US 12,402,933 B2
Illuminated electrosurgical devices, systems and methods
Roger Greeley, Portsmouth, NH (US); David Hubelbank, Portsmouth, NH (US); Ethan Carter, Epping, NH (US); Xiaoming Cheng, Keller, TX (US); and William Siopes, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/264,075.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/660,396, filed on Apr. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0321093 A1, Oct. 24, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1442 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.02); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1412 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrosurgical device comprising:
an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a dielectric coating, at least one of the electrosurgical blade or the dielectric coating including at least one light-guiding element comprising at least one groove formed on the electrosurgical blade or the dielectric coating at a location proximal of the distal end of the electrosurgical blade, the at least one groove oriented to direct light through the dielectric coating towards the distal end of the electrosurgical blade, wherein the dielectric coating includes the at least one light-guiding element;
an optic having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the optic optically coupled to the proximal end of the electrosurgical blade; and
a light source arranged at the proximal end of the optic and configured to provide light through the optic and into the dielectric coating, the dielectric coating and the at least one light-guiding element configured to guide light from the optic through the dielectric coating, and out of the dielectric coating near the distal end of the electrosurgical blade to illuminate an area around the distal end of the electrosurgical blade.