INTEGRATED PROBE AND ANOSCOPE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT THERAPY OF TISSUE
Disclosed herein is a surgical tool ( 10′, 10 ″) for use in surgical removal of hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ). The surgical tool includes an anoscope ( 51′, 51 ″) with a proximal end ( 55′, 55 ″) and a distal end ( 57 ). The anoscope ( 51′ 51 ″) has a slot ( 53 ) near the distal end ( 57 ) to receive the hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ). The surgical tool also includes a probe ( 16 ) for delivering electrical current to the hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ). The probe ( 16 ) includes a base ( 48 ) with a distal end and a proximal end and elongated probe electrodes ( 36, 38 ) extending from the distal end of the base. The probe ( 16 ) is removably attached to the anoscope ( 51′, 51 ″) such that distal ends ( 37, 39 ) of the elongated probe electrodes ( 36, 38 ) are positioned within the slot ( 53 ) for electricity-conducting engagement with said hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ).
1 . A surgical tool ( 10 ′, 10 ″) for use in surgical removal of hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ), said surgical tool comprising:
an anoscope ( 51 ′, 51 ″) with a proximal end ( 55 ′, 55 ″) and a distal end ( 57 ), and further having a slot ( 53 ) near said distal end ( 57 ) to receive the hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ); and
a probe ( 16 ) for delivering electrical current to the hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ), said probe including a base ( 48 ) with a distal end and a proximal end and at least one elongated probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) extending from said distal end of the base;
wherein the probe ( 16 ) is removably attached to the anoscope ( 51 ′, 51 ″) such that a distal end ( 37 , 39 ) of the at least one elongated probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) is positioned within the slot ( 53 ) for electricity-conducting engagement with said hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ).
2 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an instrument handpiece ( 14 , 14 ″) wherein the proximal end of the base ( 48 ) is removably attached to the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) and wherein the instrument handpiece is removably attached to the anoscope ( 51 ′, 51 ″).
3 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the proximal end ( 55 ′) of the anoscope ( 51 ′) includes a cavity ( 60 ′) sized to receive a portion of the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) and wherein the portion of the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) is removably attached within the cavity.
4 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 3 further comprising at least one fastener ( 62 ′) within the cavity ( 60 ′) to removably attach the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) within the cavity ( 60 ′).
5 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 3 wherein a depth ( 64 ′) of the cavity ( 60 ′) is less than a depth ( 66 ′) of the handpiece ( 14 ).
6 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the anoscope ( 51 ″) has a somewhat conical shape wherein said proximal end ( 55 ″) is larger in diameter than said distal end ( 57 ), and wherein the anoscope ( 51 ″) includes a slot ( 68 ″) near said proximal end ( 55 ″) and wherein the handpiece ( 14 ″) includes a flange ( 70 ″) extending around a periphery of the handpiece ( 14 ″), said flange ( 70 ″) including a groove ( 72 ″) configured to engage the slot ( 68 ″) near said proximal end ( 55 ″) of the anoscope ( 51 ″) to removably attach the handpiece ( 14 ″) to the anoscope ( 51 ″).
7 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 6 wherein a distal end ( 44 ) of the handpiece ( 14 ″) includes an aperture ( 40 ) to receive the proximal end of the base ( 48 ) and wherein the flange ( 70 ″) is disposed at an angle ( 74 ″) relative to an axis (P) of the probe ( 16 ) mounted to the distal end ( 44 ) of the handpiece ( 14 ″).
8 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 7 wherein the angle ( 74 ″) is selected such that the distal end ( 37 , 39 ) of the probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) is oriented in the slot ( 53 ) at the distal end ( 57 ″) of the anoscope ( 51 ″) upon engagement of the groove ( 72 ″) within the slot ( 68 ″) near the proximal end ( 55 ″) of the anoscope ( 51 ″).
9 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a mount ( 78 ″) positioned along an inner surface of the anoscope ( 51 ″) between the proximal end and the distal end ( 55 ″, 57 ″), wherein the mount is configured to provide support to the probe base ( 48 ) and align the distal end ( 37 , 39 ) of the probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) in the slot ( 53 ) at the distal end of the anoscope.
10 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 6 wherein the slot ( 53 ) near said distal end ( 57 ) of the anoscope ( 51 ″) is oriented 180 degrees from the slot ( 68 ″) near said proximal end ( 55 ″) of the anoscope.
11 . A surgical tool ( 10 ′, 10 ″) for use in surgical removal of hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ), said surgical tool comprising:
an anoscope ( 51 ′, 51 ″) with a proximal end ( 55 ′, 55 ″) and a distal end ( 57 ), and further having a slot ( 53 ) near said distal end ( 57 ) to receive the hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 );
a probe ( 16 ) including at least one elongated probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) for delivering electrical current to the hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ); and
an instrument handpiece ( 14 , 14 ″) wherein the probe ( 16 ) is removably attached to the instrument handpiece ( 14 , 14 ″) and wherein the instrument handpiece is removably attached to the anoscope ( 51 ′, 51 ″) such that a distal end ( 37 , 39 ) of the at least one elongated probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) is positioned within the slot ( 53 ) for electricity-conducting engagement with said hemorrhoidal tissue ( 50 ).
12 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the proximal end ( 55 ′) of the anoscope ( 51 ′) includes a cavity ( 60 ′) sized to receive a portion of the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) and wherein the portion of the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) is removably attached within the cavity.
13 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 12 further comprising at least one fastener ( 62 ′) within the cavity ( 60 ′) to removably attach the instrument handpiece ( 14 ) within the cavity ( 60 ′).
14 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 12 wherein a depth ( 64 ′) of the cavity ( 60 ′) is less than a depth ( 66 ′) of the handpiece ( 14 ).
15 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anoscope ( 51 ″) includes a slot ( 68 ″) near said proximal end ( 55 ″) and wherein the handpiece ( 14 ″) includes a flange ( 70 ″) extending around a periphery of the handpiece ( 14 ″), said flange ( 70 ″) including a groove ( 72 ″) configured to engage the slot ( 68 ″) to removably attach the handpiece ( 14 ″) to the anoscope ( 51 ″).
16 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 15 wherein the flange ( 70 ″) is disposed at an angle ( 74 ″) relative to an axis (P) of the probe ( 16 ) mounted to the handpiece ( 14 ″).
17 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 16 wherein the angle ( 74 ″) is selected such that the distal end ( 37 , 39 ) of the probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) is oriented in the slot ( 53 ) at the distal end ( 57 ″) of the anoscope ( 51 ″) upon engagement of the groove ( 72 ″) within the slot ( 68 ″).
18 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a mount ( 78 ″) positioned along an inner surface of the anoscope ( 51 ″) between the proximal end and the distal end ( 55 ″, 57 ″), wherein the mount is configured to provide support to the probe ( 16 ) and align the distal end ( 37 , 39 ) of the probe electrode ( 36 , 38 ) in the slot ( 53 ) at the distal end of the anoscope.
19 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 15 wherein the slot ( 53 ) near said distal end ( 57 ) of the anoscope ( 51 ″) is oriented 180 degrees from the slot ( 68 ″) near said proximal end ( 55 ″) of the anoscope.
20 . The surgical tool in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the fastener ( 62 ′) is one of a magnetic fastener and a snap fastener.