Surgery – Instruments – Electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-10-23
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Electrical application
C606S046000, C606S048000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306135
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to an electrosurgical electrode, and in particular to an electrosurgical electrode for performing a surgical procedure known as an Endoscope Forehead Lift (EFL).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the EFL procedure that is pertinent to this invention, via endoscopic visualization, a muscle extending over the brow and contributing to skin wrinkling due to excessive pulling forces on the skin is severed at least in part. Access to the muscle is obtained via a hole formed in the scalp at a position about three or so inches above the brow, and extending a probe with a thin edge through the hole and down via a tunnel forced between the scalp and the skull to the muscle to sever part or all of the same. If properly done, this should relieve the excessive pulling forces tending to smooth the forehead skin. See “Endoscopic Plastic Surgery”, by Bostwick III, Eaves III, and Nahai, published by Quality Medical Publishing, Inc. of St. Louis Mo., 1995, Pgs. 166-170, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, for a description of the procedure and how it works.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes a novel electrosurgical electrode that can be used to perform the EFL and similar procedures simpler and with fewer side effects than other techniques.
Briefly stated, the novel electrode comprises an elongated thin, electrically-conductive tubular member shaped to substantially follow the curvature of the skull extending from the brow upward to a position at or above the hairline. The electrically-conductive tubular member terminates at a distal end in a generally spade-shaped end whose tip is bare. The remainder of the electrically-conductive tubular member is covered with an electrically-insulating coating. The proximal end of the electrically-conductive tubular member is connected to a handpiece whose interior is hollow and which can be connected to a flexible suction tube coupled to a source of suction. Also connected to the handpiece is a connector which makes a good electrically-conductive contact to the electrically-conductive tubular member. The connector in turn is provided with a cable that can be plugged into conventional electrosurgical apparatus. During the part of the procedure when the muscle is severed by activating the electrosurgical apparatus, the suction source can also be activated to remove any smoke or vapor that can interfere with the surgeon's view of the cutting action.
In a preferred embodiment, most of the spade-shaped end, both sides and edges, adjacent the tubular member is covered with a thin coating of an electrically-insulating coating leaving only a bare tip capable of supplying electrosurgical currents to tissue.
The handpiece can be of the type described in our U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,007, whose contents are hereby incorporated by reference, and which describes a handpiece which combines electrosurgical currents at a working end of an electrode together with suction at the same working end supplied via a hollow handpiece. The patent nowhere describes its application to the EFL procedure, and the electrodes described in the patent are not suitable for carrying out the EFL procedure.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention.
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Endoscopic Plastic Surgery, by Bostwick III, Eaves III, and Nahi, published 1995 by Quality Medical Publishing, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri, pp. 166-170.
Ellman Alan G.
Garito Jon C.
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