Hand control for electrosurgical electrodes

• US 4,655,215 A
• Filed: 03/15/1985
• Issued: 04/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harold Pike
• Original Assignee: Harold Pike
• Inventors: Pike, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Application Number:
  US06/712,271
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.1, 128/303.14, 128/303.13, 128/303.17, 200/1 R, 200/1 A, 200/43.16, 200/43.17, 200/157, 200/334, 200/339
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/014 Application surgical instrument

Abstract

A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes with the rocker arm current mode activating switch located near the front of the device. The activating switch allows a choice of coagulating current mode, cutting current mode, or neutral (no current mode). A three-position slide-locking mechanism allows the switch to be operated in one of three states: (1) complete freedom of choice of mode, (2) coagulating mode only, or (3) neutral (safety). A top-bottom symmetry and a sharp blade permit the device to be locked in the neutral position, inverted, and used as a conventional scalpel.

Claims

1. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

an elongated housing for containing electrical wiring circuits and circuit-switching means, said housing having a top surface and a bottom surface and a proximal or rear end and a distal or front end, and defining a switch seat in its top surface adjacent its distal end;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said housing and a distal end extending from said distal end of said housing;

a rocker arm control switch for activating at least two electrosurgical current modes of said electrosurgical blade, said switch having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotably mounted between said ends in said switch seat, directly above said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade;

finger-engaging portions on said proximal and distal ends of said rocker arm control switch for pivoting said control switch in two opposite directions;

a cantilevered shoulder portion rigidly mounted on said proximal end of said rocker arm control switch and extending rearward within said housing beyond said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade; and

circuit closing means having a plurality of circuit modes, said circuit closing means being transversely mounted within said housing, between said top and bottom surfaces, rearwardly of said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade and connected to and movable with said shoulder portion to selectively activate said circuits.

2. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

an elongated housing for containing electrical wiring and circuit-switching means, said housing having a top surface and a bottom surface and a proximal or rear end and a distal or front end, and defining a switch seat in its top surface adjacent its distal end;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said housing and a distal end extending from said distal end of said housing;

a rocker arm control switch for activating at least two electrosurgical current modes of said electrosurgical blade, said switch having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotably mounted in said switch seat, directly above the proximal end of said electrosurgical blade;

finger-engaging portions on the proximal and distal ends of said rocker arm control switch for pivoting said control switch in two opposite directions;

a cantilevered shoulder portion on said rocker arm control switch, said shoulder portion extending rearward within said housing from said control switch;

circuit closing means having a plurality of circuit modes, said circuit closing means being activated by movement of said shoulder portion; and

a locking member for controlling the movement of said rocker arm control switch, said locking member having a first position allowing complete freedom of movement of said control switch, a second position preventing all movement of said control switch, and a third position preventing said control switch from activating at least one electrosurgical mode.

3. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

an elongated housing for containing electrical wiring and circuit-switching means, said housing having a top surface and a bottom surface and a proximal or rear end and a distal or front end, and defining a switch seat in its top surface adjacent its distal end;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said housing and a distal end extending from said distal end of said housing;

a rocker arm control switch for activating at least two electrosurgical current modes of said electrosurgical blade, said switch having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotably mounted in the switch seat, directly above said proximal end of the electrosurgical blade;

finger-engaging portions on said proximal and distal ends of said rocker arm control switch for pivoting said control switch in two opposite directions;

a cantilevered shoulder portion on said rocker arm control switch, said shoulder portion extending rearward within said housing from said control switch;

circuit closing means having a plurality of circuit modes, said circuit closing means being activated by movement of said shoulder portion;

a nonconductive contact support member extending lengthwise axially inside said housing adjacent said rocker and defining a vertical contact channel adjacent to said distal end;

a first resilient, conductive spring contact pinned to the top of said contact support member and aligned longitudinally thereon, said contact having a distal end defining a rectangular plunger slot, and terminating in said contact channel;

a second resilient, conductive spring contact pinned to the bottom of said support member and aligned longitudinally thereon, said contact having a distal end defining a rectangular plunger slot, and terminating in said contact channel in spaced relation to said distal end of said first spring contact;

a common current conductor blade extending lengthwise axially through the contact support member and having a proximal end extending rearward therefrom, and a distal end terminating in said contact channel adjacent said plunger slots on the proximal side thereof in spaced relation to said first and second spring contacts;

three electrical wires for carrying electrical current, a first end of each of said wires being connected respectively to said proximal ends of said first spring contact, said second spring contact, and said common current conductor blade, a second end of said wires being connected respectively to a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground terminal of a dual-mode current supply or electrosurgical generator;

a conductive electrode current conductor blade having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said blade being in contact with said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade, and said proximal end of said electrode current conductor blade being between said first and second spring contacts, spaced therefrom and terminating adjacent said plunger slots on said distal side thereof; and

a plunger having shoulders on its upper portion and a T-shaped tip with flanges at its lower end, said plunger extending downward from said rocker arm shoulder portion passing through said spring contact plunger slots, said plunger moving upward as said distal end of said control switch is depressed, said T-shaped tip pulling said second spring contact upward and into contact with said common current conductor blade and said electrode current conductor blade, completing an electrical circuit from said electrical power source to said electrosurgical blade, and in similar manner, as said plunger is moved downward as said proximal end of said rocker arm control switch is depreseed, said plunger shoulders push said first spring contact downward and into contact with said common current conductor blade and said electrode current conductor blade, completing an electrical circuit from said power source to said electrosurgical blade.

4. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

a housing for containing electrical wiring circuits and circuit-switching means, said housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a bottom surface, and a top surface defining a switch seat adjacent its distal end;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said housing and a distal end extending from said distal end of said housing, said blade having a single sharp edge for use as a conventional surgical scalpel;

a rocker arm control switch for activating at least two electrosurgical current modes of said electrosurgical blade, said switch having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotably mounted between said ends in said switch seat, directly above said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade;

finger-engaging portions on said proximal and distal ends of said rocker arm contact switch for pivoting said control switch in a first and a second direction;

a cantilevered shoulder portion rigidly mounted on said proximal end of said rocker arm control switch and extending proximally within the housing beyond said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade;

circuit closing means having a plurality of circuit modes, said circuit closing means being transversely mounted within said housing, between said top and bottom surfaces, rearwardly of said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade and connected to and movable with said shoulder portion to selectively activate said circuits; and

a locking member for restricting the motion of said rocker arm control switch, said locking member having a first position allowing complete freedom of motion of said control switch, a second position locking the control switch motionless in a single position, and a third position preventing the control switch from activating at least one electrosurgical mode.

5. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

a housing for containing electrical wiring and circuit-switching means, said housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a bottom surface, and a top surface defining a switch seat adjacent its distal end;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said housing and a distal end extending from said distal end of said housing, said blade having a single sharp edge for use as a conventional surgical scalpel;

a rocker arm control switch for activating at least two electrosurgical current modes of said electrosurgical blade, said switch having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotably mounted in said switch seat, directly above said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade;

finger-engaging portions on said proximal and distal ends of a said rocker arm contact switch for pivoting said control switch in a first and a second direction;

a cantilevered shoulder portion on said rocker arm control switch, said shoulder portion extending proximally within said housing from said control switch;

a nonconductive contact support member extending lengthwise axially inside said housing adjacent said rocker arm control switch, said support member having a distal end and defining a vertical contact channel adjacent to said distal end;

a first resilient, conductive spring contact pinned to the top of said contact support member and aligned longitudinally thereon, said contact having a distal end defining a rectangular plunger slot, and terminating in said contact channel;

a second resilient, conductive spring contact pinned to the bottom of said support member and aligned longitudinally thereon, said contact distal end defining a rectangular plunger slot, and terminating in said contact channel in spaced relation to said distal end of said first spring contact;

a common current conductor blade extending lengthwise axially through said contact support member and having a proximal end extending rearward therefrom and a distal end terminating in said contact channel adjacent said plunger slots and on said proximal side thereof in spaced relation to said first and second spring contacts;

three electrical wires for carrying electrical current, one end of each of said wires being connected respectively to said proximal ends of said first spring contact, said second spring contact, and said common current conductor blade, and the other end of said wires being connected respectively to a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal, and a ground terminal of a dual-mode current supply or electrosurgical generator;

a conductive electrode current conductor blade having a proximal and a distal end, said distal end of said blade being in contact with said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade, and said proximal end of said electrode current conductor blade being between said first and second spring contacts, spaced therefrom and terminating adjacent said plunger slots on said distal side thereof;

a plunger having shoulders on its upper portion and a T-shaped tip with flanges at its lower end, said plunger extending downward from said rocker arm shoulder portion and passing through said spring contact plunger slots, said plunger moving upward as the distal end of said control switch is depressed, the T-shaped tip pulling said second spring contact upward and into contact with said common current conductor blade and said electrode current conductor blade, completing an electrical circuit from the electrical power source to said electrosurgical blade, and in similar manner, as said plunger is moved downward as said proximal end of said rocker arm control switch is depressed, said plunger shoulders push said first spring contact downward and into contact with said common current conductor blade and said electrode current conductor blade, completing an electrical circuit from the power source to said electrosurgical blade; and

a locking member for restricting the motion of said rocker arm control switch, said locking member having a first position allowing complete freedom of motion of said control switch, a second position locking said control switch motionless in a single position, and a third position allowing said control switch to move in a restricted range.

6. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

a housing for containing electrical wiring and circuit-switching means, said housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a bottom surface, and a top surface defining a switch seat adjacent its distal end;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said housing and a distal end extending from said distal end of said housing, said blade having a single sharp edge for use as a conventional surgical scalpel;

a rocker arm control switch for activating at least two electrosurgical current modes of said electrosurgical blade, said switch having a proximal end and a distal end and being pivotably mounted in said switch seat, directly above said proximal end of said electrosurgical blade;

finger-engaging portions on said proximal and distal ends of a said rocker arm contact switch for pivoting said control switch in a first and a second direction;

a cantilevered shoulder portion on said rocker arm control switch, said shoulder portion extending proximally within the housing from said control switch;

circuit closing means having a plurality of circuit modes, said circuit closing means being activated by movement of said shoulder portion;

a slide locking arm having a proximal and a distal end, said arm positioned longitudinally inside said housing and with freedom to slide forward and rearward;

a slide-locking flange protruding upward from said proximal end of said locking arm;

a slide-locking thumb release groove defined by said upper surface of said housing;

a slide-locking thumb release attached to said locking arm and protruding upward therefrom, for moving said slide-locking arm forward and backward, said thumb release being free to move within said slide-locking thumb release groove;

a forked locking shoulder on said distal end of said locking arm, said locking shoulder having an upper flange and a shorter lower flange, together forming a locking recess;

a first, rear locking notch defined by said top surface of the housing, for receiving said slide-locking flange and positioning said slide-locking arm so that said slide-locking shoulder does not restrict the vertical movement of said rocker arm shoulder, allowing complete freedom of movement thereof;

a second, center locking notch defined by said top surface of the housing and located adjacent to and distally from said rear locking notch, for receiving said slide-locking flange and positioning said slide-locking arm so that said upper flange of said slide-locking shoulder restrains said rocker arm locking shoulder from moving upward a sufficient distance to complete an electrical circuit through said second spring contact to said electrosurgical blade; and

a third, forward locking notch defined by said top surface of the housing and located adjacent to and distally from said center locking notch, for receiving said slide-locking arm so that said rocker arm locking shoulder is held securely in said slide-locking shoulder recess, preventing all vertical movement of said plunger, and locking the spring contacts in a neutral position with no electrical connection possible between the power source and said electrosurgical blade.

7. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes, comprising:

a housing for containing electrical wiring and circuit closing means, said housing having a proximal and a distal end, and defining a distal socket bore for receiving an electrosurgical blade;

a top surface on said housing, said top surface defining;

a switch seat positioned above said socket bore near the distal end of said housing;

a rear locking notch located proximally from said switch seat generally in the longitudinal center of said top surface;

a center locking notch adjacent said rear locking notch and located distally therefrom;

a forward locking notch adjacent said center locking notch and located distally therefrom; and

a slide-locking thumb release groove located between said switch seat and said locking notches;

an electrosurgical blade having a proximal end in said socket bore and a distal end extending from the distal end of said housing, said distal blade end having a downward hook-shaped configuration and having a single sharp edge on its top for use as a conventional scalpel;

a rocker arm control switch pivotably mounted in said switch seat, said switch having proximal and distal ends with finger-engaging portions thereon for moving the switch in a first and a second direction by finger pressure, said switch movement activating circuit closing means;

a cantilevered shoulder portion located inside the housing and extending proximally from said control switch, said shoulder portion moving vertically in an arc as said switch is moved in said first and second directions;

a nonconductive contact support member extending lengthwise axially inside said housing adjacent said rocker arm control switch, said support member having a distal end and defining a vertical contact channel adjacent to said distal end;

a first conductive, resilient spring contact pinned to the top of said contact support member and aligned longitudinally thereon, said contact positioned longitudinally inside said housing, having a distal end defining a plunger slot, and terminating in said contact channel;

a second conductive, resilient spring contact pinned to the bottom of said support member and aligned longitudinally thereon located beneath said first spring contact and spaced therefrom, said second spring contact having a distal end, said distal defining a plunger slot, and terminating in said contact channel in spaced relation to said distal end of said first spring contact;

a common current conductor blade extending lengthwise axially through the contacts support member and proximal end extending rearward therefrom, and a distal end terminating in said contact channel adjacent said plunger slots on the proximal side thereof in spaced relation to said first and second spring contacts;

a first electrical wire for carrying electrical current, having a distal end connected to the proximal end of said first spring contact and a proximal end connected to a first signal terminal of a conventional dual mode current supply or electrosugical generator;

a second electrical wire for carrying electrical current, having a distal end connected to the proximal end of said first spring contact and a proximal end connected to a second signal terminal of a conventional dual mode current supply or electrosurgical generator;

a third electrical wire for carrying electrical current, having a distal end connected to the proximal end of said common current conductor blade, and a proximal end connected to a ground terminal of a dual-mode current supply or electrosurgical generator;

a conductive electrode current conductor blade having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said blade being in contact with the proximal end of the electrosurgical blade, and said proximal end of said electrode current conductor blade being between the first and second spring contacts, spaced therefrom and terminating adjacent said plunger slots on the distal side thereof;

a plunger having shoulders on its upper portion and at its lower end a T-shaped tip with flanges, said plunger extending downward from said rocker arm shoulder portion, passing through the spring contact plunger slots, said T-shaped tip moving upward as the distal end of the control switch is depressed, said tip pulling the second spring contact upward and into contact with the common current conductor blade and the electrode current conductor blade, completing an electrical circuit from the electrical power source to the electrosurgical blade, and as the proximal end of the control switch is depressed, the plunger shoulders pushing said first spring contact downward and into contact with the common current conductor blade and the electrode current conductor blade, completing an electrical circuit from the power source to the electrosurgical blade; and

a locking member for controlling the movement of the rocker arm control switch, said locking member having a first position allowing complete freedom of movement of the control switch, a second position preventing all movement of the control switch, and a third position preventing the control switch from activating at least one electrosurgical current mode.

8. A hand control for electrosurgical electrodes as claimed in claim 7, wherein said locking member comprises:

a slide-locking arm having a forward and a distal end, said arm positioned longitudinally inside said housing with freedom to slide forward and rearward;

a slide-locking flange protruding upward from the proximal end of said locking arm;

a forked locking shoulder on the distal end of said slide-locking arm, said shoulder having an upper flange and a shorter lower flange, together forming a locking recess; and

a slide-locking thumb release integrally molded into said locking arm and protruding upward therefrom through said slide-locking thumb release groove, said thumb release being free to slide forward and rearward in said groove and to move the slide-locking member into any of three positions;

(1) with the slide-locking flange locked into the rear locking notch, the slide-locking member is positioned so that the slide-locking shoulder does not restrict the vertical movement of the rocker arm shoulder, allowing complete freedom of movement thereof;

or

(2) with the slide-locking flange locked into the center locking notch, the slide-locking member is positioned so that the upper flange of the slide-locking shoulder restrains the rocker arm locking shoulder from moving upward a sufficient distance to complete an electrical circuit through the second spring contact to the electrosurgical blade;

or

(3) with the slide-locking flange locked into the forward locking notch, the slide-locking member is positioned so that the rocker arm locking shoulder is held securely in the slide-locking shoulder recess, preventing all vertical movement of the plunger, and locking the spring contacts in a neutral position with no electrical connection possible between the power source and the electrosurgical blade.