US 12,076,074 B2
Electrosurgical device and methods
Neil Godara, Milton (CA); Jason Woo, Mississauga (CA); and Emily Won, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to MEDTRONIC HOLDING COMPANY SÀRL, Tolochenaz (CH)
Filed by MEDTRONIC HOLDING COMPANY SÀRL, Tolochenaz (CH)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/545,098.
Application 14/928,568 is a division of application No. 13/643,310, granted, now 9,173,700, issued on Nov. 3, 2015, previously published as PCT/CA2011/050203, filed on Apr. 15, 2011.
Application 17/545,098 is a continuation of application No. 16/660,067, filed on Oct. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,224,475.
Application 16/660,067 is a continuation of application No. 15/782,229, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,448,990, issued on Oct. 22, 2019.
Application 15/782,229 is a continuation of application No. 14/928,568, filed on Oct. 30, 2015, granted, now 9,788,889, issued on Oct. 17, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/328,118, filed on Apr. 26, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0096143 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1402 (2013.01) [A61B 18/14 (2013.01); A61B 18/148 (2013.01); A61B 18/1482 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00005 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00023 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0044 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00565 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00797 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 18/1485 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of lesioning in a bone of a patient using a unitary electrosurgical ablation probe, the method comprising:
inserting at least a portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe, having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis into the patient;
positioning the distal end of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe adjacent a portion of the bone;
supplying energy from an electrosurgical generator to a first electrode forming a closed distal end portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe via a first inner conductor extending through at least a portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe;
delivering energy between the first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and to the portion of the bone to create a lesion;
electrically isolating the first electrode and the second electrode from one another using an insulator positioned therebetween;
flowing a cooling fluid supplied by a fluid supply line within the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe, and through at least a portion of the closed distal end portion that abuts the distal end of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe; and
removing the cooling fluid flowing through the closed distal end portion through a fluid return line;
wherein an exit of the fluid supply line is closer to the proximal end of the unitary electrosurgical probe than an entrance of the fluid return line.
 
11. A method of lesioning in a bone of a patient using a unitary electrosurgical ablation probe, the method comprising:
positioning an introducer assembly into the patient;
inserting at least a portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis through the introducer assembly and into the patient;
positioning the distal end of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe adjacent a portion of the bone;
supplying energy from an electrosurgical generator to a first electrode forming a closed distal end portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe via a first inner conductor;
delivering energy between the first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and to the portion of the bone to create a lesion;
electrically isolating the first electrode and the second electrode from one another using an insulator positioned therebetween; and
circulating a cooling fluid supplied by a fluid supply line within the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe, and through at least a portion of the closed distal end portion that abuts the distal end of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe; and
removing the cooling fluid flowing through the closed distal end portion through a fluid return line;
wherein an exit of the fluid supply line is closer to the proximal end of the unitary electrosurgical probe than an entrance of the fluid return line.
 
17. A method of lesioning in a bone of a patient using a unitary electrosurgical probe, the method comprising:
positioning an introducer assembly into the patient;
inserting at least a portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe through the introducer assembly and into the patient;
positioning a distal end of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe adjacent a portion of the bone;
supplying energy from an electrosurgical generator to a first electrode forming a closed distal end portion of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe via a first inner conductor;
delivering energy between the first electrode and a second electrode to the portion of the bone to create a lesion; and
circulating a cooling fluid supplied by a fluid supply line within the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe, and through at least a portion of the closed distal end portion that abuts the distal end of the unitary electrosurgical ablation probe; and
removing the cooling fluid flowing through the closed distal end portion through a fluid return line;
wherein an exit of the fluid supply line is closer to the proximal end of the unitary electrosurgical probe than an entrance of the fluid return line.