Electrosurgical System

Abstract

A system and method involving an electrode system can include a flexible shaft.

1 . A unitized system, comprising:
 a flexible electrode having a shaft and the shaft of the electrode has a proximal end and distal end, the proximal end being electrically insulated, and the distal end being electrically uninsulated;   an injection port inseparably coupled to the flexible electrode;   a temperature sensor at the distal end of the electrode that measures the temperature at the tip of the electrode; and   an electrical connector inseparably coupled to the flexible electrode;   wherein the unitized system is a one-piece device joined by gluing, welding, soldering, crimping, hooking, or mechanical locking that is configured to deliver injected fluids and electrical signal to a target tissue at the same time.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is configured for placement in the spinal canal. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is configured for placement in the epidural space. 
     
     
         4 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The device of claim  6 , wherein the electrical connector is coupled to an electrical supply that provides an electrical signal and a temperature signal from the temperature sensor is used to control the electrical signal from the electrical supply. 
     
     
         8 . The device in  claim 7 , wherein the electrical signal is a radiofrequency signal. 
     
     
         9 . The device in  claim 8 , wherein the electrical signal is a pulsed radiofrequency signal. 
     
     
         10 . The device in  claim 7 , wherein the electrical signal is a nerve stimulation signal. 
     
     
         11 . The device in claim  5 , wherein the electrode shaft comprises a metallic coil that has a proximal end covered by an electrically-insulative material. 
     
     
         12 . The device in  claim 11 , wherein the metallic coil is a stainless steel spring coil. 
     
     
         13 . The device in  claim 11 , wherein the electrically-insulative material is a plastic tube. 
     
     
         14 . The device in  claim 13 , wherein the plastic tube is a heat-shrinkable tube. 
     
     
         15 . The device  claim 11 , wherein the distal end of the coil is closed by a weld. 
     
     
         16 . The device  claim 15 , wherein the weld is a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the electrical connector is coupled to an electrical supply that provides an electrical signal and a temperature signal from the temperature sensor is used to control an electrical signal from the electrical supply. 
     
     
         18 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein fluids injected into the injection port outflows through the distal end of the electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The device in  claim 11 , wherein a wire within the lumen of the coil is connected to the coil at both the distal and proximal ends of the coil. 
     
     
         20 . A unitized injection electrode with a proximal and a distal end comprising the following inseparably connected elements:
 a metallic coil;   electrical insulation that covers the proximal end of the coil and leaves the distal end of the coil uninsulated;   an injection port connected to the proximal end of the coil and configured such that fluid injected into the port flows out of the uninsulated distal end of the coil;   a temperature sensor at the distal end of the electrode that measures the temperature at the tip of the electrode;   an electrical connector configured so that an electrical signal delivered to the electrical connector is delivered to tissue in contact with the uninsulated distal end of the coil;   wherein the unitized injection electrode is a one-piece device joined by gluing, welding, soldering, crimping, hooking, or mechanical locking that is configured to deliver injected fluids and electrical signal to a target tissue at the same time.   
     
     
         21 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein the electrical signal is a radiofrequency signal. 
     
     
         22 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein the electrode is configured for placement in the epidural space. 
     
     
         23 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein the distal end of the coil is closed by a weld. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein a metal rod within the lumen of the coil is connected at both the distal end of the coil and to the proximal end of the coil. 
     
     
         26 . The device in  claim 23 , wherein the weld captures thermocouple wires to form a thermocouple temperature sensor, the weld captures the distal end of a metal rod that is also connected to the proximal end of the coil, and temperature signals from the temperature sensor can be measured by connection to a temperature connector that is inseparably attached to the electrode. 
     
     
         27 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein the coil is a stainless steel coil. 
     
     
         28 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein the coil is a stainless steel coil made from round wire. 
     
     
         29 . The device in  claim 20 , wherein the electrical connector also includes connectors to the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         30 . A flexible catheter with a metallic tip and an electrode configured to be placed within the lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         31 . The device in  claim 28  wherein the catheter has an electrically insulated proximal end and an uninsulated distal end, so that electrical signals delivered to the electrode are delivered to tissue in contact with the uninsulated distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         32 . The device in  claim 29  where the catheter is an epidural catheter. 
     
     
         33 . The device in  claim 28  where the electrode is a radiofrequency electrode. 
     
     
         34 . The device in  claim 29  where the electrode has a temperature sensor that can be positioned in the uninsulated active tip of the catheter when the electrode is inserted into the electrode. 
     
     
         35 . A catheter delivery device to transmit radiofrequency energy to a spinal canal, comprising:
 a needle having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and a lumen that extends from the open proximal end to the open distal end;   a catheter having a blunt, metallic tip on a distal end of the catheter that transmits a radio frequency energy to the treatment site, wherein the catheter is telescopically disposed within the needle lumen to allow the tip to be maneuverably positioned within the spinal canal;   a catheter hub coupled to a proximal end of the catheter;   a metallic wire element telescopically disposed within a lumen of the catheter;   and an adapter hub coupled to a proximal end of the wire element;   wherein the adapter hub is cooperatively engageable to the catheter hub to form a single shaft,   wherein a proximal end of the adapter hub is configured couple to a radio frequency generating device,   wherein the adapter hub and the catheter hub are sized and dimensioned relative to one another such that engagement of the adapter hub to the catheter hub prevents the distal end of the wire element from touching a seating surface of the tip, and   wherein the wire element contacts metallic elements inside the length of the catheter lumen so that the wire element delivers a radio frequency energy from the radio frequency generating device to the tip.   
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein a length of the catheter is longer than a length of the needle. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the catheter is flexible. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 33 , further comprising a layer of insulating material coupled to a portion of the catheter, wherein the insulating material prevents a radio frequency energy from transmitting. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the insulating material encapsulates all but the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the insulating material terminates 10 mm from the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein a portion of the catheter is not straight to improve steerage of the catheter. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the distal end of the needle is sharpened to penetrate an outer layer of the treatment site. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the distal end of the wire element and the seating surface of the tip are formed to have complementary configurations to facilitate the engagement between the distal end of the wire element and the seating surface of the tip. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the catheter's distal end is constructed from a metallic coil, the proximal end of which is covered by an electrically-insulative material.