Surgery – Instruments – Electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-23
2001-02-20
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Electrical application
C606S046000, C606S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190384
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscopic high-frequency treatment tool for cauterizing and cutting the stem of a polyp and other tissue masses with a high-frequency current.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-frequency snares are extensively used with endoscopes to remove polyps. The snare includes a flexible sheath in the form of an insulated tube, a conductive manipulating wire passed through the sheath, and a looped wire connected to the tip of the manipulating wire. The operator moves the manipulating wire back and forth along its longitudinal axis, so that the looped wire is constricted or expanded at the tip portion of the flexible sheath.
To remove the polyp with the high-frequency snare, the looped wire is placed around the stem of the polyp. The looped wire is then gradually tightened while a high-frequency current is applied thereto. During this tightening process, there is a gradual cauterizing from the outer surface of the polyp to the inner part.
However, this related high-frequency snare has one serious problem. When the operator pulls the manipulating wire applied with a high-frequency current, the caustic effect of the current starts to cut the outer part of the polyp, but at the same time the constricted looped wire may mechanically tear off a portion of the inner part of the polyp which is not fully cauterized by the high-frequency current, thereby causing bleeding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide an endoscopic high-frequency treatment tool that can safely cauterize and cut polyps and other tissue masses without potential bleeding.
The present invention attains the stated object by an endoscopic high-frequency treatment tool including a flexible sheath; a manipulating wire inserted within the flexible sheath and being movable back and forth along a longitudinal axis thereof; a fixed electrode connected to a tip of the flexible sheath; and a moving electrode connected to a tip of the manipulating wire, and opposed to the fixed electrode to form a predetermined gap therebetween in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the manipulating wire; wherein at least one of the fixing and moving electrodes receives a high-frequency current, and the moving electrode is movable toward and away from the fixed electrode by moving the manipulating wire back and forth.
The high-frequency current may be applied to the manipulating wire from a base end thereof toward a tip end thereof.
At least one of the fixed and moving electrodes may have a projection formed on a surface that opposes the other electrode.
The fixed and moving electrodes have respective opposing surfaces. At least one of these opposing surfaces may be formed in a substantially rectangular shape having an area that is defined by a length of 2 to 5 mm and a width of 1 to 3 mm.
The fixed electrode may include an opposing portion that faces the moving electrode, and an elongating portion that extends in the longitudinal direction from the tip of the flexible sheath to the opposing portion.
The moving electrode may define a guide groove partially accommodating the elongating portion so as to guide the movement of the moving electrode.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5057107 (1991-10-01), Parins et al.
patent: 5085659 (1992-02-01), Rydell
patent: 5190541 (1993-03-01), Abele et al.
patent: 5197964 (1993-03-01), Parins
patent: 5217458 (1993-06-01), Parins
patent: 5460629 (1995-10-01), Shlain et al.
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Peffley Michael
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