Handheld electrosurgical apparatus for controlling operating room equipment

• US 20070049926A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sartor, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,794 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 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure

Abstract

A system and apparatus for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator, a controller in electrical communication with and configured to control the electrosurgical generator and at least one operating room device, and a handpiece having a housing and a cable extending proximally from the housing providing electrical connection to the controller, the handpiece further includes first controls for controlling the generator and second controls for controlling at least one operating room device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure, the system comprising:

an electrosurgical generator;

a controller in electrical communication with and configured to control the electrosurgical generator and at least one operating room device; and

a handpiece having a housing and a cable extending proximally from the housing providing electrical connection to the controller, the handpiece further includes first controls for controlling the generator and second controls for controlling at least one operating room device.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one operating room device is selected from the group consisting of a lighting fixture, an operating table, and an insufflation unit.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the first controls include at least one first activation switch supported on the housing, the at least one first switch being configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the controller upon actuation thereof.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the second controls include at least one second activation switch supported on the housing, the at least one second switch being configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the controller upon actuation thereof.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the first controls include at least one first voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one first voltage divider network being electrically connected to the controller.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the at least one first voltage divider network is a potentiometer.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein the potentiometer has discrete values.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the second controls include at least one second voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one second voltage divider network being electrically connected to the controller.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein the at least one second voltage divider network is a potentiometer.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the potentiometer has discrete values.

11. An apparatus for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:

a housing;

a cable extending proximally from the housing providing electrical connection to a controller, the controller in electrical communication with and configured to control an electrosurgical generator and at least one operating room device;

first controls for controlling the generator; and

second controls for controlling at least one operating room device.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the at least one operating room device is selected from the group consisting of a lighting fixture, an operating table, and an insufflation unit.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the first controls include at least one first activation switch supported on the housing, the at least one first switch being configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the controller upon actuation thereof.

14. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the second controls include at least one second activation switch supported on the housing, the at least one second switch being configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the controller upon actuation thereof.

15. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the first controls include at least one first voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one first voltage divider network being electrically connected to the controller.

16. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the at least one first voltage divider network is a potentiometer having discrete values.

17. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the second controls include at least one second voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one second voltage divider network being electrically connected to the controller.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the at least one second voltage divider network is a potentiometer having discrete values.

19. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the first controls include at least one first current divider network supported on the housing, the at least one first current divider network being electrically connected to the controller.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the at least one first current divider network is a rheostat.

21. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the second controls include at least one second current divider network supported on the housing, the at least one second current divider network being electrically connected to the controller.

22. An apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the at least one second current divider network is a rheostat.