Electrosurgical instrument
An electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated housing having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy via first and second channels extending along a length of the housing to the distal end thereof. The distal end includes a reflector having a dielectric load operably coupled thereto and configured to receive at least a portion of the first conductor therein. In a first mode of operation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted to the first channel and reflected from the reflector to electrosurgically treat tissue. The reflector is configured to receive at least a portion of the second channel therein. In a second mode of operation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted to the second channel to dissect tissue.
1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a coaxial feed configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy;
a dielectric load configured to couple to a distal end of the coaxial feed; and
an electrically conductive reflector configured to couple to the dielectric load and to reflect electrosurgical energy provided by the coaxial feed to treat tissue.
2. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector is formed from a conductive metal tube having a diagonal cross-cut at least partially through a width thereof.
3. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric load is shaped to complement a shape of the reflector.
4. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3 , wherein the dielectric load is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, fluid, and plastic.
5. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the coaxial feed includes:
an outer conductor;
a dielectric extending distally beyond the outer conductor; and
an inner conductor extending distally beyond both the outer conductor and the dielectric of the coaxial feed.
6. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector defines a channel configured to receive the dielectric load therein and the dielectric load defines an aperture configured to receive the distal end of the coaxial feed therein.
7. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a monopolar electrode disposed at a distal end of the reflector and configured to electrically couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, wherein the monopolar electrode is configured to transmit radiofrequency energy to electrosurgically dissect tissue, and the coaxial feed is configured to transmit microwave energy to electrosurgically treat tissue.
8. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a microwave block operably coupled to the reflector adjacent the dielectric load.
9. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the microwave block includes a dielectric portion and a conductive portion, the microwave block configured to prevent electrosurgical energy from exiting the reflector.
10. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the dielectric portion of the microwave block includes a dielectric constant that is less than a dielectric constant of the dielectric load.
11. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a coaxial feed configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy;
a dielectric load defining an aperture configured to receive a distal end of the coaxial feed therein; and
an electrically conductive reflector defining a channel configured to receive the dielectric load therein, the reflector configured to reflect electrosurgical energy provided by the coaxial feed to electrosurgically treat tissue.
12. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the reflector is formed from a conductive metal tube having a diagonal cross-cut at least partially through a width thereof.
13. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the dielectric load is shaped to complement a shape of the reflector.
14. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein the dielectric load is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, fluid, and plastic.
15. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the coaxial feed includes:
an outer conductor;
a dielectric extending distally beyond the outer conductor; and
an inner conductor extending distally beyond both the outer conductor and the dielectric of the coaxial feed.
16. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11 , further comprising a monopolar electrode disposed at a distal end of the reflector and configured to electrically couple to a source of electrosurgical energy.
17. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16 , wherein the monopolar electrode is configured to transmit radiofrequency energy to electrosurgically dissect tissue, and the coaxial feed is configured to transmit microwave energy to electrosurgically treat tissue.
18. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11 , further comprising a microwave block operably coupled to a proximal end of the reflector.
19. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 18 , wherein the microwave block includes a dielectric portion and a conductive portion, the microwave block configured to prevent electrosurgical energy from exiting the reflector.
20. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 19 , wherein the dielectric portion of the microwave block includes a dielectric constant that is less than a dielectric constant of the dielectric load.