Extendable electrocautery surgery apparatus and method

• US 5,035,695 A
• Filed: 03/09/1990
• Issued: 07/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jaroy Weber Jr
• Original Assignee: Jaroy Weber Jr
• Inventors: Weber, Jaroy Jr., Kloeckl, Terrance L., Kast, Michael A., Watkins, Frank T. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/491,568
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 606/42, 606/45, 606/46, 606/48, 606/49, 606/50, 128/800, 128/801, 604/35
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320008 Scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 with extendable or retractable guard or blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00958 for switching between different working modes of the main function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00976 with scraping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7415 by deformation of the fluid passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/04 Tools for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/014 Application surgical instrument

Abstract

An improved electrocautery method and instrument includes interlock features which enable the instrument to be safely operated under convenient manual controls including a slide element and control buttons and interlock switch positioned on the instrument.

Claims

1. Surgical apparatus comprising:

an elongated body having a forward end and a rearward end;

conductor means for supplying electrical signal extending substantially through the body from near the rearward end to near the forward end thereof;

means within the body slidably supporting the conductor means for selective slideable positioning thereof between rearward-most and forward-most positions along a slideable path relative to said forward end;

slider means slideably disposed on the body and coupled to the conductor means for selectively altering the position thereof along the slideable path relative to said forward end; and

circuit mean including the conductor means for controlling the application of electrical signal thereto in response to the position of the conductor means along the slideable path thereof;

said circuit means including an interlock switch means operable in conductive state and in non-conductive state and disposed to be actuated for operation in the non-conductive state in response to the conductor means being positioned near a rearward-most position along the slideable path thereof, and in the conductive state in response to the conductor means being positioned near a forward-most along the slideable path thereof, said interlock switch means including auxiliary switch means disposed in the body for grounding the conductor means during operation in said non-conductive state.

2. Surgical apparatus comprising:

an elongated body having a forward end and a rearward end;

conductor means for supplying electrical signal extending substantially through the body toward the forward end thereof;

means with the body slideable supporting the conductor means for selective slideable positioning thereof between rearward-most and forward-most positions along a slideable path relative to said forward end;

slider means slideably disposed on the body and coupled to the conductor means for selectively altering the position thereof along the slideable path relative to said forward end; and

circuit means including the conductor means for controlling the application of electrical signal thereto in response to the position of the conductor means along the slideable path thereof;

said circuit means including an interlock switch means operable in conductive state and in non-conductive state and disposed to be actuated for operation in the non-conductive state in response to the conductor means being positioned near a rearward-most position along the slideable path thereof, and in the conductive state in response to the conductor means being positioned near a forward-most position along the slideable path thereof;

switch means including at least one switch mounted in the body and including an actuator therefor positioned on the body for manually actuating said one switch for selectively applying electrical signal through said circuit means to the conductor means; and

a slide element disposed on the body and coupled to the conductor means for manually positioning the same along the slideable path thereof;

said slide element including means oriented to shroud the actuator against manual operation thereof in response to the conductor means and the slide element coupled thereto being disposed near the rearward position along the slideable path thereof.

3. A method of operating an electrosurgical instrument including a manually-controlled slideable electrical conductor extendable from a forward end of the instrument to controllable supply suitable electrical signal for treating tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

slideably supporting the electrical conductor within the instrument for longitudinal sliding motion between a forward position for which the electrical conductor extends from the forward end of the instrument, to a rearward position for which the electrical conductor is substantially retracted within the forward end of the instrument for selectively manually extending and retracting the electrical conductor relative to said forward end in response to manual control of the slideable position of the electrical conductor within the instrument; and

inhibiting the application of electrical signal including grounding the electrical conductor in response to the positioning of the electrical conductor near the rearward slideable position thereof.

4. The method of operating an electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3 in which a switch and a manual actuator therefor is mounted on the instrument and a slide element is disposed on the instrument for manually positioning the electrical conductor, the method comprising the step of:

coupling the switch to selectively supply electrical signal to the electrical conductor suitable for treating tissue in response to manual actuation of the actuator for the switch; and

positioning the slide element for shrouding the actuator against manual actuation thereof in response to the electrical conductor being positioned near the rearward position thereof.