Electrosurgical device with suction and irrigation

• US 5,195,959 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul C. Smith
• Original Assignee: Paul C. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/708,208
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/30, 604/34, 604/902, 604/35, 606/27, 606/29, 606/31, 606/39, 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/49
• US Class Current: 604/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7415 by deformation of the fluid passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently

Abstract

The present invention provides a disposable electrosurgical device which is useful in performing laparoscopic surgical procedures. This electrosurgical device has suction and irrigation capabilities in which the application of electrosurgical current, the application of suction, and the transmission of irrigation fluid, to a surgical site, can be conveniently regulated through control mechanisms contained within a surgical handpiece. The mechanisms which regulate the electrosurgical current, the suction, and the irrigation can be conveniently actuated independently with one hand at a single location on the surgical handpiece. A disposable rotatable combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation probe releasably attaches to the distal end of the surgical handpiece. This probe is an electrically conductive fluid conduit which forms an electrical and fluid connection to the surgical handpiece. It provides an electrical and fluid passageway to an electrocauterizing tip which applies the therapeutic electrosurgical current.

Claims

1. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device comprising:

an elongated handle having a distinct distal end and a distinct proximal end;

an electrocauterizing tip which forms a connection to the extreme distal end of the elongated handle;

a switching means providing controlled transmission of electrosurgical current to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the switching means can be activated by a switch mechanism distally oriented within the elongated handle;

a first fluid conduit extending through said handle which forms a fluid connection to a remote source of suction and provides a fluid communication passageway to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the first extended fluid conduit is acted upon by a first conduit collapsing mechanism, contained within the elongated handle, which normally applies a collapsing force constricting the first extended fluid conduit into a closed-off configuration preventing fluid communication and when hand actuated relieves said collapsing force returning the first extended fluid conduit to an open configuration allowing fluid communication;

a second fluid conduit extending through said handle which forms a fluid connection to a remote source of irrigation and provides a fluid communication passageway to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the second extended fluid conduit is acted upon by a second conduit collapsing mechanism, contained within the elongated handle, which normally applies a collapsing force constricting the second extended fluid conduit into a closed-off configuration preventing fluid communication and when hand actuated relieves said collapsing force returning the second extended fluid conduit to an open configuration allowing fluid communication;

said elongated handle wherein a distally oriented single hand grip, located on the elongated handle, can conveniently position both the index finger over the switch mechanism and the thumb in close proximity to the first conduit collapsing mechanism and the second conduit collapsing mechanism, allowing the controlled transmission of electrosurgical current to the electrosurgical tip, the application suction and irrigation to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, to be accomplished separately or simultaneously without a relocation of the distally oriented single hand grip.

2. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elongated handle is constructed from an electrically nonconductive material.

3. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip is releasable.

4. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip is not releasable.

5. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set fourth in claim 1 wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip permits full axial rotation of the electrosurgical tip in relation to the elongated handle.

6. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device comprising:

an elongated handle having a distinct distal end and a distinct proximal end which is constructed from two handle halves joined along a longitudinal and cross-sectional joining line extending from the distal end to the proximal end;

an electrocauterizing tip which forms a connection to the extreme distal end of the elongated handle;

a switching means providing controlled transmission of electrosurgical current to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the switching means can be activated by a switch mechanism distally oriented within the elongated handle;

a first fluid conduit extending through said handle which forms a fluid connection to a remote source of suction and provides a fluid communication passageway to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the first extended fluid conduit is acted upon by a first conduit collapsing mechanism, contained within the elongated handle, which normally applies a collapsing force constricting the first extended fluid conduit into a closed-off configuration preventing fluid communication and when hand actuated relieves said collapsing force returning the first extended fluid conduit to an open configuration allowing fluid communication;

a second fluid conduit extending through said handle which forms a fluid connection to a remote source of irrigation and provides a fluid communication passageway to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the second extended fluid conduit is acted upon by a second conduit collapsing mechanism, contained within the elongated handle, which normally applies a collapsing force constricting the second extended fluid conduit into a closed-off configuration preventing fluid communication and when hand actuated relieves said collapsing force returning the second extended fluid conduit to an open configuration allowing fluid communication;

said elongated handle wherein the actuation direction of the switch mechanism is perpendicular to the longitudinal joining line of the two handle halves and parallel to the cross-sectional joining line of the two handle halves;

said elongated handle wherein the actuation direction of the first and second conduit collapsing mechanisms is perpendicular to the longitudinal and cross-sectional joining lines of the two handle halves.

7. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the elongated handle is constructed from an electrically nonconductive material.

8. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip is releasable.

9. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip is not releasable.

10. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip permits full axial rotation of the electrosurgical tip in relation to the elongated handle.

11. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device comprising:

an elongated handle having a distinct distal end and a distinct proximal end which is constructed from two handle halves joined along a longitudinal and cross-sectional joining line extending from the distal end to the proximal end;

an electrocauterizing tip which forms a connection to the extreme distal end of the elongated handle;

a switching means providing controlled transmission of electrosurgical current to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the switching means can be activated by a switch mechanism distally oriented within the elongated handle;

a first fluid conduit extending through said handle which forms a fluid connection to a remote source of suction and provides a fluid communication passageway to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the first extended fluid conduit is acted upon by a first conduit collapsing mechanism, contained within the elongated handle, which normally applies a collapsing force constricting the first extended fluid conduit into a closed-off configuration preventing fluid communication and when hand actuated relieves said collapsing force returning the first extended fluid conduit to an open configuration allowing fluid communication;

a second fluid conduit extending through said handle which forms a fluid connection to a remote source of irrigation and provides a fluid communication passageway to a location in close proximity to the electrocauterizing tip, wherein the second extended fluid conduit is acted upon by a second conduit collapsing mechanism, contained within the elongated handle, which normally applies a collapsing force constricting the second extended fluid conduit into a closed-off configuration preventing fluid communication and when hand actuated relieves said collapsing force returning the second extended fluid conduit to an open configuration allowing fluid communication;

said elongated handle wherein the actuation direction of the switch mechanism is perpendicular to the longitudinal and cross-sectional joining lines of the two handle halves;

said elongated handle wherein the actuation direction of the first and second conduit collapsing mechanisms is perpendicular to the longitudinal joining line of the two handle halves and parallel to the cross-sectional joining line of the two handle halves.

12. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the elongated handle is constructed from an electrically nonconductive material.

13. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip is releasable.

14. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip is not releasable.

15. A combined electrosurgical-suction-irrigation device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the connection between the handle and electrocauterizing tip permits full axial rotation of the electrosurgical tip in relation to the elongated handle.