Abstract:
An improved electrode assembly for a resectoscope and methods for use thereof. The electrode assembly includes at least one electrical lead that connects at a proximal end via a handle of the resectoscope to an electrosurgical generator to receive electrical power. The electrode assembly further includes an electrode tip at a distal end. The electrode tip has a non-rotating, relatively flat, working surface that extends in a longitudinal direction. The tip can be used for ablation or coagulation by using the working surface. The tip includes an edge that can be used for cutting. The working surface includes a pattern that enhances generation of a current therefrom. The electrode tip is versatile so that the same tip can be used for cutting, vaporizing, ablating, and coagulating.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to resectoscopes and methods of use thereof, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved electrode assembly apparatus for an electrosurgical resectoscope and methods for use thereof. 
     Electrosurgical resectoscopes are used for transurethral and gynecological surgical procedures. Conventional electrosurgical resectoscopes include a handle, a telescope for viewing the surgical site and an electrode assembly that can be used for performing surgical procedures. A proximal portion of the electrode assembly is formed of an elongate conductor surrounded by an insulative sheath. A distal portion of the electrode assembly is typically formed by a pair of insulated wire leads. The proximal ends of the wire leads are connected to the distal end of the elongate conductor of the proximal portion of the electrode assembly. In one type of electrode assembly used for cutting, the distal ends of the leads are connected together in a wire loop. The wire loop is orthogonal to the axial direction of the electrosurgical resectoscope. 
     The resectoscope handle includes a connection for a cable that connects to an electrosurgical generator to receive power therefrom. The electrode assembly fits into a connection in the resectoscope handle to receive power from the generator. The electrosurgical generator provides electrical energy at power levels that are controllable by the physician. 
     Electrosurgical resectoscopes can be used for cutting, coagulating, or ablating. As mentioned above, in one type of electrode assembly for a conventional electrosurgical resectoscope, the wires at a distal end of the electrode assembly form a loop. The loop is used for cutting tissue under observation with the telescope. Other types of electrode assembly tips have been designed for use with electrosurgical resectoscopes. For example, one type of tip is formed of a solid sphere and another type of tip has a rotating barrel. 
     Conventional electrosurgical resectoscopes have numerous advantages. For example, conventional electrosurgical resectoscopes are relatively easy and economical to use compared to other types of surgical instruments, such as laser-based surgical tools. However, there are several aspects of conventional electrosurgical resectoscopes that limit their usefulness. For example, electrode assemblies are not relatively versatile. With a conventional electrosurgical resectoscope, if the physician desires to perform different types of procedures, such as cutting a tissue to obtain a sample and then ablating the area, the physician generally has to withdraw the electrosurgical resectoscope to replace the electrode assembly with another electrode assembly that has a different type of tip. Another disadvantage is that the electrode assembly tip can become clogged with tissue during use, thereby requiring the physician to remove the entire electrosurgical resectoscope to clean the tip of the electrode assembly. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved electrosurgical resectoscope electrode assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve the foregoing and other objectives and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, there is provided an improved method and means for an electrode assembly for an electrosurgical resectoscope. The electrode assembly includes at least one electrical lead that connects at a proximal end via a handle of the electrosurgical resectoscope to an electrosurgical generator to receive electrical power therefrom. The electrode assembly further includes an electrode tip at a distal end. The electrode tip has a non-rotating, relatively flat, working surface that extends in a longitudinal direction. The electrode tip can be used for ablation or coagulation by using the working surface. The electrode tip includes an edge that can be used for cutting. The working surface includes a pattern that enhances generation of a current therefrom. The electrode tip is versatile so that the same tip can be used for cutting, vaporizing, ablating, and coagulating. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an electrode assembly for electrosurgical resectoscope. 
     FIG. 2 is a close up perspective view of the tip of the electrode assembly of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the tip of the electrode assembly shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the electrode assembly taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of the electrode assembly taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the electrode assembly taken long lines 6--6 of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the electrode assembly taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternate embodiment of a tip for an electrosurgical resectoscope electrode assembly. 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing another alternate embodiment of a tip for an electrosurgical resectoscope electrode assembly. 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing still another alternate embodiment of a tip for an electrosurgical resectoscope electrode assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows an electrode assembly 10 for an electrosurgical resectoscope. The electrode assembly 10 includes a proximal portion 14 and a distal portion 16. The proximal portion 14 includes a conductor 20 surrounded by an insulative plastic covering 24. The conductor 20 and covering 24 are enclosed by a rigid shaft 26. A proximal end 28 of the conductor 20 extends from the proximal end of the insulative covering 24 to form a connector pin which can be received in a jack on a conventional electrosurgical resectoscope handle (not shown). A proximal end of the insulative covering 24 extends from the proximal end of the rigid shaft 26. 
     The distal portion 16 of the electrode assembly 10 includes at least one, but preferably a pair of leads 32 and 34. Each of the leads includes an elongate conductor covered by an insulative covering. The proximal ends of the distal leads are connected electrically together to a distal end of the proximal conductor 20. The distal leads 32 and 34 diverge from each other distally of their proximal connection to the proximal conductor and extend parallel to each other to a distal end of the distal portion 16 of the electrode assembly 10. Located at the connection between the distal portion 16 and the proximal portion 14 is an elongate channel 36. The channel 36 is sized to receive the telescope portion (not shown) of the resectoscope as in a conventional resectoscope. The channel 36 is aligned to direct a resectoscope telescope between the parallel leads 32 and 34. At a distal end of the distal portion 16, the parallel leads angle downward to permit a telescope to extend distally past the distal end of the electrode assembly. The components of the electrode assembly described in detail so far may be manufactured according to conventional techniques using conventional materials. 
     The distal ends of the leads 32 and 34 both connect to a tip 40. The tip 40 is formed of an electrically conductive material so that the leads are connected together both mechanically and electrically. In this embodiment, the tip 40 is formed of a conductive block 42 having a wedge- or chip-like shape. The tip may be made of any suitable conductive material such as a nickel-silver alloy, stainless steel, or titanium. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-7, the block 42 includes a working surface 44, a distal edge 46, a proximal edge 48, side edges 50 and 52, and an inner surface 54. As shown in FIG. 2, the working surface 44 is oriented in a direction away from the leads 32 and 34. The distal edge 46 of the tip 40 is located toward and faces the distal end of the electrode assembly 10 (FIG. 3). The proximal edge 48 is located opposite the distal edge 46 and faces toward the proximal end of the electrode assembly 10. The side edges 50 and 52 are located along horizontal or circumferential edges of the tip 40 (FIGS. 4-6). The inner surface 54 of the tip 40 is opposite the working surface 44 and oriented in a direction toward the leads 32 and 34 (FIGS. 3 and 7). 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the working surface 44 is four-sided and has a trapezoidal shape. The working surface 44 extends a length, 1, in a longitudinal (or axial) direction. In the embodiment shown, the length, 1, of the working surface 44 is approximately 5 mm. The distal edge 46 has a width, w 1 , of approximately 5 mm and the proximal edge 48 has a width, w 2 , of approximately 4 mm. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the working surface 44 is relatively straight in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the working surface 44 preferably has a slight convex curvature in a horizontal (or circumferential) direction. This slight horizontal curvature of proximal edge 48 is provided so that the horizontal profile of the working surface 44 conforms generally to the shape of a conventional electrosurgical resectoscope sheath (not shown) through which the electrode assembly is introduced into the patient&#39;s body cavity. In a preferred embodiment, electrode assemblies may be provided in different sizes each having different working surface curvatures to accommodate different sizes of resectoscope sheaths. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the tip 40 preferably has a wedge-like shape so that it is thicker at the distal edge 46 and thinner at the proximal edge 48. In one present embodiment, the tip is approximately 1.5 mm in thickness at the distal edge 46 and approximately 0.5 mm in thickness at the proximal edge 48. The distal edge 46 is relatively blunt and forms a surface that is relatively orthogonal to the working surface 44. The proximal edge 48 is slightly angled relative to the working surface forming a contoured surface. 
     As mentioned above, the leads 32 and 34 connect to the inner surface 54 of the tip 40. Specifically, the leads 32 and 34 connect to the inner surface close to the corners at which the side edges 50 and 52 meet the distal edge 46. This provides for current delivered to the tip 40 via the leads to flow relatively uniformly across the working surface 44. The leads 32 and 34 may be connected to the tip by any suitable means, such as soldering, welding, etc. The connection between the leads and the tip 40 is relatively rigid. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the working surface 44 of the tip 40 has a pattern 58 thereon. In the present embodiment, the pattern includes a plurality of grooves 60 or other surface configurations. These grooves 60 enhance the dissipation of current from the tip into the patient&#39;s tissue. The grooves 60 increase the surface area of the working surface 44. This is believed to cause a crowding of the current as it leaves the working surface and enters the patient&#39;s tissue. In a present embodiment, the working surface has a plurality or series of approximately six grooves and each groove is approximately 1 mm in width and 0.5 mm deep. The grooves 60 are evenly spaced and extend in the longitudinal direction from the distal edge 46 to the proximal edge 48. 
     The inner surface 54 is relatively smooth. In a present embodiment, it is preferred that the inner surface 54 have a concave contour that is similar to the contour of the working surface opposite thereto. The contour of the inner surface 54 provides for the tip having a relatively uniform thickness laterally and minimizes the mass of the tip. 
     The present embodiment of the electrode assembly is versatile and can be used by a physician for cutting, ablating, vaporizing, or coagulating. For example, to cut tissue, the physician assembles the resectoscope in a conventional manner and obtains access to the surgical site. The physician then advances the tip 40 around and distally past the tissue to be cut. Next, the physician sets the electrosurgical generator to a &#34;cut&#34; mode. Then, the physician brings the proximal edge 48 of the tip 40 into contact with the tissue to be cut and moves the electrode assembly in a proximal direction until the tissue is cut all the way through. The cut tissue may then be removed in a conventional way, such as by irrigating and flushing the area and in this manner a sample of tissue may be acquired. 
     The present embodiment of the electrode assembly can also be used for ablating or vaporizing. To use the present embodiment for ablating, the same electrode assembly can be used as described above. The physician adjusts the electrosurgical generator to a suitable power level. For example, the generator may be set to the &#34;cut&#34; mode with the power adjusted higher than 120 watts. A power setting as high as 260 watts may be used, although suitable ablating may be obtained at lower power levels. The physician then brings the working surface 44 of the tip 40 into contact with the area to be ablated. The working surface may be moved in any direction across the area to ablate the tissue in the area, as desired. 
     The present embodiment can also be used for coagulation. To coagulate an area, the physician sets the generator to the appropriate mode, such as the &#34;coag&#34; mode. The power level in this mode is relatively lower than in the &#34;cut&#34; mode. The physician brings the working surface 44 into contact with the area to be coagulated. 
     The electrode assembly as described above enables a physician to perform a variety of procedures with the same electrode assembly thereby obviating the need to withdraw the resectoscope to change the electrode tip. Thus, the present embodiment of the electrode assembly facilitates efficiency and may reduce the cost by eliminating the need to use a variety of electrode assemblies. 
     The present embodiment of the electrode assembly provides additional features. As mentioned above, in a present embodiment, the working surface 44 has pattern, such as grooves 60, which enhance current-crowding. During cutting, ablating, or coagulation procedures, it is possible that tissue may adhere to the tip. In the present embodiment, the working surface 44 has grooves that could become clogged by tissue during the procedure. The grooves 60 may be cleared by moving the working surface in a longitudinal direction across another surface. This other surface may be an end of the resectoscope shaft or even a portion of tissue in the patient. This clearing procedure may be done without removing the electrode assembly from the patient and may be done without applying power to the tip. 
     Alternative embodiments of the working surface 44 of the tip 40 are shown in FIGS. 8-10. In FIG. 8, the working surface 44 includes a groove pattern 66 that has longitudinal grooves 68 and laterally-extending grooves 70. This groove pattern 66 increases the surface area of the working surface 44 and may enhance the current crowding effect. FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a groove pattern 74 for the working surface 44. In FIG. 9, the groove pattern 74 includes a first group 76 of parallel grooves that run diagonally across the working surface 44 and a second group 78 of parallel grooves that also run diagonally across the working surface 44. The first and second groups of grooves intersect each other, as shown. FIG. 10 shows another pattern 80 for the working surface 44. In FIG. 10, the working surface 44 includes a plurality of cavities 82. These cavities 82 increase the surface area of the working surface 44 to provide the current crowding effect. In addition to these patterns, the working surface may include other types of patterns, such as contours, irregularities, textures, or other types of non-smooth features, or may have other structure that enhances the distribution of current therefrom. 
     It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is understood that the following claims including all equivalents are intended to define the scope of the invention.