Combination monopolar-bipolar electrosurgical instrument system, instrument and cable
First Claim
1. An adapter system for connecting an electrosurgical instrument having first and second electrodes to an RF electrosurgery energy generator having a bipolar energy source and a monopolar energy source, said adapter system comprising:
- a bipolar conductor for connecting to said bipolar energy source;
a monopolar conductor for connecting to said monopolar energy source; and
a controller having a bipolar input for connecting to said bipolar conductor, a monopolar input for connecting to said monopolar conductor, and an output for connecting to the first and/or second electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, said controller including a switch that is powered by the RF energy received through one of the monopolar and bipolar conductors and being operable to automatically switch said output into communication with selected of said monopolar conductor and bipolar conductor upon detecting activation of said monopolar or bipolar energy sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument system including an RF energy source that has two bipolar terminals of opposite polarity and two monopolar terminals, one being active and the other being passive. Switches are provided for selectively energizing the bipolar terminals and the monopolar terminals. The system includes an electrosurgical instrument that has two tissue-contacting members and at least two electrodes. One electrode may be associated with each of the tissue-contacting members, or both electrodes may be associated with one of the tissue-contacting members. Two conductors are provided for connecting the two electrodes to the positive and negative bipolar terminals respectively. A third conductor is provided for connecting either of the electrodes or one of the tissue-contacting members to the active monopolar terminal. The system also includes a patient return electrode pad which is in electrical communication with the pass of monopolar terminal. Consequently, the instrument may be selectively used in the either the monopolar mode or the bipolar mode by engagement of the appropriate switch. In addition, an instrument for use in such a system as disclosed, which comprises any of a variety of bipolar electrosurgical instruments, including scissors, graspers, and forceps. A separate conductor assembly is also disclosed. In a further embodiment, switching circuitry is disclosed that senses bipolar or monopolar current and automatically connects the electrosurgical instrument to contact with the leads for the sensed current.
729 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An adapter system for connecting an electrosurgical instrument having first and second electrodes to an RF electrosurgery energy generator having a bipolar energy source and a monopolar energy source, said adapter system comprising:
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a bipolar conductor for connecting to said bipolar energy source; a monopolar conductor for connecting to said monopolar energy source; and a controller having a bipolar input for connecting to said bipolar conductor, a monopolar input for connecting to said monopolar conductor, and an output for connecting to the first and/or second electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, said controller including a switch that is powered by the RF energy received through one of the monopolar and bipolar conductors and being operable to automatically switch said output into communication with selected of said monopolar conductor and bipolar conductor upon detecting activation of said monopolar or bipolar energy sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electrosurgical instrument system comprising:
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an RF energy source including a bipolar energy source, and a monopolar energy source, a switch for energizing said bipolar energy source, and a switch for energizing said monopolar energy source; an electrosurgical instrument having first and second tissue contacting members, a selected of said first and second tissue contacting members comprising a first electrode, a selected of said first and second tissue contacting members comprising a second electrode; and an adapter for conductively connecting said first and second electrodes to a selected of said bipolar and monopolar energy sources, said adapter comprising; a bipolar conductor for connecting to said bipolar energy source; a monopolar conductor for connecting to said monopolar energy source; and a controller having a bipolar input for connecting to said bipolar conductor, a monopolar input for connecting to said monopolar conductor, and an output for connecting to the first and/or second electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, said controller including a switch that is powered by the RF energy received through one of the monopolar and bipolar conductors and being operable to automatically switch said output into communication with selected of said monopolar conductor and bipolar conductor upon detecting activation of said monopolar or bipolar energy source. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification