Fluid-Assisted Medical Devices, Fluid Delivery Systems and Controllers for Such Devices, and Methods

Abstract

Medical devices, methods and systems for treating tissue are provided. An exemplary system comprises a fluid from a fluid source, a surgical device which provides energy and the fluid to the tissue and a control mechanism which changes a flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device and changes a rate of energy provided from the surgical device. The fluid flow rate changes between at least two non-zero flow rates and the energy rate changes between at least two non-zero energy rates. An exemplary method comprises providing a fluid from a fluid source, providing a surgical device which provides energy and the fluid to the tissue, and changing a flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device with a change in a rate of energy provided from the surgical device. Exemplary devices comprise a tip portion configured to provide energy and a fluid to a tissue.

1 . A system for treating tissue comprising: 
 energy from energy source;    a fluid from a fluid source;    a surgical device which provides the energy and the fluid to the tissue; and    a control system which changes a flow rate of fluid, between at least two non-zero flow rates, provided from the surgical device, and a change in a rate of energy, between at least two non-zero rates of energy, provided from the surgical device.    
     
     
         2 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the control system increases the flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device with an increase in the rate of energy provided from the surgical device, and    the control system decreases the flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device with a decrease in the rate of energy provided from the surgical device.    
     
     
         3 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the energy provided from the surgical device leads to a heating of at least a portion of the fluid provided from the surgical device; and    the heating of the fluid results in a property change of at least a portion of the fluid provided from the surgical device.    
     
     
         4 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 3  wherein the property change of the fluid comprises a color change.  
     
     
         5 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 3  wherein the property change of the fluid comprises a phase change from a liquid phase to a vapor phase.  
     
     
         6 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the energy provided from the surgical device leads to a heating of at least a portion of the fluid provided from the surgical device; and    the heating of the fluid results in vaporization of at least a portion of the fluid provided from the surgical device.    
     
     
         7 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 the control system increases or decreases the flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device with an increase or decrease in a boiling percentage of the fluid provided from the surgical device, respectively.    
     
     
         8 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 the energy provided from the surgical device leads to a heating of the tissue; and    the vaporization of the fluid provides a temperature control mechanism for the heating of the tissue.    
     
     
         9 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 the fluid has a first heat of vaporization, and    the temperature control mechanism comprises the first heat of vaporization.    
     
     
         10 . The system for treating tissue according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the control system further comprises a fluid flow rate controller and energy source output measurement device; and    the fluid flow rate controller provides an output signal to change the flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device as a result of a change in an input signal received from the energy source output measurement device signifying a change in the rate of energy provided from the surgical device.    
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the energy comprises electrical energy.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid source comprises the fluid within an intravenous bag.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises an electrically conductive fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the control system comprises: 
 a fluid flow control mechanism for increasing and decreasing the flow rate of fluid provided from the surgical device; and    energy control mechanism for increasing and decreasing the rate of energy provided from the surgical device;    the fluid flow control mechanism increasing the flow rate of fluid when the energy control mechanism increases the rate of energy, and the fluid flow control mechanism decreasing the flow rate of fluid when the energy control mechanism decreases the rate of energy.    
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the fluid flow control mechanism comprises a manually activated device, and the energy control mechanism comprises a manually activated device.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the manually activated device of the fluid flow control mechanism comprises at least one of a flow rate controller, a roller clamp, and a pump.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the manually activated device of the energy control mechanism comprises a power selector switch of the energy source.  
     
     
         18 . A surgical device for treating tissue comprising: 
 a tip portion comprising a housing and a contact element;    the tip portion configured to provide energy and a fluid to a tissue;    the housing comprising a cavity, a distal end, a proximal end, a fluid inlet opening and at least one fluid outlet opening, the fluid outlet opening located at the distal end of the housing;    the contact element comprising a contact element portion retained within the cavity of the housing and a contact element portion extending distally through the fluid outlet opening located at the distal end of the housing; and    the contact element retractable into the cavity of the housing upon the application of a proximally directed force against the portion of the contact element extending distally beyond the distal opening located at the distal end of the housing.    
     
     
         19 . The surgical device according to  claim 18  wherein the tip portion provides the energy and the fluid simultaneously.