Enhanced control systems including flexible shielding and support systems for electrosurgical applications

Abstract

A boot for an articulable electrosurgical instrument having a conductor is disclosed. The boot has: a first layer having a flexible substantially non-conductive material; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer having a flexible conductive medium configured to be electrically coupled to at least one shield conductor, whereby the boot is configured to transmit normal current and fault current to a reference potential; and a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer having a flexible non-conductive material.

1 . A boot for an articulable electrosurgical instrument having a conductor, the boot comprising:
 a first layer having a flexible substantially non-conductive material;   a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer having a flexible conductive medium configured to be electrically coupled to at least one shield conductor, whereby the boot is configured to transmit normal current and fault current to a reference potential;   and a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer having a flexible non-conductive material.   
     
     
         2 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second layer comprises a conductive cloth.   
     
     
         3 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second layer comprises a wire mesh.   
     
     
         4 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second layer comprises a wire braid.   
     
     
         5 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boot is corrugated.   
     
     
         6 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boot comprises a proximal region configured to surround at least a portion of a support structure of the electrosurgical instrument and a distal region configured to partially surround an articulable portion of the electrosurgical instrument; and   the distal region is configured to elastically deform.   
     
     
         7 . The boot of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conductive rubber, a coaxial cable, a metal braid inside an insulation material, or a thin conductive film.   
     
     
         8 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first layer has a woven matrix;   the second layer is a sprayed on conductor; and   the third layer is an insulating coating.   
     
     
         9 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the third layer is a foam material.   
     
     
         10 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second layer comprises at least one of a wire coil, a catheter coil, an embedded wire in a flexible structure, a flex circuit, a plurality of conductive segments, or a plurality of conductive segments joined by a mechanical interlock.   
     
     
         11 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boot is configured to withstand a power having at least one of (a) a voltage of between 2 and 4 kilovolts, (b) a current of at least 2.0 Amperes, or (c) a power of up to 300 Watts and a current up to 1.0 Amperes.   
     
     
         12 . The boot of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are configured to surround at least an articulating portion of the articulable electrosurgical instrument.   
     
     
         13 . An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 an instrument segment having a proximal end and a distal end;   an end effector articulably coupled to the distal end of the instrument segment, the end effector having an active electrode and configured to perform an electrosurgical procedure; and   a boot; wherein the boot comprises   a first layer having a flexible substantially non-conductive material,   a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer having a flexible conductive medium configured to be electrically coupled to at least one shield conductor, whereby the boot is configured to transmit normal current and fault current to a reference potential,   and a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer having a flexible non-conductive material.   
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is positioned about at least a portion of the instrument segment and the end effector.   
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot comprises a conductive rubber, a coaxial cable, a metal braid inside an insulation material, or a thin conductive film.   
     
     
         16 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second layer comprises a conductive coating disposed over the first layer, the first layer comprising a polymer tubing.   
     
     
         17 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is configured to conduct up to 300 Watts of power having a voltage of up to 5 kilovolts.   
     
     
         18 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is corrugated.   
     
     
         19 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second layer comprises at least one of a metal coated flexible polymer, polyaniline, carbon-filled silicone, graphene, conductive epoxy, a physical vapor deposition, a conductive fabric, braided wire, a wire mesh, a spiral wire, a conductive coating, a plurality of conductive segments, or a plurality of conductive segments joined by a mechanical interlock.   
     
     
         20 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is configured to withstand a power having at least one of a voltage of at least 5 kilovolts or a current of at least 2.0 Amperes.   
     
     
         21 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is configured isolate an active electrode in the electrosurgical instrument; and   the boot is configured to withstand electrical excitation having an open-circuit voltage up to 5 kilovolts peak, a normal current up to 1.5 amperes, and a fault current up to 2.5 amperes; and wherein   the boot is positioned spaced apart from the active electrode to prevent current from passing between the boot and a surgical region of the active electrode.   
     
     
         22 . The electrosurgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is positioned about an articulating portion of the electrosurgical instrument and exposes a portion of the end effector.