a conductive layer over a top of the non-conductive planar member  112 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a side perspective view of still another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade assembly  130  of the present invention having a non-conductive tube member  140  positioned over a portion of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery blade  100  shown in  FIG. 10  to provide the electrosurgery blade  100  shown in  FIG. 10  with argon beam capability. Non-conductive tube member  140  includes an outer surface  142 , a hollow tubular shaped opening  144 , and a slot  146  into which electrosurgery blade  100  is placed so that at least a portion of opposing planar sides  114  and at least a portion of conductive layer  120  of electrosurgery blade  100  are positioned within the slot  146  of non-conductive tube member  140 . Further, the electrosurgery blade  100  is located within slot  146  so that the hollow tubular shaped opening  144  is positioned such that an inert gas supplied through hollow tubular shaped opening  144  will come into contact with at least a portion of conductive layer  120  of electrosurgery blade  100  thereby creating an ionized gas (plasma). The end of non-conductive tube member  140  located opposite the end of non-conductive tube member  140  located closest to sharp cutting tip  118  of electrosurgery blade  100  is connected to a tube  152 , which supplies an inert gas such as argon gas, that may be contained within, or comprise part of, an electrosurgery pencil. A cross-sectional view of the electrosurgery blade assembly  130  taken along line  12 A- 12 A of  FIG. 12  is shown in  FIG. 12A . As can be seen in  FIGS. 12 and 12A , the hollow tubular shaped opening  144  of non-conductive tube member  140  enables an inert gas, such as argon gas, to pass through non-conductive tube member  140  and over at least a portion of the conductive layer  120  to create an ionized gas (plasma) when the electrode comes into contact with the body/patient thereby creating a closed circuit with a return electrode attached to the body/patient which enables argon beam cutting and/or coagulation with the electrosurgery blade  130 . 
     The detailed 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. 
     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 be 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. 
     Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant&#39;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.