Combined energy level button

• US 20070260238A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Guerra, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/418,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00928 by sending a signal to an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable

Abstract

A surgical device is disclosed including a housing having an activation switch. The activation switch is adapted to couple to an electrosurgical energy source and includes a knob. The knob is slideable with respect to the housing and travels within a guide channel defined within the housing. The activation switch is selectively moveable in a first direction within the guide channel. Moving the activation switch in the first direction sets a desired electrosurgical energy level. The activation switch is also moveable is a second direction. Moving the activation switch is the second direction activates the electrosurgical energy source.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a housing having an activation switch disposed thereon, the activation switch adapted to couple to an electrosurgical energy source, the activation switch including a knob slidingly disposed within a guide channel defined within said housing; and

the activation switch being selectively moveable in a first direction within the guide channel to set a desired electrosurgical energy level and the activation switch being selectively moveable in a second direction to activate the electrosurgical energy source.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the activation switch is operable to set the intensity level of electrosurgical energy before electrosurgical energy is activated.

3. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the knob is biased in an inactivated position.

4. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the activation switch electromechanically cooperates with a sliding potentiometer to adjust energy levels.

5. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the guide channel comprises a plurality of discreet positions, the knob being slideable between the plurality of discreet positions.

6. The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein tactile feedback is provided to a user when the knob is slid between the plurality of discreet positions on the guide channel.

7. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the activation switch electromechanically cooperates with a voltage divider network to adjust energy levels.

8. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the device is an open-style forceps.

9. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the device is an electrosurgical pencil.

10. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the device in an in-line-style forceps.

11. A method for using a surgical device to administer electrosurgical energy to a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical device, including;

a housing having an activation switch disposed thereon, the activation switch adapted to couple to an electrosurgical energy source, the activation switch including a knob slidingly disposed within a guide channel defined within said housing; and

the activation switch being selectively moveable in a first direction within the guide channel to set a desired electrosurgical energy level and the activation switch being selectively moveable in a second direction to activate the electrosurgical energy source;

sliding the knob to set the intensity level of electrosurgical energy; and

depressing the knob to activate electrosurgical energy.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the activation switch is operable to set the intensity level of electrosurgical energy before electrosurgical energy is activated.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the activation switch electromechanically cooperates with a sliding potentiometer to adjust energy levels.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the guide channel comprises a plurality of discreet positions, the knob being slideable between the plurality of discreet positions.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the activation switch electromechanically cooperates with a voltage divider network to adjust energy levels.

16. An electrosurgical system for performing electrosurgery on a patient, the electrosurgical system comprising:

an electrosurgical energy source that provides electrosurgical energy;

an active electrode which supplies electrosurgical energy to a patient;

an electrosurgical return electrode which returns electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical energy source; and

a surgical device, including;

a housing having an activation switch disposed thereon, the activation switch adapted to couple to the electrosurgical energy source, the activation switch including a knob slidingly disposed within a guide channel defined within said housing; and

the activation switch being selectively moveable in a first direction within the guide channel to set a desired electrosurgical energy level and the activation switch being selectively moveable in a second direction to activate the electrosurgical energy source.

17. The electrosurgical system according to claim 16, wherein the activation switch is operable to set the intensity level of electrosurgical energy before electrosurgical energy is activated.

18. The electrosurgical system according to claim 16, wherein the activation switch electromechanically cooperates with a sliding potentiometer to adjust energy levels.

19. The electrosurgical system according to claim 16, wherein the guide channel comprises a plurality of discreet positions, the knob being slideable between the plurality of discreet positions.

20. The electrosurgical system according to claim 16, wherein the activation switch electromechanically cooperates with a voltage divider network to adjust energy levels.