Fluid-Assisted Medical Devices, Systems and Methods

Abstract

Surgical devices, systems and methods for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device comprises a handle ( 20 a ) having a proximal end and a distal end; a shaft extending distally beyond the distal end of the handle, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode tip ( 45 ), at least a portion of the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft, the electrode tip extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft comprising a spherical end surface portion ( 25 ) and a cylindrical side surface portion, the spherical end surface portion located distal to the cylindrical side surface portion and comprising at least a portion of the distal end surface of the surgical device; and a fluid passage directed to provide a fluid towards the cylindrical side portion of the electrode tip.

1 .- 137 . (canceled) 
     
     
         138 . An electrosurgical device comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   at least one fluid lumen longitudinally extending through the shaft; and   a plurality of electrodes carried by the distal end of the shaft, each of the electrodes including a porous structure in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen, the plurality of electrodes having a substantially co-extensive surface.   
     
     
         139 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the shaft comprises a plurality of tubes on which the electrodes are respectively mounted, and wherein the at least one lumen comprises a plurality of lumens longitudinally extending through the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         140 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the substantially co-extensive surface is a distal end surface.   
     
     
         141 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the substantially co-extensive surface is a curved surface.   
     
     
         142 . The device of  claim 140  further comprising:
 the distal end surface is an angle A relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the angle is between 5 degrees and 90 degrees.   
     
     
         143 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the plurality of electrodes are configured in a bipolar arrangement.   
     
     
         144 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the shaft is rigid.   
     
     
         145 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises an electrically conductive material.   
     
     
         146 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises porous metal.   
     
     
         147 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises a plurality of bonded metal particles.   
     
     
         148 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises sintered metal.   
     
     
         149 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises pores having a pore size in the range of 2.5 micrometers to 500 micrometers.   
     
     
         150 . The device of  claim 138  wherein:
 the porous structure of each of the electrodes comprises a plurality of interconnected tortuous pathways.   
     
     
         151 . The device of  claim 138  further comprising:
 at least one connector in fluid communication with the at least one lumen.   
     
     
         152 . An electrosurgical device comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   at least one fluid lumen longitudinally extending through the shaft;   a first electrode carried by the distal end of the shaft and having a porous structure in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen, the first electrode having a distal end surface extending along a plane; and   a second electrode carried by the distal end of the shaft and having a porous structure in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen, the second electrode having a distal end surface extending along the plane of the first electrode distal end surface.   
     
     
         153 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the at least one shaft comprises first and second tubes on which the first and second electrodes are respectively mounted, and wherein the at least one lumen comprises first and second lumens longitudinally extending through the first and second tubes.   
     
     
         154 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the plane is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.   
     
     
         155 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the first and second electrodes are configured in a bipolar arrangement.   
     
     
         156 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the shaft is rigid.   
     
     
         157 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises an electrically conductive material.   
     
     
         158 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises porous metal.   
     
     
         159 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises a plurality of bonded metal particles.   
     
     
         160 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises sintered metal.   
     
     
         161 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the porous structure of each electrode comprises pores having a pore size in the range of 2.5 micrometers to 500 micrometers.   
     
     
         162 . The device of  claim 152  wherein:
 the porous structure of each of the electrodes comprises a plurality of interconnected tortuous pathways.   
     
     
         163 . The device of  claim 152  further comprising:
 at least one connector in fluid communication with the at least one lumen.