Tissue resecting devices and methods

Abstract

A tissue-resecting probe includes an elongated outer sleeve extending about an axis to a distal housing having a first window for receiving tissue. An edge of the first window has a dielectric surface. A rotatable inner sleeve has a second window, and at least a portion of an edge of the second window provides a first polarity electrode. Rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve moves the probe between window-open and window-closed configurations to resect tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue-resecting probe comprising:
 an elongated outer sleeve extending about an axis to a distal housing having a first window for receiving tissue, wherein an edge of the first window has a dielectric surface; and   a rotatable inner sleeve having a second window wherein the inner sleeve carries a first polarity electrode and wherein rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve moves the probe between window-open and window-closed configurations to resect tissue;   a motor for rotating the inner sleeve;   a controller for controlling the motor, wherein the controller is configured to de-activate the first electrodes in response to a signal of an operational parameter of the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue-resecting probe of claim wherein an edge of the second window comprises the first polarity electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 2  wherein a lateral edge of the second window comprises the first polarity electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 2  wherein both lateral edges of the second window comprise the first polarity electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 1  further comprising a negative pressure source in communication with an interior passageway in the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 5  wherein the controller is operatively connected to the negative pressure source 
     
     
         7 . A tissue-resecting probe comprising:
 an elongated probe comprising a windowed outer sleeve and cooperating windowed inner sleeve that is rotatable to resect tissue, wherein an edge of the inner sleeve window comprises a first polarity electrode and a portion of the outer sleeve comprises a second polarity electrode;   a motor for rotating the inner sleeve; and   a controller and electrical source operatively connected to the first and second electrodes, wherein the controller is configured to de-activate the first and second electrodes in response to a signal of an operational parameter of the motor.   
     
     
         8 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 7  wherein the controller is configured to activate the electrodes during 90° to 180° rotation of each 360° rotation of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 7  wherein the controller is configured to activate the electrodes only when an advancing edge of the inner sleeve window is exposed in the outer sleeve window. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 7  further comprising a microswitch configured for actuation during each 360° rotation of the inner sleeve, wherein the controller activates and de-activates the electrodes in response to signals from the microswitch. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 7  wherein the controller activates and de-activates the electrodes in response to measured electrical parameter relative to electrodes that varies during each 360° rotation of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 11  wherein the electrical parameter is impedance. 
     
     
         13 . A tissue-resecting probe comprising:
 an elongated probe comprising a windowed outer sleeve and cooperating windowed inner sleeve that is rotatable to resect tissue, wherein an edge of the inner sleeve window comprises a first polarity electrode and a portion of the outer sleeve comprises a second polarity electrode;   a motor for moving the inner sleeve; and   a controller and electrical source operatively connected to the motor and to the first and second electrodes, wherein the controller is configured to receive stop rotation of the motor and the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve in at least a first position.   
     
     
         14 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 13  wherein said first position comprises alignment of the outer and inner sleeve windows to provide a window-open configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 14  wherein the controller is configured to receive to stop rotation of the motor and the inner sleeve in a second position comprising non-alignment of the outer and inner sleeve windows to provide a partly window-open configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 15  wherein the controller includes an algorithm to stop the inner sleeve rotationally in the first or second positions in response to a signal from a mechanism configured to monitor rotation of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 13  wherein the controller includes an algorithm to stop the inner sleeve rotationally in the first or second positions in response to a measured electrical parameter relative to electrodes that varies during each 360° rotation of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue-resecting probe of  claim 17  wherein the electrical parameter is impedance.