Clamp for electrosurgical dispersive electrode

• US 5,679,029 A
• Filed: 05/30/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Saunier, Robert G., Oster, Craig D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ta, Tho Dac
• Application Number:
  US08/655,800
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 439/725, 439/838, 439/864, 439/909
• US Class Current: 439/725
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A clamp for a dispersive electrode is disclosed. The clamp includes (a) a housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface being formed within the housing for receiving projecting tabs of the electrode, and a slot in the housing disposed between the exterior surface and the interior surface; (b) a mechanism for releasably engaging the tabs at the interior surface; (c) a reinforcement on the releasably engagement means; and (d) a slot on the exterior surface of the housing having a shape matching the reinforcement.

Claims

1. A clamp for an electrosurgical electrode, comprising:

(a) a housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface being formed within the housing for receiving projecting tabs of the electrode, and a tab receiving slot in the housing disposed between the exterior surface and the interior surface;

(b) means for releasably engaging the tabs at the interior surface, the means including a lever with a cam thereon;

(c) a wishbone shaped reinforcement on the lever, supporting but additional to the cam; and

(d) a wishbone shaped tab viewing slot on the exterior surface of the housing.