US 12,064,165 B2
Electrode assembly for RF energy enabled tissue debridement device
John R. Prisco, Jacksonville, FL (US); Eric P. Detmers, Jacksonville, FL (US); Wenjeng Li, Saint Johns, FL (US); David J. Little, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (US); Patrick Richart, Jacksonville, FL (US); and Jose Valdez, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Assigned to Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
Filed by Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/549,185.
Application 17/549,185 is a continuation of application No. 16/222,362, filed on Dec. 17, 2018, granted, now 11,197,714.
Application 16/222,362 is a continuation of application No. 15/046,869, filed on Feb. 18, 2016, granted, now 10,188,456, issued on Jan. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/117,541, filed on Feb. 18, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0096147 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1485 (2013.01) [A61B 17/32002 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00208 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00607 (2013.01); A61B 18/148 (2013.01); A61B 2217/007 (2013.01); A61B 2218/002 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A blade assembly extending from a proximal region to a distal region for RF energy enabled tissue debridement, the blade assembly comprising:
an outer shaft assembly including: an outer shaft defining a lumen extending along a central axis, an outer circumference, a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, in which the distal end defines a cutting window in the outer shaft assembly and a first electrode surface at the distal region;
an inner shaft assembly rotatably disposed within the lumen of the outer shaft assembly about the central axis, the inner shaft assembly defining a distal portion, the distal portion further including a cutting tip;
an electrode body extending along the outer circumference of the outer shaft and electrically isolated from the outer shaft, the electrode body having an arcuate shape viewed in cross section with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis, the arcuate shape defined by opposed, spaced apart, first and second ends, an inner arcuate surface facing the outer circumference, and an outer arcuate surface opposite the inner arcuate surface, the opposed, spaced apart, first and second ends defining a trench, the trench including a first radius configured to accommodate the outer circumference and a second radius configured to receive an elongated tubular member between the inner arcuate surface and the outer arcuate surface;
an irrigation channel defined within the elongated tubular member and positioned between the outer circumference of the outer shaft and the electrode body, the elongated tubular member including a fluid outlet at a distal end thereof configured to deliver fluid from the irrigation channel between an outer surface of the first electrode and an inner surface of the electrode body, the electrode body further defining a distal cup at a distal end thereof;
a hub rotatably supporting the outer shaft and the electrode body, in which upon rotation of the hub about the central axis, the outer shaft and the electrode body rotate about the central axis; and
a rotary electrical connection assembly comprising an outer connector and an inner connector rotatably disposed within the outer connector, the inner connector electrically connected to the electrode body;
in which the arcuate shape of the electrode body allows electricity to travel from the proximal end to the distal end of the device along the blade assembly by less than 360 degrees in cross section.