Bipolar electrosurgical device
First Claim
1. A replaceable tip for a surgical device of the kind that includes a handle having an opening and a plurality of coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts therein, said tip comprisinga housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the housing configured to be received within the opening of the handle, anda plurality of electrodes disposed through said housing, said electrodes having distal ends that extend distally from the distal end of said housing and proximal ends that are coaxial and axially spaced from each other and that extend proximally from the proximal end of said housing for connection to the coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts of the handle when the proximal end of said housing is inserted in the opening of the handle,the proximal end of said housing being constructed to be releasably secured to the handle for operation of said surgical device solely by inserting the proximal end of the housing axially into the opening of the handle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bipolar electrosurgical device includes electrodes that are part of a tip which removable from a handle. The electrodes are configured for connection to electrical contacts when the tip is attached to the handle, and disconnected from the contacts which the tip is detached. The electrodes are mounted on a housing of the tip so that the proximal ends of the electrodes are spaced from each other. The handle has an opening which receives the housing, and a plurality of contacts disposed for connection to the proximal ends of the electrodes when the housing is inserted into the opening. Because the electrodes themselves provide the connection with the electrical components of the handle, there is no need for a separate electrical connector. The tip and the electrodes are economically disposable after, e.g., a single use, while the handle can be reused in multiple surgical procedures with other tips. An inventory of differently-constructed tips (e.g., tips having straight or curved electrodes, or having variously-configured distal ends) may be provided for use with the handle.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A replaceable tip for a surgical device of the kind that includes a handle having an opening and a plurality of coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts therein, said tip comprising
a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the housing configured to be received within the opening of the handle, and a plurality of electrodes disposed through said housing, said electrodes having distal ends that extend distally from the distal end of said housing and proximal ends that are coaxial and axially spaced from each other and that extend proximally from the proximal end of said housing for connection to the coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts of the handle when the proximal end of said housing is inserted in the opening of the handle, the proximal end of said housing being constructed to be releasably secured to the handle for operation of said surgical device solely by inserting the proximal end of the housing axially into the opening of the handle.
-
8. A surgical device comprising
a tip including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of electrodes disposed through said housing, said electrodes having proximal ends that are coaxial and axially spaced from each other and that extend proximally from the proximal end of said housing, and distal ends that extend distally from the distal end of said housing, and a handle having an opening configured to receive the proximal end of said housing, said handle and the proximal end of said housing being constructed to be releasably secured together for operation of said surgical device solely by inserting the proximal end of said housing axially into said opening, said handle further including a plurality of coaxially and axially spaced electrical contacts disposed for connection to said coaxially and axially spaced proximal ends of said electrodes when the proximal end of said housing is inserted in said opening of said handle.
-
21. Apparatus comprising
a plurality of tips each of which includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of electrodes disposed through said housing, said electrodes having proximal ends that are coaxial and axially spaced from each other and that extend proximally from the proximal end of said housing, and distal ends that extend distally from the distal end of said housing, and a handle having an opening configured to receive the proximal end of a said housing of a selected one of said tips, said handle and the proximal end of said housing being constructed to be releasably secured together for operation of said surgical device solely by inserting the proximal end of said housing axially into said opening, said handle further including a plurality of coaxially and axially spaced electrical contacts disposed for connection to said coaxially and axially spaced proximal ends of said electrodes when the proximal end of said housing of said selected tip is inserted in said opening of said handle.
-
23. An electrosurgical method for treating tissue, comprising
providing a surgical device which includes a handle having an opening and a plurality of coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts therein, providing a plurality of tips for said surgical device, each of said tips including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the housing configured for insertion into said opening, and a plurality of electrodes disposed through said housing, said electrodes having distal ends that extend distally from the distal end of said housing and proximal ends that are coaxial and axially spaced from each other and that extend proximally from the proximal end of said housing for connection to said coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts when the proximal end of said housing is inserted in said opening of said handle, selecting one of said tips, releasably securing said selected tip to said handle for operation of said surgical device solely by inserting the proximal end of said housing of said selected tip axially into said handle opening so that said proximal ends of said electrodes become connected to said electrical contacts, applying power to said electrical contacts to energize said electrodes, and treating the tissue with the energized electrodes.
Specification