WO2018013748A1

WO2018013748A1 - Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery pencils

Info

Publication number: WO2018013748A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/041829
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ioan Cosmescu
Original assignee: I.C. Medical, Inc.
Priority date: 2016-07-15
Filing date: 2017-07-13
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Also published as: CN109475369B; JP7344553B2; JP2019521796A; DE112017003589T5; AU2017295251A1; AU2017295251B2; CN109475369A; CA3030953A1; CA3030953C

Abstract

An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery pencils. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade has a non-conductive planar member with opposing planar sides, a cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes located on one opposing planar side, and second active and return electrodes located on the other opposing planar side. The ultrapolar non-telescopic and telescopic electrosurgery pencils can be with or without smoke evacuation and are capable of cutting with a sharp non-conductive cutting end of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and cutting and coagulating with activation of active and return contacts both contained on each side of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

Description

ULTRAPOLAR ELECTROSURGERY BLADE AND ULTRAPOLAR

ELECTROSURGERY PENCILS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to patent application having Serial No. 15/211,270, filed July 15, 2016, and to patent application having Serial No. 15/211,431, filed July 15, 2016, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery pencils which use monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting and coagulation. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery pencils are capable of cutting with a sharp non-conductive cutting end of ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and cutting or coagulating with activation of active and return electrodes both contained on the electrosurgery blades.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention has a non-conductive planar member with first and second opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, a first active electrode and a first return electrode both located on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, and a second active electrode and a second return electrode both located on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member. An ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of the present invention includes a handpiece having first and second ends and an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention positioned within the first end of the handpiece. The handpiece may further include a smoke evacuation channel contained therein for evacuating smoke and /or debris from the surgical site.

The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil/handpiece of the present invention includes a handpiece member with a first end and second end, a hollow telescopic member with a first end and a second end where the hollow telescopic member is concentrically positioned within the first end of the handpiece, an electrosurgery blade with both active and return contacts positioned within the first end of the hollow telescopic member, a first hollow conductive tubular member in contact with either the active or return contact of the electrosurgery blade contained within the hollow telescopic member, a first solid cylindrical member in contact with whichever contact of the electrosurgery blade that is not in contact with the first hollow conductive tubular member and contained within the hollow telescopic member, a second hollow conductive tubular member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the first solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member, and a second solid cylindrical member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil/handpiece of the present invention may also be capable of evacuating smoke and/or debris form the surgical site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrosurgery uses an RF electrosurgical generator (also known as an electrosurgical unit or ESU) and a handpiece with an electrode to provide high frequency, alternating radio frequency (RF) current input at various voltages to cut or coagulate biological tissue. The handpiece may be a monopolar instrument with one electrode or a bipolar instrument with two electrodes. When using a monpolar instrument, a return electrode pad is attached to the patient and the high frequency electrical current flows from the generator, to the monopolar instrument, through the patient to the patient return electrode pad, and back to the generator. Monopolar electrosurgery is commonly used due to its versatility and effectiveness. However, the excessive heat generated with monopolar electrosurgery can cause excessive tissue damage and necrosis of the tissue because the return electrode positioned on the back of the patient causes high voltage and high RF energy to pass through the patient.

In bipolar electrosurgery, active output and patient return functions both occur at the surgery site because both the active and return electrodes are contained in the bipolar instrument. Therefore, the path of the electrical current is confined to the biological tissue located between the active and return electrodes. Although bipolar electrosurgery enables the use of lower voltages and less energy and thereby reduces or eliminates the likelihood of tissue damage and sparking associated with monopolar electrosurgery, it has limited ability to cut and coagulate large bleeding areas.

Accordingly, there is a need for an electrosurgery blade that allows for both cutting and coagulation of large areas of tissue without the tissue damage and which eliminates passing of energy through the patient. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a sharp cutting edge and both active and return electrodes positioned on opposing sides of the electrosurgery blade would meet this need. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blades with a sharp cutting edge and active and return electrodes positioned on both opposing sides of the electrosurgery blade described with reference to the present invention could be used with an electrosurgery handpiece/pencil that does not have smoke evacuation capability but they are also intended to be used with an electrosurgery pencil/handpiece that is capable of smoke evacuation during the electrosurgery procedure.

A telescopic ultrapolar electrosurgery handpiece/pencil having an electrosurgery blade with a sharp cutting edge and both active and return electrodes positioned on opposing sides of the electrosurgery blade would also enable both precise cutting and coagulation of large areas of biological tissue. Further, such an ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil would enable a user or surgeon to more easily and efficiently access the surgical site with enhanced viewing capability by extending the telescopic member of the handpiece/pencil as well as the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade positioned within the telescopic member of the handpiece/pencil. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention also enables a user or surgeon to evacuate smoke and/or debris from the surgical site while being able to perform precise cutting at the surgical site as well as cutting and coagulation of large biological tissue areas located at the surgical site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade which includes a non-conductive planar member having first and second opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and a non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes each located on the first opposite planar side wherein at least a portion of the first opposite planar side is exposed near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member, and second active and return electrodes each located on the second opposite planar side wherein at least a portion of the second opposite planar side is exposed near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member. In one exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention, the first active electrode located on the first planar side mirrors at least a portion of the second return electrode located on the second planar side and the first return electrode located on the first planar side mirrors at least a portion of the second active electrode located on the second planar side.

The non-conductive planar member may comprise a ceramic and the first and second active electrodes and the first and second return electrodes may comprise a stainless steel, a copper, and/or a tungsten. In another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention, the first and second active electrodes and the first and second return electrodes may each take the form of an elongated conductive layer that extends more than half the length of the non-conductive planar member. At least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first active electrode may extend to, and along a partial length of, one or more of the opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side and at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first return electrode may extend to, and along a partial length of, one or more opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side.

In still another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention, at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the second return electrode on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member mirrors at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first active electrode on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member and at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the second active electrode on the second opposite planar side of the non- conductive planar member mirrors at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first return electrode on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention, the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade includes a non-conductive planar member having first and second opposite planar sides with opposing elongated edges, a cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, a first active electrode having a hook-shaped configuration located on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, a first return electrode having a bar-shaped configuration with at least a portion of the first return electrode positioned within the hook-shaped configuration of the first active electrode without touching the first active electrode, a second return electrode having a hook-shaped configuration located on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, and a second active electrode having a bar-shaped configuration with at least a portion of the second active electrode positioned within the hook-shaped configuration of the second return electrode without touching the second return electrode. The hook-shaped configuration of the first active electrode and the second return electrode may be located near the cutting end of the non- conductive planar member without covering at least a portion of the first and second opposite planar sides located near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member. At least a portion of the hook-shaped configuration of the first active electrode located on the first opposite planar side may mirror at least a portion of the hook-shaped configuration of the second return electrode located on the second opposite planar side and at least a portion of the bar-shaped configuration of the first return electrode may mirror at least a portion of the bar- shaped configuration of the second active electrode. The non-conductive planar member may comprise a ceramic and the first and second active electrodes and the first and second return electrodes may comprise a stainless steel, a copper, and/or a tungsten.

The first active electrode may take the form of a hook-shaped conductive layer where at least a portion of the hook-shaped conductive layer extends to, and along a partial length of, the opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member and the first return electrode may take the form of a bar-shaped conductive layer where at least a portion of the bar-shaped conductive layer extends to, and along a partial length of, one of the opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member. Similarly, the second return electrode may take the form of a hook-shaped conductive layer where at least a portion of the hook-shaped conductive layer extends to, and along a partial length of, the opposing elongated edges of the second opposite planar side of the non- conductive planar member and the second active electrode may take the form of a bar-shaped conductive layer where at least a portion of the bar-shaped conductive layer extends to, and along a partial length of, one of the opposing elongated edges of the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member.

Further, a portion of the first and second active electrodes and a portion of the first and second return electrodes may extend to the opposite non-cutting end of the non-conductive planar member. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention may further comprise a first conductive insert member in communication with both the first active electrode and second active electrode located near the non-cutting end of the non-conductive planar member and a second conductive insert member in communication with both the first return electrode and the second return electrode located near the non-cutting end of the non- conductive planar member. The first and second conductive inserts may each comprise a metal contact member that is made of brass and/or copper.

The present invention is also directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil having a handpiece with a first and second end and an electrosurgery blade positioned in the first end of the handpiece where the electrosurgery blade includes a non-conductive planar member having first and second opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes located on the first opposite planar side where at least a portion of the first opposite planar side is exposed near the non-conductive cutting end of the non- conductive planar member, and second active and return electrodes located on the second opposite planar side where at least a portion of the second opposite planar side is exposed near the non-conductive cutting end of the non-conductive planar member. The handpiece may further comprise a smoke evacuation channel contained therein for evacuating smoke and debris from the surgical site during activation of the electrosurgery pencil. In addition, the handpiece may further comprise at least one activation button for cutting and at least one activation button for coagulation.

The present invention is further directed to an ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil that is capable of performing precise cutting at a surgical site as well as cutting and coagulation of large biological tissue areas at the surgical site. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil of the present invention is also capable of effectively and efficiently accessing a surgical site while providing enhanced visibility at the surgical site by extending the telescopic member of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil and the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade contained within the telescopic member while at the same time evacuating smoke and/or debris form the surgical site.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention includes a handpiece member having first and second ends, a hollow telescopic member having first and second ends with at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member concentrically positioned within the first end of the handpiece member, an electrosurgery blade having both active and return contacts positioned within the first end of the hollow telescopic member, a first hollow conductive tubular member in contact with the active contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic tubular member, a first solid conductive cylindrical member in contact with the return contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic member, a second hollow conductive tubular member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the first solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member, and a second solid cylindrical member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member. The handpiece member may further include a smoke evacuation channel in communication with an interior of the hollow telescopic tubular member for evacuating smoke and/or debris form the surgical site.

The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may further include a first support member positioned within the handpiece member with at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member and at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member passing through the first support member and/or a second support member positioned within the hollow telescopic member with at least a portion of the active contact of the electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of the return contact of the electrosurgery blade passing through the second support member. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may also include a swivel member connected to the second end of the handpiece member to enable a vacuum tube connected to the swivel member to twist about or around an electrical cord connected to the handpiece member thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil by reducing the drag or pulling down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil opposite the electrosurgery blade.

The first and second hollow conductive tubular members and the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention may be made of stainless steel, copper, and/or titanium. Further, the first and second hollow conductive tubular members may each have an insulator on their outer surfaces.

The electrosurgery blade of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may include a non-conductive planar member having opposing planar sides with both an active contact and a return contact on each opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member. The electrosurgery blade may further include a non-conductive sharp cutting tip that may be formed from the non-conductive planar member and the non-conductive sharp cutting tip and the non-conductive planar member may comprise a ceramic material.

The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/ pencil of the present invention may also include a locking member to lock the hollow telescopic tubular member in place relative to the handpiece member. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention may also include at least one activation button for cutting and at least one activation button for coagulation.

In another exemplary embodiment, the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention includes a handpiece member having first and second ends, a hollow telescopic member having first and second ends with at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member concentrically positioned within the first end of the handpiece member, an electrosurgery blade having both active and return contacts positioned within the first end of the hollow telescopic member, a first solid conductive cylindrical member in contact with the active contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic tubular member, a first hollow conductive tubular member in contact with the return contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic tubular member, a second solid conductive cylindrical member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member, and a second hollow conductive tubular member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the first solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member. Like the previously described exemplary embodiment, the handpiece member may further include a smoke evacuation channel in communication with an interior of the hollow telescopic tubular member for evacuating smoke and/or debris form the surgical site.

This second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may include a first support member positioned within the handpiece member with at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member and at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member passing through the first support member and/or a second support member positioned within the hollow telescopic member with at least a portion of the active contact of the electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of the return contact of the electrosurgery blade passing through the second support member. This embodiment may also include a swivel member connected to the second end of the handpiece member to enable a vacuum tube connected to the swivel member to twist about or around an electrical cord connected to the handpiece member thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil by reducing the drag or pulling down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil opposite the electrosurgery blade.

Like the first exemplary embodiment, the first and second hollow conductive tubular members and the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members of the second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention may be made of stainless steel, copper, and/or titanium. Further, the first and second hollow conductive tubular members may each have an insulator on their outer surfaces. In addition, the electrosurgery blade of the second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may include a non-conductive planar member having opposing planar sides with both an active contact and a return contact on each opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member. The electrosurgery blade may further include a non-conductive sharp cutting tip that may be formed from the non-conductive planar member and the non-conductive sharp cutting tip and the non-conductive planar member may comprise a ceramic material. Further, like the first exemplary embodiment, the second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/ pencil of the present invention may also include a locking member to lock the hollow telescopic tubular member in place relative to the handpiece member and at least one activation button for cutting and at least one activation button for coagulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject invention will hereafter be described in conjunction with die appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an opposite side view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade in FIG. 1 shown rotated 180 degrees;

FIG.4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG.6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of FIGS. 1 and 3 showing one exemplary embodiment of a support member for retaining the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention so that the conductive inserts in communication with the active and return electrodes of the electrosurgery blade can be easily inserted into an electrosurgery pencil;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention showing the interior components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil as they would appear if one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil; FIG. 11 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 10 but with the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the swivel member of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil which is maintained in the same position when the handpiece member and the hollow telescopic member of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil are rotated 180 degrees;

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention showing the interior components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil as they would appear if one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil; and

FIG. 13 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 12 but with the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the swivel member of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil which is maintained in the same position when the handpiece member and the hollow telescopic member of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil are rotated 180 degrees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of the present invention enable a user or surgeon to perform cutting with the sharp non-conductive tip of the electrosurgery blade as well as coagulation of large areas of biological tissue with the electrosurgery blade by placing the electrosurgery blade on either of its sides where both active and return electrodes are located. The electrosurgery blade and electrosurgery pencil of the present invention may also perform cutting with the active and return electrodes of the electrosurgery blade. Exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of the present invention include an electrosurgery blade that has a non-conductive planar member with opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and a non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes each located on one opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, and second active and return electrodes each positioned on the other opposite planar side of the non-conductive return electrode. The cutting end of the non-conductive planar member can form a sharp non- conductive cutting end for cutting biological tissue while the active and return electrodes located on each side of the non-conductive planar member can be used to perform coagulation as well as cutting of biological tissue. FIGS. 1 and 3 show opposing side views of an exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention which includes a non-conductive planar member 12 having first and second opposite planar sides 14 (see FIG. 1), 16 (see FIG. 2) with opposing elongated edges 18, a cutting end 20, and an opposite non-cutting end 22, a first active electrode 24 and a first return electrode 28 each located on the first opposite planar side 14 of the non-conductive planar member 12 wherein at least a portion of the first opposite planar side 14 is exposed near the non-conductive cutting end 20 of the non-conductive planar member 12, and a second active electrode 44 and a second return electrode 38 each located on the second opposite planar side 16 of the non-conductive planar member 12 wherein at least a portion of the second opposite planar side 16 is exposed near the non-conductive cutting end 20 of the non-conductive planar member 12. First and second active electrodes 24, 44 and first and second return electrodes 28, 38 may each take the form of an elongated conductive layer that extends more than half the length of the non-conductive planar member 12.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at least a portion of the first active electrode 24 and at least a portion of the first return electrode 28 may extend to, and along a partial length of, at least one of the opposing elongated edges 18 of the first opposite planar side 14 of the non-conductive planar member 12. Further, at least a portion of the second return electrode 38 may extend to, and along a partial length of, at least one of the opposing elongated edges 18 of the second opposite planar side 16 of the non-conductive planar member 12. As further shown in the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at least a portion of the first active electrode 24 located on the first opposite planar side 14 may mirror at least a portion of the second return electrode 38 located on the second opposite planar side 16 and at least a portion of the first return electrode 28 located on the first opposite planar side 14 may mirror at least a portion of the second active electrode 44 located on the second opposite planar side 16. Moreover, the first active electrode 24 may include a hook-shaped configuration 26 and the first return electrode 28 may include a bar-shaped configuration 30 where at least a portion of the bar-shaped configuration 30 of the first return electrode 28 is positioned within the hook-shaped configuration 26 of the first active electrode 24. In addition, the second return electrode 38 may include a hook-shaped configuration 40 and the second active electrode 44 may include a bar-shaped configuration 46 where at least a portion of the bar-shaped configuration 46 of the second active electrode 44 is positioned within the hook-shaped configuration 40 of the second return electrode 38. The non-conductive planar member 12 may comprise a ceramic which can also form a sharp cutting end 20. First and second active electrodes 24, 44 and first and second return electrodes 28, 38 may comprise at least one of stainless steel, copper, and/or tungsten. The hook-shaped configuration 26 of the first active electrode 24 and the hook-shaped configuration 40 of the second return electrode 38 may be located near cutting end 20 of non-conductive planar member 12 while still enabling at least a portion of the first and second opposite sides 14, 16 of the non-conductive planar member 12 to be exposed near the non-conductive cutting end 20. This enables precise cutting to be performed with the sharp non-conductive cutting end 20 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10.

Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 may also include a support member 31 which may take the form of a variety of configurations as long as it is capable of supporting the non- conductive planar member 12 and its associated active and return electrodes so that the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 may be easily connected to an instrument such as an electrosurgery pencil. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 may also include a first conductive insert member SO that is in communication with the first active electrode 24 and the second active electrode 44 near the opposite non-cutting end 22 of the non-conductive planar member 12 and a second conductive insert member 52 that is in communication with the first return electrode 28 and the second return electrode 38 near the opposite non-cutting end 22 of the non- conductive planar member 12.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention with the non-conductive planar member 12 shown in phantom within the support member 31. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 which shows non-conductive planar member 12 and first active electrode 24 and first return electrode 28 located on one side (first opposite planar side 14) of non-conductive planar member 12 and second active electrode 44 and second return electrode 38 located on the other side (second opposite planar side 16) of non-conductive planar member 12. As shown in FIG. 4, there are two portions of first active electrode 24 shown on one side of non-conductive planar member 12 and two portions of second return electrode 38 shown on the other side of non-conductive planar member 12 due to where the cross-section was taken. FIG. S shown another cross-section of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows one portion of first active electrode 24 and one portion of first return electrode 28 on one side of non-conductive planar member 12 and one portion of second active electrode 44 and one portion of second return electrode 38 on the other side of non-conductive planar member 12. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1 which shows non-conductive planar member 12 along with first and second active electrodes 24, 44 and first and second return electrodes 28, 38 suspended within support member 31. FIG. 6 also shows first conductive insert member SO of ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 in communication with first and second active electrodes 24, 44 and second conductive insert member 52 of ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 in communication with first and second return electrodes 28, 38.

An end view of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of FIGS. 1 and 3 showing one exemplary embodiment of a support member 31 for retaining the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention so that the conductive inserts SO, 52 in communication with the active and return electrodes 24, 44, 28, 38 of the electrosurgery blade 10 can be easily inserted into an instrument such as an electrosurgery pencil. In just one exemplary embodiment, support member 31 may take the form of a hollow cylindrical member 60 having a non-conductive insert member 62 with conductive tubular members 64, 66 into which first and second conductive insert members 50, 52 can be placed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the support member for retaining the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention may take any number of forms or configurations.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the active and return electrodes of the blade are placed on opposite planar sides of the non- conductive planar member 12 with the top of non-conductive planar member 12 remaining non- conductive and free of electrodes.

A side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil 70 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9. Ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil 70 includes a handpiece 72 having a first end 74 and a second 76, and an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 positioned within the first end 74 of the handpiece. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 shown in FIG. 9 is like the blade 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Conductive wires 80, 82 connect the first and second conductive insert members 50, 52 to the circuit board which enables at least one activation button 86 for cutting and at least one activation button 88 for coagulation. Handpiece 72 may include a smoke evacuation channel 71 to enable evacuation of smoke and/or debris form the surgical site when performing cutting and/or coagulation.

The exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention enable a user or surgeon to perform precise cutting as well as coagulation. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention also enables simultaneous evacuation of smoke and/or debris from the surgical site as well as the ability to telescopically adjust the length of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil depending on the type of access needed to the surgical site. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention also includes a swivel member connected to the end of the handpiece member opposite the electrode to enable a vacuum tube connected to the swivel member to twist about or around an electrical cord connected to the handpiece member thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil by reducing the drag or pulling down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil during electrosurgery. Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil is used interchangeably with electrosurgery handpiece/pencil, electrosurgery handpiece, electrosurgery pencil, and handpiece/pencil throughout the specification and all are meant to refer to the same subject of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 of the present invention showing the interior components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 as they would appear if one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil 110. Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 includes a handpiece member 112 having a first end 114 and a second end 116, a hollow telescopic member 118 having a first end 120 and a second 122 where at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member 118 is concentrically positioned within the first end 114 of handpiece member 112, an electrosurgery blade 124 having both an active contact 126 and a return contact 128 positioned within the first end 120 of hollow telescopic member 118, a first hollow conductive tubular member 130 in contact with active contact 126 of electrosurgery blade 124 and contained within the hollow telescopic member 118, a first solid conductive cylindrical member 132 in contact with return contact 128 of electrosurgery blade 124 and contained within the hollow telescopic member 118, a second hollow conductive tubular 134 contained within the handpiece member 112 such that at least a portion of the first solid cylindrical member 132 is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member 134, and a second solid conductive cylindrical member 136 contained within the handpiece member 112 such that at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member 136 is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member 130. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other means for connecting active contact 126 and return contact 128 of electrosurgery blade 124 to a circuit board located in or on handpiece member 112 for activating cutting and/or coagulation may be utilized, such as wires each coated with an insulator, for example, as long as the insulated wires are durable and capable of ensuring that the respective wires connected to the active and return contacts do not come into contact with one another. However, the solid conductive cylindrical members and the hollow conductive tubular members that are described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein are considered to be a superior means for connecting the active and return contacts of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade to the circuit board that enables activation of cutting and/or coagulation with the handpiece/pencil. In addition, the utilization of the solid conductive cylindrical members and the hollow conductive tubular members that are described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein create a handpiece/pencil that is much less likely to be subject to failure and a handpiece/pencil that is much less likely to malfunction and result in an injury to a patient and or a user/surgeon during use of the handpiece/pencil.

As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the electrosurgery pencil/handpiece of the present invention has a handpiece member 112 and a hollow telescopic member 118 which both have channels therein that are in continuity with one another to enable evacuation of smoke and/or debris from the surgical site. During evacuation, the smoke and/or debris passes through the continuous channel and around the first and second hollow conductive tubular members 130, 134 and the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members 132, 136 that are contained in the continuous channel. In addition, a first support member 140 is positioned within the handpiece member 112 such that at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member 136 and at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member 134 pass through the first support member 140. Further, a second support member 142 is positioned within the hollow telescopic member 118 such that at least a portion of the active contact 126 of electrosurgery blade 124 and at least a portion of return contact 128 of electrosurgery blade 124 pass through the second support member 142. The first and second hollow conductive tubular members 130, 134 and the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members 132, 136 may be made of stainless steel, copper, and/or titanium and the outer surfaces of the first and second hollow conductive tubular members 130, 134 may each be covered with an insulator.

The electrosurgery blade 124 is an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a non- conductive planar member with opposing planar sides and both an active contact 126 and a return contact 128 on each opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 24 further includes a non-conductive sharp cutting tip 145. The non-conductive sharp cutting tip 145 may be formed from the non-conductive planar member and both may be made of a ceramic material.

Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 also includes a swivel member 146 connected to the second end 116 of the handpiece member 112 such that the swivel member 146 rotates relative to the handpiece member 112. The swivel member 146 enables a vacuum tube 148 connected to the swivel member to twist about or around an electrical cord 150 connected to the handpiece member 112 thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 by reducing the drag or pulling down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 during electrosurgery.

FIG. 11 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 10 but with the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the swivel member 146 of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 which is maintained in the same position when the handpiece member 112 and the hollow telescopic member 118 of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 are rotated 180 degrees. As can be seen in FIG. 11, ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 124 also has a second active contact 127 and a second return contact 129 located on the opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member that is opposite the opposing planar side that contains active contact 126 and return contact 128. As can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, active contact 126 and second active contact 127 are both in contact with, or in communication with, first hollow conductive tubular member 130 and return contact 128 and second return contact 129 are both in contact with, or in communication with, first solid conductive cylindrical member 132. This configuration of ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 enables a user or surgeon to cut biological tissue with non-conductive sharp cutting tip 145, coagulate biological tissue with active contact 126 and return contact 128 on one side of electrosurgery blade 124, coagulate biological tissue with second active contact 127 and second return contact 129 on the other side of electrosurgery blade 124, and cut with active contact 126 and return contact 128 and with second active contact 127 and second return contact 129 on electrosurgery blade 124.

The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 also includes a locking member 160 to lock the hollow telescopic member 118 in place relative to the handpiece member 112. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 also includes at least one activation button 170 for cutting and at least one activation button 172 for coagulation. FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 of the present invention showing the interior components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 as they would appear if one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil 200. Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 includes a handpiece member 212 having a first end 214 and a second end 216, a hollow telescopic member 218 having a first end 220 and a second 222 where at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member 218 is concentrically positioned within the first end 214 of handpiece member 212, an electrosurgery blade 224 having both an active contact 226 and a return contact 228 positioned within the first end 220 of hollow telescopic member 218, a first solid conductive cylindrical member 230 in contact with active contact 226 of electrosurgery blade 224 and contained within the hollow telescopic member 218, a first hollow conductive tubular member 232 in contact with return contact 228 of electrosurgery blade 224 and contained within the hollow telescopic member 218, a second solid conductive cylindrical member 234 contained within the handpiece member 212 such that at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member 234 is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member 232, and a second hollow conductive tubular member 236 contained within the handpiece member 212 such that at least a portion of the first solid conductive cylindrical member 230 is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member 236. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other means for connecting active contact 226 and return contact 228 of electrosurgery blade 224 to a circuit board located in or on handpiece member 212 for activating cutting and/or coagulation may be utilized, such as wires each coated with an insulator, for example, as long as the insulated wires are durable and capable of ensuring that the respective wires connected to the active and return contacts do not come into contact with one another. However, the solid conductive cylindrical members and the hollow conductive tubular members that are described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein are considered to be a superior means for connecting the active and return contacts of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade to the circuit board that enables activation of cutting and/or coagulation with the handpiece/pencil. In addition, the utilization of the solid conductive cylindrical members and the hollow conductive tubular members that are described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein create a handpiece/pencil that is much less likely to be subject to failure and a handpiece/pencil that is much less likely to malfunction and result in an injury to a patient and or a user/surgeon during use of the handpiece/pencil. As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the electrosurgery pencil/handpiece 200 of the present invention has a handpiece member 212 and a hollow telescopic member 218 which both have channels therein that are in continuity with one another to enable evacuation of smoke and/or debris from the surgical site. During evacuation, the smoke and/or debris passes through the continuous channel and around the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members 230, 234 and the first and second hollow conductive tubular members 232, 236 that are contained in the continuous channel. In addition, a first support member 240 is positioned within the handpiece member 212 such that at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member 234 and at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member 236 pass through the first support member 240. Further, a second support member 242 is positioned within the hollow telescopic member 218 such that at least a portion of the active contact 226 of electrosurgery blade 224 and at least a portion of return contact 228 of electrosurgery blade 224 pass through the second support member 242. The first and second hollow conductive tubular members 232, 236 and the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members 230, 234 may be made of stainless steel, copper, and/or titanium and the outer surfaces of the first and second hollow conductive tubular members 232, 236 may each be covered with an insulator.

The electrosurgery blade 224 is an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a non- conductive planar member with opposing planar sides and both an active contact 226 and a return contact 228 on each opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 224 further includes a non-conductive sharp cutting tip 245. The non-conductive sharp cutting tip 245 may be formed from the non-conductive planar member and both may be made of a ceramic material.

Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 also includes a swivel member 246 connected to the second end 216 of the handpiece member 212 such mat the swivel member 246 rotates relative to the handpiece member 212. The swivel member 246 enables a vacuum tube 248 connected to the swivel member to twist about or around an electrical cord 250 connected to the handpiece member 212 thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 by reducing the drag or pulling down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 during electrosurgery.

FIG. 13 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 12 but with the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the swivel member 246 of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 which is maintained in the same position when the handpiece member 212 and the hollow telescopic member 218 of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 are rotated 180 degrees. As can be seen in FIG. 13, ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 224 also has a second active contact 227 and a second return contact 229 located on the opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar member that is opposite the opposing planar side that contains active contact 226 and return contact 228. As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, active contact 226 and second active contact 227 are both in contact with, or in communication with, first solid conductive cylindrical member 230 and return contact 228 and second return contact 229 are both in contact with, or in communication with, first hollow conductive tubular member 232. This configuration of ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 enables a user or surgeon to cut biological tissue with non-conductive sharp cutting tip 245, coagulate biological tissue with active contact 226 and return contact 228 on one side of electrosurgery blade 224, coagulate biological tissue with second active contact 227 and second return contact 229 on the other side of electrosurgery blade 224, and cut with active contact 226 and return contact 228 and with second active contact 227 and second return contact 229 on electrosurgery blade 224.

The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 also includes a locking member 260 to lock the hollow telescopic member 218 in place relative to the handpiece member 212. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 also includes at least one activation button 270 for cutting and at least one activation button 272 for coagulation.

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'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.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An ultrapolar electrosurgery device comprising:

an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having:

a non-conductive planar member having first and second opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end;

a first active electrode and a first return electrode each located on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member wherein at least a portion of the first opposite planar side is exposed near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member; and

a second active electrode and a second return electrode each located on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member wherein at least a portion of the second opposite planar side is exposed near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member.

2. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first active electrode located on the first opposite planar side mirrors at least a portion of the second return electrode located on the second opposite planar side and at least a portion of the first return electrode on the first opposite planar side mirrors at least a portion of the second active electrode on the second opposite planar side.

3. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 wherein the non-conductive planar member comprises a ceramic.

4. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 wherein the first and second active electrodes and the first and second return electrodes each comprise at least one of a stainless steel, a copper, and a tungsten.

5. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 wherein the first active electrode, the first return electrode, the second active electrode, and the second return electrode each comprise an elongated conductive layer that extends more than half the length of the non-conductive planar member.

6. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first active electrode extends to, and along a partial length of, at least one of the opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member.

7. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first return electrode extends to, and along a partial length of, at least one of the opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member.

8. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the second return electrode on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member mirrors at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first active electrode on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member and at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the second active electrode on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member mirrors at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first return electrode on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member.

9. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 further comprising a handpiece

having a first end and a second end wherein the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positioned within the first end of the handpiece.

10. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 9 wherein the handpiece further

comprises a smoke evacuation channel contained therein.

11. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 9 wherein the handpiece comprises at least one activation button for cutting and at least one activation button for coagulation.

12. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 further comprising:

a handpiece member having a first end and a second end;

a hollow telescopic member having a first end wherein the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positioned within the first end of the hollow telescopic member and at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member is

concentrically positioned within the first end of the handpiece member; a first hollow conductive tubular member in contact with the first and second active electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic tubular member;

a first solid conductive cylindrical member in contact with the first and second return electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic member;

a second hollow conductive tubular member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the first solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow

conductive tubular member; and

a second solid conductive cylindrical member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member.

13. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 12 wherein the handpiece member further comprises a smoke evacuation channel in communication with an interior of the hollow telescopic tubular member for evacuating at least one of smoke and debris from the surgical site.

14. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 13 further comprising a first support member positioned within the handpiece member and having at least a portion of the second solid conductive cylindrical member and at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member passing therethrough.

15. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 14 further comprising a second support member positioned within the hollow telescopic member and having at least a portion of the first and second active electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of the first and second return electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade passing therethrough.

16. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 14 wherein the handpiece comprises at least one activation button for cutting and at least one activation button for coagulation.

17. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 1 further comprising:

a handpiece member having a first end and a second end;

a hollow telescopic tubular member having a first end and a second end wherein the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positioned within the first end of the hollow telescopic tubular member and at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member is concentrically positioned within the first end of the handpiece member;

a first solid conductive cylindrical member in contact with the first and second active electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic tubular member;

a first hollow conductive tubular member in contact with the first and second return electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic tubular member;

a second solid conductive cylindrical member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular member; and

conductive tubular member.

18. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 17 wherein the handpiece member further comprises a smoke evacuation channel in communication with an interior of the hollow telescopic tubular member for evacuating at least one of smoke and debris form the surgical site.

19. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 18 further comprising a first support member positioned within the handpiece member and having at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member and at least a portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member passing therethrough.

20. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 19 further comprising a second support member positioned within the hollow telescopic member and having at least a portion of the first and second active electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of the first and second return electrodes of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade passing therethrough.

21. The ultrapolar electrosurgery device of claim 19 wherein the handpiece comprises at least one activation button for cutting and at least one activation button for coagulation.