Removable tip cautery

• US 4,359,052 A
• Filed: 04/12/1978
• Issued: 11/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Concept, Inc. (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Original Assignee: Concept, Inc. (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Inventors: Staub, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/895,625
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.1, 128/303.13, 128/303.14, 128/303.17, 128/303.18, 128/303 R, 128/405, 128/350 R, 128/214.4, 128/800, 128/801, 219/233, 206/210, 206/229, 206/361, 206/363-365, 21/82 R, 21/82 H
• US Class Current: 606/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop

Abstract

A variable temperature cautery comprising a housing configured to retain a voltage source with an adaptor plug and associated heating tip assembly in operative relation to each other. A control assembly is movably attached to the housing to operatively couple a conductor disposed within the housing and the voltage source. The conductor is movable into and out of operative engagement with the adaptor plug by an actuator mechanism to selectively deliver an infinite variety of voltages to the removable heating tip assembly of the cautery. The housing or handle of the cautery is encapsulated and sterilized by placing it in a sterile bag device. A disposable tip assembly is used in conjunction with the cautery handle and covering bag and is provided with sharpened electrode leads which puncture the bag and fit into the instrument handle so that current can flow to the wire loop cutting area to provide a hot cutting tip.

Claims

1. A portable cautery apparatus of the type utilizing a self-contained voltage source comprising a housing, a voltage source mounted in said housing and contained within said housing, control means adapted to control said voltage source moveably mounted to said housing in operative electrical engagement with said voltage source, adaptor means for providing a connection between said voltage source and a heater tip means, said adaptor means mounted to said housing and extending from said housing, said adaptor means comprising a member defining a blind bore and tubular first and second electrodes mounted in said member and substantially terminating at an end of said blind bore, said first electrode being electrically connected to said voltage source and said second electrode being electrically connected to said control means, said adaptor means member having a forward end formed with and terminating in a planar surface, a flexible sheath completely enclosing said housing to provide a contamination free environment for said housing, a disposable heater tip means adapted to be removably mounted to said adaptor means, said adaptor means being enclosed by said sheath and isolated from contact with said heater tip means in order to eliminate potential patient-to-patient contamination when said housing is utilized in consecutive surgical procedures, said heater tip means having a rear end which defines a planar surface, said heater tip means comprising a replaceable tip housing, tubular shaped third and fourth electrodes mounted inside said tip housing and extending therefrom, a heater element comprising a wire tip interconnected between ends of said third and fourth electrodes, the other ends of said third and fourth electrodes piercing said sheath and engaging said first and second electrodes of said adaptor means.

2. The cautery apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tip housing comprises a body defining a frustum-conical shaped portion and a male portion extending from said frustum-conical shaped portion, said male portion having a cross-sectional configuration substantially the same as the cross-sectional configuration of the blind bore of said adaptor means, said male portion being matingly received and mounted in said blind bore.

3. The cautery apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tip housing comprises a body portion having said third and fourth electrodes extending therefrom and a skirt portion adapted to seat adjacent said adaptor member and surrounding said adaptor member extending from said housing, said skirt portion having a cross-sectional configuration substantially the same as the cross-sectional configuration of said adaptor member.

4. The cautery assembly of claim 1 wherein the ends of said third and fourth electrodes have beveled cutting edges which facilitate insertion of said electrodes through said sheath to engage said first and second electrodes of said voltage source housing.

5. The cautery apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible sheath comprises a flexible plastic bag with sealing means at one end, said sealing means being adapted to close off the interior of said sheath from the external environment.