Tissue resection apparatus

Abstract

A tissue resection apparatus is provided which includes an outer tube with a helical coil disposed on a distal end. The coil is provided with a first electrode. A central tube has a distal edge profile comprising one or more surface segments. One of the surface segments includes a second electrode. The central tube is slidably disposed within the outer tube and positioned such that second electrode opposes at least a portion of the first electrode. A cutting tube is slidably disposed within the central tube and includes a cutting edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue resection mechanism comprising:
 an outer tube having a helical coil disposed on a distal end, the coil including a first electrode;   a central tube having a distal edge profile including one or more surface segments, at least one of surface segments including a second electrode, said central tube being slidably disposed within said outer tube and being position such that the second electrode opposes at least a portion the first electrode;   a cutting tube including a cutting edge slidably disposed within said central tube, said cutting tube configured to advance at least as far as one of the coil segments.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue resection device of  claim 1  where the coil includes first and second contiguous coil segments, the first coil segment including the first electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue resection device of  claim 2  wherein the first coil segment comprises a generally planar open ring. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue resection device of  claim 2  wherein the first coil segment is helical and has a pitch of zero. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue resection device of  claim 2  wherein the second coil segment is helical and has a constant pitch. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue resection device of  claim 5  wherein the second coil segment has a variable pitch. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue resection device of  claim 2  wherein the first coil segment is helical and has a first pitch and the second coil segment is helical and has a second pitch, at least one of the first and second pitches is variable. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue resection device of  claim 1  wherein the second coil segment includes the blunt tip. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue resection device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second electrodes have surface profiles that are substantially matching. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue resection device of  claim 2  wherein the first coil segment has an inner diameter and an outer diameter and said central tube includes an inner and outer diameter wherein the outer diameter of the central tube is greater than the inner diameter of the first coil segment and the outer diameter of the first coil segment is greater than the inner diameter of said central tube. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue resection device of  claim 2  wherein the first coil segment has an outer diameter and said central tube has an outer diameter that is about equal to the outer diameter of the first coil. 
     
     
         12 . A tissue resection mechanism comprising:
 an outer tube having a helical coil disposed on a distal end, the coil including a first electrode;   a central tube having a distal edge profile including one or more surface segments, at least one of surface segments including a second electrode, said central tube being slidably disposed within said outer tube and being position such that the second electrode opposes at least a portion the first electrode;   first and second ligating electrodes disposed in said central tube and exposed to a central tube lumen;   a snare disposed in said central tube between said first and second ligating electrodes; and   a cutting tube including a cutting edge slidably disposed within said central tube, said cutting tube configured to advance at least to one of the coil segments.   
     
     
         13 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 12  wherein said central tube includes an inner surface with a circumferential grooved pathway and said snare is disposed in the circumferential grooved pathway. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said central tube includes an outer surface having a plurality of axially extending grooved pathways, at least one of the axially extending grooved pathways being in communication with the circumferential grooved pathway and said snare axially extending from the circumferential grooved pathway along one of the plurality of axially extending grooved pathways. 
     
     
         15 . A tissue resection mechanism that gathers, compresses and seals fluid vessels comprising:
 an outer tube having a helical coil disposed on a distal end, the coil including a first electrode;   a central tube having a distal edge profile including one or more surface segments, at least one of surface segments including a second electrode, said central tube being slidably disposed within said outer tube and being position such that the second electrode opposes at least a portion the first electrode;   first and second ligating electrodes disposed in the central tube and exposed to a central tube lumen;   an amputation snare disposed in said central tube;   a ligation snare disposed in said central tube; and   a cutting tube including a cutting edge slidably disposed within said central tube, said cutting tube configured to advance at least to one of the coil segments.   
     
     
         16 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 15  wherein said ligation snare is disposed between said first and second ligating electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 15  wherein said ligation snare is a flexible line having a first diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 16  wherein said amputation snare is disposed proximal to said ligating snare. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 19  wherein said amputation snare includes a flexible line having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The tissue resection mechanism of  claim 15  wherein said central tube includes an inner surface having first and second a circumferential grooved pathways, said ligation snare being disposed in the first circumferential grooved pathway and said amputation snare is disposed in the second circumferential grooved pathway.