Electrosurgical device for restricting loss of blood during surgery

Abstract

A device for restricting the loss of blood during a surgical procedure is disclosed. The device generates localized heating in an organ or volume of tissue and includes an applicator that is positioned against an organ or tissue to be treated, an array of retractable needles that deliver irradiating energy in the vicinity of a selected incision point; a switching mechanism in communication with the needles for energizing and causing movement of the needles and a power unit for supplying irradiating power to the needles when extended into the organ or tissue.

1 . A device for controlling excessive bleeding from severed tissue during a surgical procedure comprising:
 (i) an applicator; and   (ii) a plurality of rows of tissue-piercing needles connected to and arranged on said applicator in a rectangular pattern wherein at least two of said plurality of rows define a central channel structured and arranged to be centered on a selected incision line such that one of said at least two rows of tissue-piercing needles is on the opposite side of said selected incision line from the second of said at least two rows of tissue-piercing needles, said plurality of rows of needles defining a three-dimensional space that corresponds to a volume of tissue to be treated;   wherein said plurality of rows of needles are structured and arranged to be energizeable together, with needles in a plurality of said plurality of rows structured and arranged to be energized simultaneously to deliver ablating energy between, among and across said at least two of said plurality of rows of needles defining said central channel resulting in a cross-flow of energy into said volume of tissue to coagulate blood within the volume of tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of, rows of needles are retractable. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising a needle switching mechanism for advancing and retracting said plurality of rows of needles. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said needle switching mechanism comprises a collar affixed to each needle comprising said plurality of rows of needles. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said needle switching mechanism further comprises a solenoid acting on said collar 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of rows of needles are positioned around the perimeter of said applicator. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ablating energy is electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said applicator defines a TM11 mode waveguide. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said applicator further comprises dielectric material. 
     
     
         10 . A device for supplying localized heating to an organ, part of an organ, or tissue along a defined incision line to minimize the loss of blood during resection, said device comprising:
 (i) an applicator; and   (ii) at least two rows of needles connected to and arranged on said applicator in a rectangular pattern wherein said at least two rows of needles define a central channel structured and arranged to be centered on a defined incision line such that said at least two rows of needles straddle said defined incision line;   said at least two rows of needles structured and arranged to be energizable together, with needles in said at least two rows of needles energized simultaneously, so as to supply three-dimensional ablating energy among and across said at least two rows of needles defining a central channel resulting in a cross-flow of energy into said volume of organ, part of organ, or tissue to coagulate blood within the volume of organ, part of organ, or tissue along said defined incision line.   
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said at least two rows of needles are retractable. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising a needle switching mechanism for advancing and retracting said at least two rows of needles. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein said needle switching mechanism comprises a collar affixed to each needle comprising said at least two rows of needles. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said needle switching mechanism further comprises a solenoid acting on said collar 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said at least two rows of needles are positioned at the periphery of said applicator. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said ablating energy is electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said ablating energy is microwave energy. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said applicator defines a TM11 mode waveguide. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said applicator further comprises dielectric material. 
     
     
         20 . A device for restricting the loss of blood during a surgical procedure comprising:
 (i) an applicator having a face for positioning against an organ or tissue to be treated, said applicator including a collar;   (ii) an array of retractable needles secured to said collar and extending from said face, said array of retractable needles capable of irradiating said organ or tissue to be treated in a vicinity of a selected incision point;   (iii) a solenoid mechanism in communication with said array of retractable needles for energizing and releasing said array of retractable needles; and   (iv) a power unit in communication with said array of retractable needles for supplying irradiating power to said needles when extended into said organ or tissue in the vicinity of the selected incision point.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the power unit supplies sufficient power for a period required to raise the temperature of said organ or tissue in the vicinity of the selected incision point by about 20° C. to about 30° C. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said array of retractable needles provide local heating of the organ or tissue within a volume approximately 5 cm long, 2 cm wide and 4 cm deep. 
     
     
         23 . A device for controlling excessive bleeding from severed tissue during a surgical procedure comprising an applicator including a plurality of needles connected to a solenoid-activated collar affixed to each of said plurality of needles for advancing and retracting said plurality of needles, each said needle having a first end and a second end, said second end structured to pierce said tissue along a selected incision line; wherein said plurality of needles are energizeable to deliver ablating energy to said tissue along said selected incision line. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of needles when extended define a volume whose dimensions correspond to the tissue volume to be ablated. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of needles are positioned around the perimeter of said applicator. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said ablating energy is electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said applicator defines a TM11 mode waveguide. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein said applicator further comprises dielectric material. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said applicator is structured to be operably coupled to a source of said ablating energy. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of rows of tissue-piercing needles comprises two rows of needles. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of rows of tissue-piercing needles comprises four rows of two needles each arranged around a perimeter of said applicator. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein each needle includes a tissue-penetrating shaft that is sleeveless and non-insulated along the entire portion of the shaft that extends from the applicator body and said irradiating power is supplied along the length of the sleeveless, non-insulated tissue-penetrating shaft when extended into said organ, part of organ, or tissue. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each needle comprising said plurality of rows of tissue-piercing needles include a tissue-penetrating shaft that is sleeveless and non-insulated along the entire portion of the shaft that extends from the applicator body and said ablating energy is delivered into said volume of tissue along the length of the sleeveless, non-insulated tissue-penetrating shaft. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 10  wherein each needle comprising said at least two rows of needles include a tissue-penetrating shaft that is non-insulated along the entire portion of the shaft that extends from the applicator body to the tip and said energy is delivered into said volume of tissue along the length of the non-insulated tissue-penetrating shaft. 
     
     
         35 . A device for controlling excessive bleeding from severed tissue during resection comprising:
 (i) an applicator; and   (ii) four tissue-piercing needles connected to and arranged said applicator in a pattern of two rows by two columns that define a central channel structured and arranged such that at least two of said four tissue-piercing needles are arranged to be positioned on one side of a width of tissue and at least two of said four tissue-piercing needles are arranged to be positioned on an opposite side of said width of tissue, said width of tissue defining a planned incision line corresponding with said channel, said four tissue-piercing needles structured and arranged to be energizeable together to deliver three-dimensional energy among and with a cross-flow across said plurality of tissue-piercing needles and into a volume of tissue defined by said width along the planned incision line.   
     
     
         36 . The device as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said needles are retractable. 
     
     
         37 . The device as claimed in  claim 36  further comprising a needle switching mechanism for advancing and retracting said needles. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37  wherein said needle switching mechanism comprises a collar affixed to each needle. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38  wherein said needle switching mechanism further comprises a solenoid acting on said collar 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said ablating energy is electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said applicator defines a TM11 mode waveguide. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said applicator further comprises dielectric material. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said needles are positioned around the periphery of said applicator. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said ablating energy is microwave energy. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 35  wherein said rows of needles are parallel to each other and said columns of needles are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said rectangular pattern of needles comprises four needles arranged in a two by two array. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said rectangular pattern of needles comprises an array of four needles disposed in a two by two array. 
     
     
         48 . A device structured to bloodlessly resect tissue during a surgical procedure comprising:
 (iii) an applicator; and   (iv) four tissue-piercing needles connected to and arranged about a perimeter of said applicator in a rectangular pattern of two by two needles each, said pattern defining a central channel structured and arranged to be positioned on a selected incision line such that one of said rows of tissue-piercing needles is on the opposite side of said selected incision line from the second of said row of tissue-piercing needles, said two rows of needles defining a three-dimensional space that corresponds to a volume of tissue to be treated;   wherein said two rows of needles are structured and arranged to be energizeable together and simultaneously to deliver ablating energy between, among and across said four needles resulting in a cross-flow of energy into said volume of tissue to coagulate blood within the volume of tissue.   
     
     
         49 . A device structured to bloodlessly resect tissue during a surgical procedure consisting essentially of:
 (i) an applicator; and   (ii) four tissue-piercing needles connected to and arranged about a perimeter of said applicator in a rectangular pattern of two by two needles each, said pattern defining a central channel structured and arranged to be positioned on a selected incision line such that one of said rows of tissue-piercing needles is on the opposite side of said selected incision line from the second of said row of tissue-piercing needles, said two rows of needles defining a three-dimensional space that corresponds to a volume of tissue to be treated;   wherein said four needles contained within said two rows are structured and arranged to be energizeable together and simultaneously to deliver ablating energy between, among and across said four needles resulting in a cross-flow of energy into said volume of tissue to coagulate blood within the volume of tissue.