Attachment for Electrosurgical System
An electrosurgical scalpel for a gas-assisted electrosurgical system. The electrosurgical scalpel has a dielectric portion and a conductive portion. The dielectric portion forms a substantial majority of the outer surface of the scalpel such that the conductive portion is only exposed along a thin edge of the scalpel. The dielectric portion provided stiffness to the very thin conductive portion and causes energy to be concentrated at the thin edge of the scalpel.
1 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device comprising:
a housing;
a channel;
a connector for connecting said channel to a gas source;
an electrosurgical scalpel having a width at least three times its thickness, said electrosurgical scalpel comprising:
a dielectric portion; and
a conductive portion;
wherein said conductive portion is exposed only along the thickness of said electrosurgical scalpel; and
a connector for connecting said electrosurgical scalpel to an electrosurgical generator.
2 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 1 , wherein:
said conductive portion of said electrosurgical scalpel comprises a conductive plate having opposing flat surfaces formed by its width and length and an edge formed by its thickness; and
said dielectric portion comprises a dielectric coating on said opposing flat surfaces of said conductive plate.
3 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 2 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a flat outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
4 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 2 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a contoured outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
5 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 1 , wherein:
said dielectric portion comprises a dielectric plate having a pair of opposing surfaces form by its width and an edge formed by its thickness; and
said conductive portion of said electrosurgical scalpel comprises a conductive wire along said edge of said dielectric plate.
6 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 5 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a flat outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
7 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 5 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a contoured outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
8 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device comprising:
an electrosurgical scalpel having a width at least three times its thickness, said electrosurgical scalpel comprising:
a dielectric portion; and
a conductive portion;
wherein said conductive portion is exposed only along the thickness of said electrosurgical scalpel.
9 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 8 , wherein:
said conductive portion of said electrosurgical scalpel comprises a conductive plate having opposing flat surfaces formed by its width and length and an edge formed by its thickness; and
said dielectric portion comprises a dielectric coating on said opposing flat surfaces of said conductive plate.
10 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 9 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a flat outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
11 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 9 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a contoured outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
12 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 8 , wherein:
said dielectric portion comprises a dielectric plate having a pair of opposing surfaces form by its width and an edge formed by its thickness; and
said conductive portion of said electrosurgical scalpel comprises a conductive wire along said edge of said dielectric plate.
13 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 12 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a flat outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
14 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 12 , wherein said dielectric coating forms a contoured outer surface of the electrosurgical scalpel.
15 . An attachment for a gas-assisted electrosurgical device according to claim 12 , further comprising a connector for connecting said scalpel to an electrosurgical handpiece.