ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH TIME LIMIT CIRCUIT

• US 20100280511A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Payne, Jeffrey D., Pinon, Jaime, Rachlin, Thomas, Willoughby, Aaron, Totte, Brian, Sharp, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,192,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing having a treatment portion attached thereto. The treatment portion is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator that supplies energy to the electrosurgical instrument. An activation element is included and is disposed in electrical communication with the electrosurgical generator and the treatment portion. The activation element is selectively actuatable to supply energy from the electrosurgical generator to the treatment portion. A time-out device is coupled to the housing and is configured to prevent re-use of the electrosurgical instrument after a pre-determined time limit.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having a treatment portion attached thereto, the treatment portion adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator that supplies energy thereto;

an activation element disposed in electrical communication with the electrosurgical generator and the treatment portion, the activation element being selectively actuatable to supply energy from the electrosurgical generator to the treatment portion; and

a time-out device coupled to the housing, the time out device configured to prevent re-use of the electrosurgical instrument after a pre-determined time limit.

2. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the time out device includes a timing circuit in electrical communication with the electrosurgical generator, the timing circuit being initiateable upon initial activation of the electrosurgical instrument and being configured to prevent re-use of the electrosurgical instrument after a pre-determined time limit.

3. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2 wherein the timing circuit is initiateable upon removal of at least one of a timing pin, electrically insulative cover and a battery sleeve.

4. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2 wherein the timing circuit prevents activation of the electrosurgical generator after a pre-determined time limit.

5. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2 wherein the timing circuit prevents activation of the activation element after a pre-determined time limit.

6. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the time out device includes at least one of a mechanical lockout, optical lockout and electrical lockout.

7. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the time out device includes a mechanical lockout that decays when exposed to at least one of ambient air, temperature and fluid.

8. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the time out device includes an indicator that appears after a pre-determined time limit to indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is compromised.

9. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein the indicator includes at least one of a color-code, indicia and bar code.

10. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having a treatment portion attached thereto;

an activation element disposed in electrical communication with the electrosurgical generator and the treatment portion, the activation element being selectively actuatable to supply energy from the electrosurgical generator to the treatment portion;

a smart connector connected to the housing and adapted to connect to the electrosurgical generator; and

a time-out device coupled to the smart connector, the time out device configured to prevent re-use of the electrosurgical instrument after a pre-determined time limit.

11. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10 wherein the time out device includes at least one of a mechanical lockout, optical lockout and electrical lockout.

12. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10 wherein the time out device includes a mechanical lockout that decays when exposed to at least one of ambient air, temperature and fluid.

13. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10 wherein the time out device includes an indicator that appears after a pre-determined time limit to indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is compromised.

14. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 13 wherein the indicator includes at least one of a color-code, indicia and bar code.

15. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 14 wherein the indicator is readable by the electrosurgical generator.

16. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having a treatment portion attached thereto, the treatment portion adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator that supplies energy thereto;

a device activation and use limiting circuit including;

an activation circuit configured to relay at least one parameter to the electrosurgical generator;

a timer circuit configured to prevent re-use of the electrosurgical instrument after a pre-determined time limit; and

a control relay connected between the activation circuit and the timer circuit, the control relay configured to disable the activation circuit after the pre-determined time limit is exceeded.

17. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16 wherein the activation circuit further includes:

an activation switch configured to indicate activation of the treatment portion.

18. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16 wherein the timer circuit further includes:

a timer power supply;

a timing device configured to determine it the pre-determined time limit has been exceeded; and

a timer enable switch configured to connect the timer power supply to the timing device,

wherein the electrosurgical instrument is made inoperable if the pre-determined time limit has been exceeded.

19. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 18 wherein the timer enable switch, when activated, cannot be deactivated.

20. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 19 wherein the timer enable switch further includes:

a removal pull tab configured enable the timer enable switch when removed therefrom.

21. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 19 wherein the timing device includes an off-timer.

22. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 19 wherein the timing device includes a microcontroller.

23. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 18 wherein the timer power supply is a battery.