Patent ID: 8852184

Claim:
A method for performing arthroscopic surgery comprising: providing an RF ablation device; providing an inflow outflow sheath characterized by a central lumen, a distal section and a proximal section wherein the central lumen is sized and dimensioned to receive the RF ablation device, said inflow outflow sheath further comprising a first fluid aperture disposed in a sidewall of the distal section of the inflow outflow sheath and adapted to be in fluid communication with an outflow lumen and a surgical site, a second fluid aperture disposed in a sidewall of the distal section of the inflow outflow sheath and adapted to be in fluid communication with an inflow lumen and the surgical site, and a temperature sensor disposed on the distal section of the inflow outflow sheath; disposing the RF ablation device inside the inflow outflow sheath, said RF ablation device capable of increasing the temperature at a surgical site; performing an arthroscopic surgical procedure at the surgical site using the RF ablation device; taking fluid temperature measurements of an outflow fluid within the surgical site with the temperature sensor; selecting a threshold temperature at which tissue surrounding the surgical site will be damaged; providing a control system operably connected to a chilling module, said control system programmed to monitor the outflow fluid temperature based on the temperature measurements taken by the temperature sensor and cool an inflow fluid prior to the inflow fluid entering the surgical site with the chilling module in response to the outflow temperature exceeding the threshold temperature in order to keep temperatures of the outflow fluid at the surgical site below the threshold temperature; and irrigating the surgical site with the cooled inflow fluid.