Direction-oriented and spatially controlled bipolar coagulator for in-situ cauterization of adherent cranial tissue occluding a ventricular catheter previously implanted in-vivo

摘要

The present invention provides a bipolar coagulator which can be passed through the internal lumen of a ventricular catheter previously implanted into a cranial ventricle of a living subject and engaged in-situ. The bipolar coagulator will provide bipolar electrical arc currents for coagulation cauterization of adherent brain tissues, such as the choroid plexus, which occludes fluid flow into the intake drainage holes in the implanted ventricular catheter and often becomes adherent to the catheter in-situ. The cautery current provided by the bipolar coagulator is direction oriented and spatially controlled; thereby providing a better distribution of electrical current and heat within the surrounding cranial tissues; and thereby avoiding major complications of damage to intracranial structures such as blood vessels as well as avoiding the severe subarachnoid hemorrhages which are typical using other kinds of coagulation instruments.