Patent ID: 12186014

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

A combination patient return pad and surgical smoke evacuator is provided and includes a sheet of material configured to be positioned on a surface adjacent a surgical site, a return electrode formed with or otherwise coupled to the sheet of material, and a suction tube coupled to the sheet of material. The return electrode receives electrosurgical energy from an active electrode and the suction tube removes surgical smoke from the surgical site.

FIG.1illustrates an electrosurgical system10including an electrosurgical energy source, such as, for example, an electrosurgical generator12, an electrosurgical instrument14coupled to the generator12, and a patient return pad100coupled to the generator12via a return cable102. The electrosurgical generator12may be any suitable type of generator and may include a plurality of connectors to accommodate various types of electrosurgical instruments (e.g., monopolar, bipolar, and/or the like). The electrosurgical generator12may also include a vacuum source20for drawing surgical smoke from a surgical site. In aspects, the vacuum source20and electrosurgical generator12may be separate components.

The electrosurgical instrument14has one or more active electrodes (not explicitly shown) for treating tissue of a patient P. The instrument14may be a monopolar instrument including one or more active electrodes (such as, for example, an electrosurgical cutting probe, ablation electrode(s), and/or the like). Electrosurgical RF energy is supplied to the instrument14by the generator12via an active electrosurgical cable18, which is connected to an active output terminal, allowing the instrument14to coagulate, ablate and/or otherwise treat tissue.

With reference toFIGS.1-3, the patient return pad100is a combination patient return pad and smoke evacuator and generally includes a head104, the return cable102, and a suction tube106supported by the head104. The head104may have a square shape, a triangular shape, or any other suitable shape. The head104has an opened front end104aand an opened rear end104b.A vacuum pathway V is defined between the front104aand rear ends104bof the head104and extends in the direction toward the rear end104b.

The head104includes a pliable sheet108or surface, such as, for example, fabric, plastic, or any other suitable material to facilitate return pad operation. The pliable sheet108of the head104has a top surface108a,and a bottom surface108bconfigured to face and attach to a tissue surface of a patient located adjacent a surgical site. The bottom surface108bof the pliable sheet108has an interior section110and an outer peripheral section112partially surrounding the interior section110. The interior section110may be recessed relative to the outer peripheral section112to define a cavity114. As such, upon attaching the outer peripheral section112of the bottom surface108bto a tissue surface (e.g., skin of a patient), the interior section110of the bottom surface108bis elevated above the tissue surface to allow air (e.g., surgical smoke) to pass from the opened front end104aof the head104to the opened rear end104bof the head104.

In aspects, the head104may include a pad116, such as, for example, a foam pad, received in the cavity114to assist in maintaining the cavity114open when the bottom surface108bis attached to a surface. In aspects, the pad116may be fabricated from any suitable material and may be conductive or non-conductive. The pad116may be coated with an adherent film, such as, for example, polyethylene. The outer peripheral section112of the bottom surface108bof the pliable sheet108has an electrically-conductive adhesive coating118(FIG.3) disposed thereon. In aspects, the adhesive118may be a liquid, a gel, a film, or the like.

The head104includes a return electrode120attached to the outer peripheral section112of the bottom surface108band may have the same shape as the outer peripheral section112or may extend over the outer peripheral section112and the entire bottom surface of the pad116. In some aspects, the pad116may be fabricated from a conductive material so as to act as the return electrode. The return electrode120may be a sheet, a wire, or a coating and may be made from materials that include aluminum, copper, mylar, metalized mylar or other suitable conductive material. The return electrode120may also include an insulator, glue, a conductive adhesive, gel or other material that is configured to attach the return electrode120to tissue and/or to facilitate the transfer of electrosurgical energy to the patient's skin. It is contemplated that the return electrode120and the outer peripheral section112have a sufficient surface area to conduct electrosurgical energy to the patient's skin without causing damage to the skin. The head104may further include a backing122(FIG.2) that covers the bottom surface108bof the pliable sheet108. The backing122may be selectively removed (e.g., peeled) from the bottom surface108bto expose the adhesive118.

The return electrode120has the return lead102extending therefrom. In particular, the return lead102, which may be a wire or a cable, has a first end portion102aattached to the return electrode120, and a second end portion102b(FIG.1) attached to the electrosurgical generator12. The return lead102transfers electrosurgical energy received by the return electrode120to the electrosurgical generator12.

The suction tube106of the patient return pad100has a first end portion106aconfigured to be coupled to the vacuum source20(FIG.1) and a second end portion106bconfigured to be either permanently coupled or detachably coupled to the rear end104bof the head104. The suction tube106defines a longitudinal channel124therethrough to allow for the passage of surgical smoke. The second end portion106bof the suction tube106may have a connector126attached thereto that couples the suction tube106to the head104. In aspects, the second end portion106bof the suction tube106may be received in the rear end104bof the head104. The connector126extends through the open rear end104bof the head104and defines an opening128in fluid communication with the cavity114, such that surgical smoke may pass from the cavity114and into the suction tube106via the opening128. The connector126may have a flat bottom surface130that is coplanar with the outer peripheral section112of the bottom surface108bof the pliable sheet108to prevent air gaps from forming between the bottom surface108band a tissue surface. The return lead102may extend through the channel124of the suction tube106, around the suction tube106, or run alongside of and separate from the suction tube106.

During an electrosurgical procedure, the backing122of the head104of the patient return pad100is removed and the bottom surface108bof the pliable sheet108of the head104is placed at a location adjacent the surgical site and in contact with tissue of a patient P (e.g., skin). In aspects where only the vacuum function of the head104is desired, the bottom surface108bof the pliable sheet108may be placed on a surgical drape or other suitable surface adjacent the surgical site. The adhesive118on the outer peripheral section112of the bottom surface108bfixes the outer peripheral section112to the patient's skin. The pad116of the head104also contacts the skin surface, whereby the interior section110is maintained in spaced relation from the skin surface and the front end104aof the head104is maintained in an opened state. Due to the return electrode120being attached to the outer peripheral section112, the return electrode120is placed in contact with or otherwise electrically connected to the skin via the adhesive118(e.g., conductive adhesive).

The monopolar electrode of the surgical instrument14may be activated to treat tissue. During treatment, the electrosurgical energy passes from the generator12, through the electrosurgical instrument14and into the patient P to treat the tissue. The electrosurgical energy then travels from the tissue back to the electrosurgical generator12via the return electrode120in the patient return pad100. During the procedure, the vacuum source20may be activated to clear any smoke or debris from the surgical field while the foam pad116prevents debris from entering the cavity114. In aspects, the vacuum source20may be activated prior to treating tissue and the generation of smoke. Upon activating the vacuum source20, a suction pathway is generated and carries the surgical smoke from the surgical field and into the cavity114via the front end104aof the head104. The surgical smoke passes into the suction tube106via the opening128in the connector126. In this way, the patient return pad100functions both as a return electrode for receiving electrosurgical energy from the active electrode and as a surgical smoke evacuator. The vacuum source20may remain on for a selected period of time after activation of the generator12has ceased.

With reference toFIGS.4-6, another embodiment of a combination patient return pad and smoke evacuator200is illustrated and generally includes a head, such as, for example, a housing204, a return electrode220attached to the housing204, and a suction tube, such as, for example, the suction tube106(FIG.2) supported by the housing204. The housing204may have a box-shape or any other suitable shape and has an opened front end204aand a closed rear end204b.In aspects, the front end204amay be planar (FIG.4) or have a curved or scooped configuration (FIG.5) to better allow for the front end204ato surround a surgical opening.

A vacuum pathway is defined between the front204aand rear ends204bof the housing204and extends in the direction toward the rear end204b.The housing204has a top surface208a,a bottom surface208bconfigured to face a tissue surface of a patient, and a pair of side walls208c,208d.The housing204may include a pad216, such as, for example, a foam pad, received in a cavity214(FIG.5) defined by the housing204to prevent debris from entering the cavity214. The housing204has a vacuum connector216coupled to the top surface208aand in fluid communication with the cavity214. The suction tube106(FIG.2) is configured to couple to the vacuum connector218to fluidly communicate with the opened front end204aof the housing204.

The return electrode220may be a split return electrode pad and is attached to the bottom surface208bof the housing204. The return electrode220may be a sheet, a wire, or a coating and may be made from materials that include aluminum, copper, mylar, metalized mylar or other suitable conductive material. The return electrode220has a bottom surface222having coated thereon an electrically-conductive adhesive (e.g., a conductive adhesive hydrogel) or other material that is configured to attach the return electrode220to tissue. A backing (not explicitly shown) may be provided that covers the bottom surface222of the return electrode220. The backing may be selectively removed (e.g., peeled) from the bottom surface222to expose the adhesive.

The return electrode222has a pair of return leads224,226extending therefrom. In particular, the return leads224,226, which may be wires or cables, have a first end portion attached to the return electrode220, and a second end portion attached to the electrosurgical generator12(FIG.1). The return leads224,226transfer electrosurgical energy received by the return electrode220to the electrosurgical generator12. In aspects, only one return lead may be provided.

With reference toFIG.7, yet another embodiment of a combination return pad and smoke evacuator300is illustrated and generally includes a head, such as, for example, a housing304, a return electrode320attached to the housing304, a suction tube, such as, for example, the suction tube106(FIG.2) supported by the housing304, and a perforated foam pad316supported on the return electrode320. The housing304has an opened front end portion304aand a closed rear end portion304b.The housing304defines a cavity (not explicitly shown) therein configured to be in communication with the suction tube106(FIG.2) via a vacuum connector318. In aspects, the vacuum connector318may be directly attached to the foam pad316. In aspects, the housing304may cover an upper surface and lateral sides of the foam pad316.

The return electrode320may be a flat sheet of material covering a bottom surface319of the housing304and extending distally from the front end portion304a.The foam pad316is supported on the return electrode320and covers the opened front end portion304aof the housing304. The foam pad316has a plurality of perforations324defining a plurality of removable sections323to allow for the customization of the foam pad316. The removable sections323may include a corresponding section325of the return electrode320, such that upon removing the removable sections323, an opening327may be formed in the smoke evacuator300. The opening327may be positioned over a surgical site or access opening to surround the outer periphery of the access opening with the smoke evacuator300.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods, and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and/or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.