Ablation device with cooled electrodes and methods of use

摘要

An electrosurgical end effector for ablating tissue is provided that comprises at least one electrically-conductive ablation member adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, with the ablation member having a tissue engaging surface and an internal fluid passageway. Preferably, the end effector includes two electrically conductive ablation members that are electrically isolated from one another.

主权项

1. A device for ablating target tissue comprising:
an end effector including at least two elongated ablation electrodes spaced apart and adjacent one another, the ablation electrodes being configured to be in electrical communication with a source of RF energy so that, when activated, the ablation electrodes are of opposite polarity, the end effector including,
a closed loop fluid conduit in thermal communication with the ablation electrodes and that includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port;an open fluid conduit fluidically isolated from the closed loop fluid conduit; and,a housing through which a first portion of each of the ablation electrodes extends outside of, a second portion of the electrodes located within the housing and being in fluid communication with one another via the closed loop fluid conduit, the housing including an orifice that accommodates an egress orifice of the closed loop fluid conduit and an entrance orifice of the closed loop fluid conduit, the housing including a plurality of spaced apart orifices in fluid communication with the open fluid conduit; and, a fluid inlet conduit upstream from the fluid inlet port and in sealed fluid communication with the closed fluid conduit and a fluid outlet conduit downstream from the fluid outlet port and in sealed fluid communication with the closed fluid conduit.