Bi-polar surgical instrument

Abstract

A surgical device is disclosed that comprises a shaft member and a pair of electrodes. The shaft member has a pair of electrode channels that open at the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the electrode channels are positioned adjacent to one another. The pair of electrodes are configured to deliver energy, and one of the pair of electrodes are configured to be disposed in each electrode channel such that distal ends of each of the electrodes are arranged to protrude from the distal end of the shaft member. The shaft member further includes at least one lumen opening at the distal end of the shaft member.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A surgical device, comprising:
 a shaft member including first and second electrode channels that open at a distal end of the shaft member, wherein the first and second electrode channels are positioned adjacent to one another;   first and second electrodes configured to deliver energy, wherein the first electrode is positioned in the first electrode channel and the second electrode is positioned in the second electrode channel, and wherein distal ends of the first and second electrodes are arranged to protrude from the distal end of the shaft member; and   wherein the shaft member further includes and aspiration lumen and a fluid lumen that both open at the distal end of the shaft member.   
     
     
         31 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the fluid lumen is positioned above the electrode channels. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the fluid lumen is disposed opposite the aspiration lumen, with electrode openings being arranged between the fluid and aspiration lumens. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the electrode channels are configured are configured as fluid lumens. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein distal ends of the electrodes are bent to protrude radially outwardly from an outer periphery of the shaft member. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the distal ends of the electrodes further comprise distal tips that are configured to diverge from one another. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the distal ends are conical shaped. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , further comprising a sleeve member that includes a vacuum chamber therein, wherein the shaft member extends through the vacuum chamber and the sleeve member includes a vacuum opening that is in communication with the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical device of  claim 37 , further including a vacuum control valve to selectively vent the vacuum chamber to vary aspiration pressure delivered through shaft member. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical device of  claim 38 , wherein the vacuum control valve comprises a vent aperture and a selectively slidable member that is configured to selectively cover and uncover at least portions of the vent aperture to control the aspiration pressure. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical device of  claim 37 , further comprising a fluid chamber disposed in the sleeve member, wherein the shaft member extends through the fluid chamber and wherein the shaft member includes an irrigation opening that is in communication with a fluid lumen extending through the shaft member. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical device of  claim 40 , further comprising a second fluid chamber disposed in the sleeve member, wherein the shaft member extends into the second fluid chamber, and wherein the electrode channels are in communication with the second fluid chamber. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the shaft member is configured to be malleable such that the shaft member may be selectively bent to a desired shape that is retained. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the electrode channels are configured with a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the electrodes so as to form an irrigation annulus between the electrodes and an inner surface of the electrode channels. 
     
     
         44 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the distal ends of the electrodes are configured to have atraumatic shaped distal tips. 
     
     
         45 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the electrodes are sealed within the electrode openings. 
     
     
         46 . The surgical device of  claim 45 , wherein fluid lumen is configured with a predetermined sized opening at the distal end of the shaft member to deliver fluid at a predetermined flow rate. 
     
     
         47 . The surgical device of  claim 45 , wherein the electrodes are each configured with an irrigation lumen therein, wherein the irrigation lumen defines an irrigation opening at a distal tip of the electrodes. 
     
     
         48 . The surgical device of  claim 47 , wherein the irrigation opening is sized to deliver irrigation through the electrodes at a predetermined flow rate. 
     
     
         49 . The surgical device of  claim 45 , wherein the electrodes are each configured with an irrigation lumen therein, and wherein the distal end of the electrodes further comprise a plurality of irrigation openings distal of the distal end of the shaft member, the irrigation openings configured to deliver irrigation through the electrodes at a predetermined flow rate. 
     
     
         50 . The surgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the distal end of the shaft member further comprises a land member into which the first and second electrode openings are positioned. 
     
     
         51 . The surgical device of  claim 50 , wherein the land member separates the fluid lumen and the aspiration lumen.