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A dry preunit (10), includes a plurality of cells (110, 112, 114) in a true bipolar configuration, which are stacked and bonded together, to impart to the device an integral and unitary construction. Each cell (114) includes two electrically conductive electrodes (111A, 111B) that are spaced apart b

A dry preunit (10), includes a plurality of cells (110, 112, 114) in a true bipolar configuration, which are stacked and bonded together, to impart to the device an integral and unitary construction. Each cell (114) includes two electrically conductive electrodes (111A, 111B) that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The cell (114) also includes two identical dielectric gaskets (121, 123) that are interposed, in registration with each other, between the electrodes (111A, 11B), for separating and electrically insulating these electrodes. When the electrodes (111A, 111B), and the gaskets (121, 123) are bonded together, at least one fill gap (130) is formed for each cell. Each cell (114) also includes a porous and conductive coating layer (119, 120) that is formed on one surface of each electrode. The coating layer (119) includes a set of closely spaced-apart peripheral microprotrusions (125), and a set of distally spaced-apart central microprotrusions (127). These microprotrusions (125, 127) impart structural support to the cells, and provide additional insulation between the electrodes. An energy storage device (10A) such as a capacitor, is created with the addition of an electrolyte to the gap (130) of the dry preunit (10) and subsequent sealing of the fill ports.

대표청구항 ▼

A dry preunit (10), includes a plurality of cells (110, 112, 114) in a true bipolar configuration, which are stacked and bonded together, to impart to the device an integral and unitary construction. Each cell (114) includes two electrically conductive electrodes (111A, 111B) that are spaced apart b

A dry preunit (10), includes a plurality of cells (110, 112, 114) in a true bipolar configuration, which are stacked and bonded together, to impart to the device an integral and unitary construction. Each cell (114) includes two electrically conductive electrodes (111A, 111B) that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The cell (114) also includes two identical dielectric gaskets (121, 123) that are interposed, in registration with each other, between the electrodes (111A, 11B), for separating and electrically insulating these electrodes. When the electrodes (111A, 111B), and the gaskets (121, 123) are bonded together, at least one fill gap (130) is formed for each cell. Each cell (114) also includes a porous and conductive coating layer (119, 120) that is formed on one surface of each electrode. The coating layer (119) includes a set of closely spaced-apart peripheral microprotrusions (125), and a set of distally spaced-apart central microprotrusions (127). These microprotrusions (125, 127) impart structural support to the cells, and provide additional insulation between the electrodes. An energy storage device (10A) such as a capacitor, is created with the addition of an electrolyte to the gap (130) of the dry preunit (10) and subsequent sealing of the fill ports. urgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaws is perforated to permit release of steam during use. 12. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the electrode members are laterally spaced-apart by a distance in the range from 0.5 mm to 10 mm. 13. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the electrode members have a length in the range from 1 mm to 50 mm. 14. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein electrode members are on the same jaw. 15. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the lines of tissue-penetrating elements project toward the opposed jaw. 16. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the lines of tissue-penetrating elements lie parallel to each other. 17. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the first electrode member is on one jaw and the second electrode member is on the other jaw. 18. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the tissue-penetrating elements have a length in the range from 1 mm to 10 mm and a diameter in the range from 0.1 mm to 2 mm. 19. A bipolar surgical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the first and second electrode members each comprise from 3 to 50 tissue-penetrating elements. 20. A method for applying high frequency electrical energy to tissue, said method comprising: grasping tissue between a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein opposed surfaces of the jaws are maintained in a generally parallel orientation; advancing a first line of tissue-penetrating elements on one of the jaws and second line of tissue-penetrating elements on one of the jaws through a surface of the jaw upon which they are mounted and into the tissue after grasping the tissue between the jaws, wherein the lines of tissue-penetrating elements are parallel to and laterally spaced-apart from each other; applying high frequency energy between the first and second lines of tissue-penetrating elements after advancing the lines of tissue-penetrating elements into the tissue. 21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the high frequency energy is applied at a level and for a time sufficient to desiccate substantially all tissue between the electrode members without causing substantial damage to other tissue. 22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the high frequency energy has a frequency from 100 kHz to 2 MHz, a power level from 5 W to 150 W, and is applied for a time less than 5 minutes. 23. A method as in claim 22, further comprising increasing the power level at a predetermined rate from 1 W/sec to 100 W/sec. 24. A method as in claim 23, further comprising terminating the high frequency energy when an impedance of the tissue is in the range from 50 ohms to 1000 ohms. 25. A method as in claim 21, further comprising cutting the tissue along a line between the first and second lines of tissue-penetrating elements after the tissue has been substantially desiccated, wherein the lines of tissue-penetrating elements remain advanced into the tissue. 26. A method as in claim 20, further comprising rotating the jaws up to about 90° in a clockwise and/or counter-clockwise direction prior to grasping the tissue between the jaws. 27. A method as in claim 20, further comprising limiting a grasping force applied to the tissue by the first and second jaws. 28. A method as in claim 19, further comprising receiving upper tips of the lines of tissue-penetrating elements into relief holes of an opposed jaw. 29. A method as in claim 20, further comprising releasing steam during use from a perforation on at least one of the jaws. 30. A method as in claim 20, further comprising retracting the lines of tissue-penetrating elements from the tissue prior to disengaging the jaws. tem for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a substantial portion of a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising: an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis; an ablation member along the distal end portion with an ablation element that is adapted to be ablatively coupled to a substantially circumferential area surrounding the longitudinal axis, wherein the substantially circumferential area is adapted to substantially coincide with the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue when the ablation member is at the location; and a position monitoring assembly with a sensor apparatus coupled to the distal end portion and that is adapted to sense a predetermined parameter that provides indicia of the position of the ablation member relative to the location, the position monitoring assembly being substantially rotationally fixed about a longitudinal axis relative to the elongate body. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is adapted to couple to a position monitoring circuit that is adapted to monitor at least one aspect of the predetermined parameter sensed by the sensor. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said position monitoring circuit is adapted to monitor an aspect of the predetermined parameter that comprises a rate of change in the predetermined parameter. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said position monitoring circuit is adapted to provide a signal that indicates the at least one aspect of the sensed predetermined parameter. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said signal comprises an input signal to a visual display that visually indicates the at least one aspect of the sensed predetermined parameter. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the position monitoring assembly further comprises a position detector coupled to said sensor, wherein the position detector is adapted to detect when the ablation member is at the location based upon the sensed predetermined parameter. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a temperature sensor that is adapted to sense a predetermined parameter that comprises a temperature value that indicates an ablative coupling between the ablation element and the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the ablation member and is adapted to sense a temperature affected by an ablative coupling between the ablation element and the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue; and the position monitoring assembly further comprises a temperature monitoring circuit, wherein the temperature sensor is adapted to couple to the temperature monitoring circuit and the temperature monitoring circuit is adapted to provide indicia that the ablation member is at the location based upon the temperature monitored by the temperature sensor. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the ablation member further comprises an expandable member that is positionable along the location and which is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position that is adapted to engage the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue; and said temperature sensor is coupled to said expandable member such that the temperature sensor is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue when the expandable member is in the radially expandable position at the location. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an acoustic wave sensor which is adapted to sense an acoustic wave reflecting from a tissue wall surrounding the distal end portion. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said sensor comprises an ultrasound sensor which is adapted to sense an acoustic wave which provides indicia of the position of the ablation member relative to a tissue wall along the location. 1