MIS electrosurgical handpiece

• US 20100042096A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elliquence, LLC (Shanghai Kinetic Medical Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALAN G. ELLMAN
• Inventors: Ellman, Alan G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,028,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• 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 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device

Abstract

An electrosurgical handpiece comprising a squeezable handle connected to extend and retract bipolar electrodes from a rigid tubular member. The bipolar electrodes comprise active separable distal ends and connecting links configured such that when the handle is unsqueezed, the active distal ends protrude from the distal end of the first tubular member and are adjacent one another, and when the handle is fully squeezed, the active distal ends are fully extended outwardly from the first tubular member and separate, and when the handle is relaxed but still partially squeezed, the active distal ends come together and touch first at their extreme ends and then touch over a broader area in a position to grasp tissue for receiving electrosurgical currents.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical handpiece comprising:

(a) a first main body,

(b) a second main body axially aligned with and coupled to the first main body,

(c) a squeezable handle connected to the first and second main bodies such that, when the handle is unsqueezed, the first and second main bodies assume a first relaxed position relative to one another, and when the handle is fully squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume a second fully squeezed position relative to one another, and when the handle is partially squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume a third partially squeezed position relative to one another,

(d) a first tubular member having a distal end and a second end connected to one of the first and second main bodies,

(e) a bipolar electrosurgical electrode comprising active separable distal ends and connecting links connected to the other of the first and second main bodies and extending within the tubular member,

characterized in that;

(f) the active distal ends and their connecting links are configured such that;

i) when the handle is unsqueezed the active distal ends protrude from the distal end of the first tubular member and are adjacent one another, and

ii) when the handle is fully squeezed the active distal ends are fully extended outwardly from the first tubular member and separate, and

iii) when the handle is relaxed but still partially squeezed, the active distal ends come together in a position to grasp tissue for receiving electrosurgical currents.

10. The electrosurgical handpiece of claim 1 in combination with an RF generator generating high frequency currents at a frequency of about 4 MHz.

2. An electrosurgical handpiece comprising:

(a) a first main body,

(b) a second main body axially aligned with and coupled to the first main body,

(c) a squeezable handle connected to the first and second main bodies such that, when the handle is unsqueezed, the first and second main bodies assume a first relaxed position relative to one another, and when the handle is fully squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume a second fully squeezed position relative to one another, and when the handle is partially squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume a third partially squeezed position relative to one another,

(d) a first tubular rigid member having a distal end and a second end connected to one of the first and second main bodies,

(e) a bipolar electrosurgical electrode comprising active separable distal ends and connecting links connected to the other of the first and second main bodies and extending within the tubular member,

characterized in that;

(f) the active distal ends and their connecting links are configured such that;

i) when the handle is unsqueezed the active distal ends protrude from the distal end of the first tubular member and are adjacent one another, and

ii) when the handle is fully squeezed the active distal ends are fully extended outwardly from the first tubular member and separate, and

iii) when the handle is relaxed but still partially squeezed, the active distal ends come together and touch first at their extreme ends and then touch over a broader area in a position to grasp tissue for receiving electrosurgical currents.

3. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 2, wherein the active distal ends extend straight outwardly in line with the first rigid tubular member when the handle is fully squeezed.

4. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 2, wherein the active distal ends extend outwardly and are bent at an angle to the first rigid tubular member when the handle is fully squeezed.

5. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 2, wherein the active distal ends comprise straight portions with facing flat surfaces.

6. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 5, wherein the link sections following the active distal ends comprise short straight portions angled outwardly relative to the distal ends.

7. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 6, wherein the link sections following the short straight portions comprise longer straight portions angled inwardly relative to the distal ends.

8. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 5, wherein the link sections bear against the inside surface of the rigid tubular member.

9. An electrosurgical handpiece as set forth in claim 5, wherein the link sections following the active distal ends comprise long straight portions angled inwardly relative to the distal ends and bearing against the inner surface of the rigid tubular member.

11. An electrosurgical handpiece comprising:

(a) a first main body,

(b) a second main body axially aligned with and coupled to the first main body,

(c) a squeezable handle connected to the first and second main bodies such that, when the handle is unsqueezed, the first and second main bodies assume a first axial position relative to one another, and when the handle is squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume a second axial position relative to one another,

(d) means for biasing the first and second main bodies into their first position,

(e) a first member having a first end and a second end and connected to one of the first and second main bodies,

(f) an active electrosurgical electrode connected to the first member and movable into an active position at the second end of the first member and connected to the other of the first and second main bodies, the electrosurgical electrode having a contact end and at least one electrically active end adjacent the second end of the first member,

(g) electrical terminal means at one of the first and second main bodies and electrically connected to the electrically active end of the electrosurgical electrode, whereby, when the electrical terminal means is activated and the handle squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume their second position and the electrically active end of the electrode can be moved into its active position at the second end of the first member and is capable of supplying electrosurgical currents when applied to a patient,

characterized in that;

the squeezable handle comprises;

(h) a first rigid arm member pivotably connected at a midpoint to the first main body and having a first arm portion extending below its connected midpoint and a second arm portion extending above its connected midpoint,

(i) a second rigid arm member pivotably connected at a midpoint to the second main body and having a first arm portion extending below its connected midpoint and a second arm portion extending above its connected midpoint,

(j) the second arm portions of the first and second arm members being joined together above their connected midpoints to form a pivotable fulcrum axis and form at the fulcrum an angle such that obstruction of a user'"'"'s view of the active electrosurgical electrode is reduced.

12. An electrosurgical handpiece as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second arm portions are provided with concave portions configured to receive fingers of a user.

13. An electrosurgical handpiece as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second arm portions of the first and second arm members form at the fulcrum an angle of just below 180°

.

14. An electrosurgical handpiece as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second arm portions are dimensioned to provide a mechanical advantage of about 2:

1 for the user.