US 11,723,713 B2
Electrosurgical blade with minimally exposed edge, alternative to coated blade
Nathaniel R. Lau, Dover, NH (US); Christopher Barden, Acton, MA (US); Jessica Sacks, Lynnfield, MA (US); and William X. Siopes, Tyngsboro, MA (US)
Assigned to MEDTRONIC ADVANCED ENERGY LLC, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/841,790.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/434,753, filed on Dec. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2018/0168717 A1, Jun. 21, 2018
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/18 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/14 (2013.01) [A61B 18/18 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00077 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00148 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00607 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1253 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1412 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cutting element for an electrosurgical device, comprising:
a conductive shaft;
an elongate non-conductive body defining a major longitudinal axis having a first face opposite a second face, the first face and the second face joining to define an edge;
the elongate non-conductive body having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end having a rounded portion;
a conductive element that does not protrude from the edge and defines a flat and co-planar surface with the edge, the conductive element being disposed only along the edge, only along a midpoint of a width of the elongate non-conductive body, and only along the rounded portion of the distal end of the elongate non-conductive body, the conductive element being configured to cut tissue with monopolar radiofrequency energy; and
the elongate non-conductive body includes a soldering strip disposed only on the first face and the edge, the soldering strip spanning an entire width of a proximal portion of the elongate non-conductive body transverse to the major longitudinal axis, the soldering strip being configured to electrically couple the conductive element to the conductive shaft of the electrosurgical device.