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  Suction sleeve and interventional devices having such a suction sleeveUSPTO Application #: 20080103431Title: Suction sleeve and interventional devices having such a suction sleeve Abstract: A suction sleeve is configured to couple to the shaft of an RF device to evacuate hot gasses, fluids and/or other aspirates. The suction sleeve may be configured to be disposed coaxially around the shaft between the first end of the shaft and the work element (e.g., an RF cutting element) thereof. The suction sleeve defines a suction port and a plurality of openings near the work element, and is configured to enable suction in through the plurality of openings and out through the suction port. (end of abstract) Agent: Young Law Firm, P.C. Alan W. Young - Portola Valley, CA, US Inventors: Daniel M. Brounstein, Sean C. Daniel, Mier H. Moshe, Scott C. Anderson, James W. Vetter USPTO Applicaton #: 20080103431 - Class: 604022000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Means For Introducing Or Removing Material From Body For Therapeutic Purposes (e.g., Medicating, Irrigating, Aspirating, Etc.), With Means For Cutting, Scarifying, Or Vibrating (e.g., Ultrasonic, Etc.) Tissue The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080103431. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/732,670, filed Dec. 9, 2003, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and from which application priority is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to the field of electrosurgery. In particular, the present invention relates to suction sleeves for electrosurgical devices for the evacuation of hot gasses, bodily fluids and other aspirates from an electrosurgical site. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Information [0005] In use, electrosurgical instruments generate a great deal of heat at and around the RF cutting element of the instrument. All of the RF energy applied to the device is typically concentrated at the distal cutting element of the device, which consequently experiences a high current density. This high current density creates an arc between the targeted tissue and the cutting element of the device, which arc cuts the targeted tissue by vaporization of the cells that come into contact with the arc. This arc also creates very high temperatures. As the cells are vaporized, hot gasses (such as steam and smoke, for example) are created. Moreover, when arterial blood or other fluids fill the cavity around the cutting element of the electrosurgical element, these fluids are rapidly heated. [0006] The presence of such hot gasses has several adverse consequences. First among these adverse consequences is thermal damage to the otherwise viable and healthy tissue surrounding the electrosurgical site. Second, the presence of heated fluids may also adversely affect the operation of the RF device itself. As the fluids come into contact with the RF cutting element of the electrosurgical device, the arc generated within the gap between the targeted tissue and the distal RF tip of the device may be lost. In turn, this loss of arc results in a decrease in the current density at the cutting element of the device, which current is then redistributed over the comparatively greater surface area of the distal region of the RF device. Indeed, instead of the RF energy being concentrated in the very small area of the cutting element (e.g., cutting blade or tip) of the device (which leaves adjacent areas relatively unaffected by the great temperatures generated at the arc), the applied RF energy is spread out over the greater surface of the distal region of the RF device, thereby heating the entire cavity. This heating, in addition to causing unintended thermal damage to adjacent tissue and structures, may also damage the biopsy specimen, destroying the architecture of the severed tissue and hampering histopathological examination thereof. Moreover, the heat generated at the cutting element of the device may also transfer to the shaft of the device, even during a procedure of relatively short duration. [0007] To reduce the unintended thermal damage to adjacent tissues, it is necessary to evacuate the hot gasses and fluids from the electrosurgical site. Doing so in an efficient manner reduces the internal temperature of the cavity within which the RF procedure is being carried out, and reduces thermal damage to adjacent tissues. Moreover, efficient evacuation of gasses, fluids, and smoke facilitates the re-initiation of the RF arc by re-creating the gap between the targeted tissue and the RF tip. [0008] From the foregoing, it is apparent that evacuation of hot gasses and fluids is essential to prevent unintended thermal damage to adjacent tissue structures and to insure the maintenance of the RF arc at the distal tip of the electrosurgical device. What are needed, therefore, are devices for evacuation of heated gasses and fluids from an RF electrosurgery site. Such devices should efficiently remove both heated gasses and fluids without, however, unduly increasing the size of the device near the distal tip of the device. Such a device, moreover, should not hamper the physician as he or she manipulates (e.g., rotates) the electrosurgical device during the procedure. Ideally, such device should also be configured such that tissue coming into contact with it does not block the evacuation of the heated gasses and fluids. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Another embodiment of the present invention is a suction sleeve for a soft tissue interventional device that includes a shaft that includes a tapered portion defining a predetermined extent, the tapered portion defining a first external surface and a first internal surface, the first internal surface defining an internal axial lumen spanning the predetermined extent, the internal axial lumen being configured to receive the shaft, the first external surface defining a suction port and a plurality of openings that open to the internal axial lumen. [0010] The tapered portion may define a second external surface disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the first external surface and both the first and second external surfaces may define openings that open to the internal axial lumen. The openings defined within the first external surface may overlap with the openings defined within the second external surface. The plurality of openings may be shaped and dimensioned so as to enable free passage of aspirates (smoke, heated fluids, gasses, for example) from a cavity within soft tissue through the internal axial lumen and out through the suction port. One or more of the plurality of openings may define a generally cloverleaf shape. The suction sleeve may be at least partially transparent. The tapered portion may include a first sleeve half and a second sleeve half, the first sleeve half being configured to mate with the second sleeve half. The suction sleeve may further include at least one integral hinge bridging the first sleeve half to the second sleeve half. The tapered portion may include at least one sleeve mating assembly. The at least one sleeve mating assembly may be configured to removably mate the first sleeve half to the second sleeve half. The sleeve may include a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being configured to slide coaxially with the first portion to assume a first position in which the sleeve has a first length and second positions in which the length of the sleeve is greater than the first length. The second portion telescopes (e.g., slide axially) within or relative to the first portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a suction sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention, coupled to an exemplary excisional device. [0012] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the suction sleeve of FIG. 1, coupled to another exemplary excisional device. [0013] FIG. 2 is a detail view of the distal end of the RF device of FIG. 1B, to illustrate an exemplary configuration of the distal openings of the suction sleeve, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the distal end of the suction sleeve of FIGS. 1A-5, illustrating the overlapping nature of the openings therein. [0015] FIG. 4 is a front view of the distal end of the suction sleeve of FIGS. 1A-6. [0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective cutaway view of the distal end of the suction sleeve of the embodiment of the suction sleeve of FIGS. 1A-4, illustrating the manner in which smoke, fluids and/or other aspirates may be suctioned into the present suction sleeve. [0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the suction sleeve of FIG. 1A. [0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the suction sleeve shown in FIG. 3. [0019] FIG. 8 shows an interventional device to which a suction sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled, illustrating the manner in which smoke, fluids and/or other aspirates may be evacuated from a target site in the body during a biopsy or other procedure. [0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a combination introducer and suction sleeve, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Suction sleeve and interventional devices having such a suction sleeve Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Suction sleeve and interventional devices having such a suction sleeve patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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