Suction coagulator
An electrosurgical suction coagulator includes a housing having proximal and distal ends and an elongated tube-like shaft extending longitudinally from the distal end of the housing. The elongated tube-like shaft includes a tube-like dielectric sheath, a tube-like conductor, and an external insulator. The tube-like conductor is disposed coaxially through the tube-like dielectric sheath. The distal end of the tube-like conductor protrudes at least partially from the distal end of the tube-like dielectric sheath. The external insulator is disposed coaxially around the tube-like dielectric sheath. The external insulator extends from about the proximal end of the dielectric sheath to about the distal end of the dielectric sheath.
1. An electrosurgical suction coagulator, comprising:
a housing having proximal and distal ends; and
a substantially malleable elongated tube-like shaft extending longitudinally from the distal end of the housing, the elongated tube-like shaft including:
a tube-like dielectric sheath;
a tube-like conductor having proximal and distal ends disposed coaxially through the tube-like dielectric sheath and configured to operably couple to a source of electrosurgical energy;
a first insulator disposed between the tube-like dielectric sheath and the tube-like conductor;
a second insulator disposed around the tube-like dielectric sheath;
a tube-like electrode operatively coupled to the distal end of the tube-like conductor, wherein the tube-like electrode extends distally beyond a distal end of the tube-like dielectric sheath, the tube-like electrode having at least one aspiration port defined therein adapted to operably couple to a source of aspiration suction; and
an isolator disposed between the tube-like electrode and the tube-like conductor to thermally insulate the tube-like electrode from the tube-like conductor.
2. An electrosurgical suction coagulator according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second insulators are formed from a closed cell foam material.
3. An electrosurgical suction coagulator according to claim 2 , wherein the closed cell foam material is a closed cell polyurethane foam.
4. An electrosurgical suction coagulator according to claim 1 , wherein the isolator is formed of a heat-resistant material.
5. An electrosurgical suction coagulator according to claim 1 , wherein the tube-like electrode is coaxial with the tube-like dielectric sheath.
6. An electrosurgical suction coagulator according to claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the second insulator encloses the distal end of the tube-like dielectric sheath.
7. An electrosurgical suction coagulator according to claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the second insulator is joined to the tube-like electrode.