Electrosurgical apparatus for the treatment, even without contact, of inner and/or outer tissues
An electrosurgical apparatus for the treatment, even without contact, of an inner and/or outer tissue is described. The apparatus includes a graspable handpiece and has an end fitted with a single active electrode, a generator system configured to generate a radio frequency electrical signal adapted to bias the active electrode to generate a plasma glow discharge between the active electrode and the tissue when the active electrode is in the proximity of the tissue. The apparatus also includes a stabilizing cable configured to close a circuit with the handpiece and the plasma glow discharge and to allow a return of a part of the current generated in the plasma discharge from the tissue toward the generator system.
1 . An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
a handpiece adapted to be grasped by an operator and comprising an end fitted with an active electrode;
a generator system operatively and electrically connected to said handpiece, configured to generate a radio frequency electrical signal adapted to bias said active electrode so as to generate a plasma glow discharge between said active electrode and said tissue when said active electrode is in the proximity of said tissue; and
a stabilizing cable, operatively and electrically connected to said generator system, configured to create a circuit with said handpiece and said plasma glow discharge, to allow the recovery from said tissue of a residual surface energy, which has not been grounded through the capacitive coupling alone between a living being and the surrounding environment, through a current return from the tissue towards the generator system,
wherein the recovery of the residual surface energy from the tissue is achieved by a combination of a first contribution and a second contribution, the first contribution including a return of current from said tissue towards the generator system through the stabilizing cable and the second contribution including a return of the current grounded by the capacitive coupling between the living being and the surrounding environment towards the generator system through a decoupling capacitor.
2 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of handpieces operatively and electrically connected to said generator system, which can be alternately powered by said generator system.
3 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said radio frequency electrical signal is adapted to bias said active electrode so as to generate a plasma glow discharge between said active electrode and said tissue when said active electrode is at a distance between 0.5 mm and 3 mm from said tissue.
4 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the generator system comprises:
a logical control unit configured to receive signals, process said signals and send further drive signals; and
a power supply circuit operatively connected to said logical control unit
and said at least one handpiece, which is configured to electrically power the at least one handpiece through said radio frequency electrical signal.
5 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said logical control unit is configured to drive said power supply circuit by regulating at least one of its operating parameters selected from:
power of the radio frequency electrical signal, up to a maximum value of 20 W;
frequency of the radio frequency electrical signal, up to a maximum value of 100 kHz;
output current up to a maximum value of 0.1 A;
peak-to-peak value of the output voltage, up to a maximum of 5.0 kV; and
duty cycle in a value between 10% and 80%.
6 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said logical control unit is configured to drive said power supply circuit by regulating at least one of its operating parameters in a pre-set configuration selected from:
cut and dissection: wherein the peak-to-peak value of the output voltage is less than 1.3 kV and wherein the active electrode operates by contact to produce a cut or dissection on the tissue;
ablation and surface treatments: wherein the peak-to-peak value of the output voltage is between 1.3 kV and 2.2 kV and wherein the active electrode operates without contact to produce ablation or a surface treatment on the tissue; and
haemostasis: the peak-to-peak value of the output voltage is between 2.2 kV and 5.0 kV and wherein the active electrode operates without contact to produce a haemostasis at the tissue.
7 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the power supply circuit is configured to generate said radio frequency electrical signal having a pulsed signal form when it is in the haemostasis configuration.
8 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to said logical control unit, in turn comprising first control commands arranged on a casing of the generator system, which can be actuated by an operator and are configured to regulate said operating parameter of the power supply circuit.
9 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said user interface comprises second control commands positioned on said handpiece, which can be actuated by an operator and are configured to regulate an operating parameter of the power supply circuit and/or to actuate the electrosurgical apparatus.
10 . The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising an actuating device operatively connected to the logical control unit ( 120 ) and configured to drive said power supply circuit.
11 . The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the actuating device is a pedal.
12 . The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the decoupling capacitor is connected between ground and the generator system and is configured to conduct the current grounded by the capacitive coupling between the living being and the surrounding environment toward the generator system.
13 . The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing cable is connected to the generator system by a stabilizing cable connection and the decoupling capacitor is connected between ground and the stabilizing cable connection.