Auxiliary tubing probe

• US 5,409,487 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yab Revo-Tech Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yab Revo-Tech Inc.
• Inventors: Beland, Germain, Jalbert, Fernand
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/187,476
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/48, 606/49, 606/50, 128/642, 607/116, 607/122, 607/123
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery

Abstract

An auxiliary tubing probe for converting a monopolar electrosurgery probe having a main electrode at one end, into a bipolar electrosurgery probe. The auxiliary probe has an inner electrically insulated tube in which the monopolar electrosurgery probe is slidably inserted. An electric conductor extends externally over and along the inner insulated tube. An auxiliary electrode connected to the electric conductor projects forward away from the inner tube, in such a manner as to be adjacent to the main electrode when the monopolar electrosurgery probe has been inserted in the auxiliary probe. An outer electric insulator covers the electric conductor from the first extremity to the second extremity. The insertion of the auxiliary probe over the monopolar electrosurgery probe, and electricity going through the auxiliary electrosurgery probe and monopolar electrosurgery probe, allows conversion of the monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe.

Claims

1. An auxiliary tubing probe for converting a monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe, said monopolar electrosurgery probe having a main electrode at one end which is electrically connectable to a power source, said power source generating electricity, said auxiliary probe comprising:

an inner electrically insulated tube in which said monopolar electrosurgery probe may be slidably inserted, said inner tube having first and second opposite ends;

at least one electric conductor extending externally over and along said inner insulated tube, said electric conductor having a first and a second extremity;

an auxiliary electrode projecting forward from the first end of said inner tube and being connected to the first extremity of said at least one electric conductor, said auxiliary electrode being adjacent to said main electrode when said monopolar electrosurgery probe has been inserted in said auxiliary probe;

an outer electric insulator covering said at least one electric conductor from said first extremity to said second extremity; and

attachment means for retaining said auxiliary probe on said monopolar electrosurgery probe,

whereby, insertion of said auxiliary probe over the monopolar electrosurgery probe and electricity going through said auxiliary electrosurgery probe and monopolar electrosurgery probe converts said monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe.

2. An auxiliary probe according to claim 1 further comprising a disengaging flange connected adjacent to the second end of the inner tube for use to separate said auxiliary probe from said monopolar electrosurgery probe.

3. An auxiliary probe according to claim 1 wherein said attachment means are a pair of O-rings mounted in small grooves in an inner portion of said auxiliary probe near the second end of said inner tube.

4. An auxiliary tubing probe for converting a monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe, said monopolar electrosurgery probe having a main electrode at one end which is electrically connectable to a power source, said power source generating electricity, said auxiliary probe comprising:

an inner electrically insulated tube in which said monopolar electrosurgery probe may be slidably inserted, said inner tube having first and second opposite ends;

at least one electric conductor extending externally over and along said inner insulated tube, said electric conductor having a first and a second extremity;

an auxiliary electrode projecting forward from the first end of said inner tube and being connected to the first extremity of said at least one electric conductor, said auxiliary electrode being adjacent to said main electrode when said monopolar electrosurgery probe has been inserted in said auxiliary probe;

an outer electric insulator covering said at least one electric conductor from said first extremity to said second extremity; and

a disengaging flange connected adjacent to the second end of the inner tube for use to separate said auxiliary probe from said monopolar electrosurgery probe,

whereby, insertion of said auxiliary probe over the monopolar electrosurgery probe and electricity going through said auxiliary electrosurgery probe and monopolar electrosurgery probe converts said monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe.

5. An auxiliary tubing probe for converting a monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe, said monopolar electrosurgery probe having a main electrode at one end which is electrically connectable to a power source, said power source generating electricity, said auxiliary probe comprising:

an inner electrically insulated tube in which said monopolar electrosurgery probe may be slidably inserted, said inner tube having first and second opposite ends;

at least one electric conductor extending externally over and along said inner insulated tube, said electric conductor having a first and a second extremity and consisting of a metallic weaver enveloping said inner insulated tube;

an auxiliary electrode projecting forward from the first end of said inner tube and being connected to the first extremity of said at least one electric conductor, said auxiliary electrode being adjacent to said main electrode when said monopolar electrosurgery probe has been inserted in said auxiliary probe; and

an outer electric insulator covering said at least one electric conductor from said first extremity to said second extremity, whereby, insertion of said auxiliary probe over the monopolar electrosurgery probe and electricity going through said auxiliary electrosurgery probe and monopolar electrosurgery probe converts said monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe.

6. An auxiliary probe according to claim 5 wherein said auxiliary electrode has the shape of a J-hook and said main electrode has the shape of a hockey stick.

7. An auxiliary probe according to claim 5 wherein said inner insulated tube and said outer electric insulator are made of polycarbonate.

8. An auxiliary probe according to claim 5 wherein the first extremity of said at least one electric conductor projects outwardly from said first end of said inner electrically insulated tube.

9. An auxiliary probe according to claim 5 further comprising attachment means for retaining said auxiliary probe on said monopolar electrosurgery probe.

10. An auxiliary probe according to claim 9 further comprising a disengaging flange connected adjacent to the second end of the inner tube for use to separate said auxiliary probe from said monopolar electrosurgery probe.

11. An auxiliary probe according to claim 9 wherein said attachment means are a pair of O-rings mounted in small grooves made in an inner portion of said auxiliary probe near the second end of said inner tube.

12. The combination of an auxiliary tubing probe with a monopolar electro-surgery probe, said monopolar electrosurgery probe having a main electrode at one end which is electrically connectable to a power source, said power source generating electricity, said auxiliary probe comprising:

an inner electrically insulated tube in which said monopolar electrosurgery probe is slidably inserted, said inner tube having first and second opposite ends;

at least one electric conductor extending externally over and along said inner insulated tube, said electric conductor having a first and a second extremity and consisting of a metallic weaver enveloping said inner insulated tube;

an auxiliary electrode projecting forward from the first end of said inner tube and being connected to the first extremity of said at least one electric conductor, said auxiliary electrode being adjacent to said main electrode when said monopolar electrosurgery probe is inserted in said auxiliary probe; and

an outer insulator covering said at least one electric conductor from said first extremity to said second extremity,

whereby, insertion of said auxiliary probe over the monopolar electrosurgery probe, and electricity going through said auxiliary electrosurgery probe and monopolar electrosurgery probe converts said monopolar electrosurgery probe into a bipolar electrosurgery probe.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said monopolar electrosurgery probe has a stopping flange for stopping its insertion in said auxiliary probe.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said stopping flange is star-shaped.

15. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said monopolar electrosurgery probe is a laparoscopic monopolar electrode.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said laparoscopic monopolar electrode is an electricity conducting cannula.

17. The combination according to claim 12 wherein:

said monopolar electrosurgery probe is a laparoscopic monopolar electrode;

said auxiliary electrode has the shape of a J-hook and said main electrode has the shape of a hockey stick;

said inner insulated tube and said outer electrical insulator are made of polycarbonate; and

said monopolar electrosurgery probe has a star-shaped stopping flange.

18. The combination according to claim 17 further comprising:

a pair of O-rings mounted in small grooves made in an inner portion of said auxiliary probe near the second end of the inner tube; and

a disengaging flange connected adjacent to the second end of said inner tube for use to separate said auxiliary probe from said monopolar electrosurgery probe.