Electrosurgical pencil with advanced es controls

• US 20060178667A1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Behnke, Robert, Buysse, Steven P., Ehr, Chris J., Sartor, Joe D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,879,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00928 by sending a signal to an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable

Abstract

An electrosurgical system is provided that includes an electrosurgical generator; and an electrosurgical pencil selectively connectable to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical pencil includes an elongated housing; at least one electrocautery end effector removably supportable within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrocautery end effector being connected to the electrosurgical generator; and at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing. The at least one voltage divider network is electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and controls at least one of the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil and the mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil. The voltage divider network generates a plurality of characteristic voltages which are measurable by the electrosurgical generator and which electrosurgical generator in turn transmits a corresponding waveform duty cycle at a particular intensity to the electrocautery end effector of the electrosurgical pencil.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical pencil, comprising:

an elongated housing;

at least one electrocautery end effector removably supportable within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrocautery end effector being connected to a source of electrosurgical energy; and

a selector supported on the housing for selecting a range setting of energy to be delivered from the source of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrocautery end effector, wherein the selector is actuatable to select a range setting corresponding to a particular electrocautery end effector connected to the housing.

2. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the selector is at least one of a button depressably supported on the housing or a collet rotatably supported on the housing, wherein the range settings are selected by at least one of depressing the button and rotating the collet.

3. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of activation switches supported on the housing, each activation switch being configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the source of electrosurgical energy upon actuation thereof.

4. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 3, wherein actuation of at least one of the plurality of activation switches produces a division with hemostatic effect at the electrocautery blade.

5. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 4, further comprising at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one voltage divider network being electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy and controlling at least one of the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil and the mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil.

6. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 5, wherein the selector is operatively connected to the voltage divider network.

7. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 6, wherein the division with hemostatic effect is transmitted in discrete packets of energy.

8. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 7, wherein the energy packet has a substantially instantaneous amplification.

9. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 8, wherein the energy packet has a substantially instantaneous degradation.

10. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 6, wherein the housing defines an open distal end for selectively receiving a proximal end of the electrocautery blade therein, and wherein the open distal end of the housing has a non-circular inner profile.

11. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 10, further comprising a collar operatively supporting the electrocautery blade, the collar having a shaped outer surface complementing the shaped inner profile of the distal open end of the housing.

12. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 11, wherein the collar and the inner profile of the distal open end of the housing have complementary ovular, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, toothed, multi-faceted profiles.

13. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 12, further comprising a blade receptacle configured and adapted to selectively engage a proximal end of the electrocautery blade.

14. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 6, further comprising a stabilizer operatively disposed within the housing for increasing retention forces acting on the proximal end of the electrocautery blade, the stabilizer defining a passage therein configured and adapted to selectively receive a proximal end of the electrocautery blade.

15. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 14, wherein the stabilizer is fabricated from a compliant polymeric material.

16. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 6, wherein the at least one voltage divider network being electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the plurality of activation switches from the source of electrosurgical energy and for controlling the intensity of electrosurgical energy delivered to the plurality of activation switches returning from the electrocautery electrode, the at least one voltage divider network comprises at least one return control wire electrically inter-connecting the electrocautery electrode and the source of electrosurgical energy, the return control wire transmitting excess electrosurgical energy from the electrocautery electrode to the source of electrosurgical energy.

17. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 16, wherein the voltage network divider includes a slide potentiometer operatively associated with the housing.

18. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of activation switches define a first resistor network disposed within the housing, and wherein the slide potentiometer defines a second resistor network disposed within the housing.

19. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 18, wherein the slide potentiometer simultaneously controls the intensity of electrosurgical energy delivered to the plurality of activation switches.

20. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 19, wherein at least one activation switch is configured and adapted to control a waveform duty cycle to achieve a desired surgical intent.

21. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 20, further including three mode activation switches supported on the housing.

22. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 21, wherein each mode activation switch, when actuated, generates a characteristic voltage which is measured by the source of electrosurgical energy, the source of electrosurgical energy in turn transmits a corresponding waveform duty cycle to the electrosurgical pencil to perform an electrosurgical procedure.

23. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 21, wherein a first activation switch, when actuated, generates a first characteristic voltage measured by the source of electrosurgical energy, the source of electrosurgical energy in turn transmits a waveform duty cycle which produces a cutting effect;

a second activation switch, when actuated, generates a second characteristic voltage measured by the source of electrosurgical energy, the source of electrosurgical energy in turn transmits a waveform duty cycle which produces a division with hemostatic effect; and

wherein a third activation switch, when actuated, generates a third characteristic voltage measured by the source of electrosurgical energy, the source of electrosurgical energy in turn transmits a waveform duty cycle which produces a coagulating effect.

24. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 23, wherein the voltage divider network is a potentiometer.

25. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 24;

further including a molded hand grip operatively supported on the housing.

26. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 25, wherein the hand grip is shaped and dimensioned to reduce fatigue on the hand of the user.

27. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 26, further comprising:

indicia provided on the housing indicating to a user the level of intensity of the energy being delivered to the electrocautery blade.

28. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 27, wherein the indicia is located along a path of travel of the slide potentiometer.

29. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the selector is an optical fiber including a distal end supporting in the housing for reading a light intensity from an proximal end of the electrocautery end effector when the electrocautery end effector is connected to the housing.

30. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 29, wherein a proximal end of each electrocautery end effector includes a unique color associated therewith, wherein each color produces a different light intensity.

31. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 30, wherein when the electrocautery end effector is connected to the housing, the optical fiber transmits the light intensity to the electrosurgical generator.

32. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 31, wherein the electrosurgical generator adjusts the range settings based on the light intensity transmitted thereto.

33. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an electrosurgical generator; and

an electrosurgical pencil selectively connectable to the electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical pencil including;

an elongated housing;

at least one electrocautery end effector removably supportable within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrocautery end effector being connected to the electrosurgical generator; and

at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one voltage divider network being electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and controlling at least one of the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil and the mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil;

wherein the voltage divider network generates a plurality of characteristic voltages which are measurable by the electrosurgical generator and which electrosurgical generator in turn transmits a corresponding waveform duty cycle at a particular intensity to the electrocautery end effector of the electrosurgical pencil.

34. The electrosurgical system according to claim 33, wherein the voltage divider network generates:

a first characteristic voltage which when measured by the electrosurgical generator causes the electrosurgical generator to transmit a waveform duty cycle which produces a cutting effect;

a second characteristic voltage which when measured by the electrosurgical generator causes the electrosurgical generator to transmit a waveform duty cycle which produces a division with hemostatic effect; and

a third characteristic voltage which when measured by the electrosurgical generator causes the electrosurgical generator to transmit a waveform duty cycle which produces a coagulating effect.

35. The electrosurgical system according to claim 34, wherein the voltage divider network generates a series of characteristic voltages which when measured by the electrosurgical generator cause the electrosurgical generator to transmit the particular waveform duty cycle at a corresponding level of intensity.

36. The electrosurgical system according to claim 35, wherein the electrosurgical pencil includes a plurality of activation buttons supported on the housing, wherein each activation button is operatively associated with the voltage divider network.

37. The electrosurgical system according to claim 36, wherein each activation button is actuatable to cause the voltage divider network to generate a respective one of the characteristic voltages for transmission of a corresponding waveform duty cycle.

38. The electrosurgical system according to claim 37, wherein the electrosurgical pencil includes an intensity controller supported in the housing, wherein the intensity controller is operatively associated with the voltage divider network.

39. The electrosurgical system according to claim 38, wherein the intensity controller is actuatable to cause the voltage divider network to generate a respective one of the series of characteristic voltages for transmission of the waveform duty cycle at a corresponding intensity level.

40. The electrosurgical system according to claim 39, wherein the intensity controller is slidably supported in the housing of the electrosurgical pencil.

41. The electrosurgical system according to claim 40, wherein the division with hemostatic effect has a waveform with a duty cycle of from about 12% to about 75%;

the coagulation effect has a waveform with a duty cycle of from about 1% to about 12%; and

the cutting effect has a waveform with a duty cycle of from about 75% to about 100%.

42. The electrosurgical system according to claim 33, wherein the voltage divider network is a film-type potentiometer.

43. The electrosurgical system according to claim 33, wherein the voltage divider network includes a pair of layers each supporting a plurality of electrical contacts thereon, wherein the electrical contacts from an upper layer of the voltage divider network are in juxtaposed electrical relation with respect to the electrical contacts from a lower layer of the voltage divider network.

44. The electrosurgical system according to claim 43, wherein the voltage divider network includes a dividing layer interposed between the upper and lower layers, wherein the dividing layer includes a first series of apertures formed therein which are in vertical registration with the electrical contacts of the upper and lower layers.

45. The electrosurgical system according to claim 44, wherein the dividing layer includes a second aperture formed therein which is in vertical registration between electrical contacts provided on the upper layer and a variable resistance element provided on the lower layer.

46. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

an elongated housing;

at least one electrocautery end effector removably supportable within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrocautery end effector being connectable to an electrosurgical generator; and

at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one voltage divider network being electrically connectable to the electrosurgical generator, the at least one voltage divider network being capable of controlling at least one of the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil and the mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical instrument;

wherein the voltage divider network generates a plurality of characteristic voltages which are measurable by the electrosurgical generator and which electrosurgical generator in turn transmits a corresponding waveform duty cycle at a particular intensity to the electrocautery end effector of the electrosurgical instrument.

47. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 46, wherein the voltage divider network generates:

a first characteristic voltage which when measured by the electrosurgical generator causes the electrosurgical generator to transmit a waveform duty cycle which produces a cutting effect;

a second characteristic voltage which when measured by the electrosurgical generator causes the electrosurgical generator to transmit a waveform duty cycle which produces a division with hemostatic effect; and

a third characteristic voltage which when measured by the electrosurgical generator causes the electrosurgical generator to transmit a waveform duty cycle which produces a coagulating effect.

48. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 47, wherein the voltage divider network generates a series of characteristic voltages which when measured by the electrosurgical generator cause the electrosurgical generator to transmit the particular waveform duty cycle at a corresponding level of intensity.

49. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 48, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes a plurality of activation buttons supported on the housing, wherein each activation button is operatively associated with the voltage divider network.

50. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 49, wherein each activation button is actuatable to cause the voltage divider network to generate a respective one of the characteristic voltages for transmission of a corresponding waveform duty cycle.

51. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 50, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes an intensity controller supported in the housing, wherein the intensity controller is operatively associated with the voltage divider network.

52. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 51, wherein the intensity controller is actuatable to cause the voltage divider network to generate a respective one of the series of characteristic voltages for transmission of the waveform duty cycle at a corresponding intensity level.

53. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 52, wherein the intensity controller is slidably supported in the housing of the electrosurgical instrument.

54. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 53, wherein the division with hemostatic effect has a waveform with a duty cycle of from about 12% to about 75%;

the coagulation effect has a waveform with a duty cycle of from about 1% to about 12%; and

the cutting effect has a waveform with a duty cycle of from about 75% to about 100%.