Package for removable device tips

• US 6,183,467 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Xomed Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Johnson, Wayne, Shapeton, Mark, Crocetta, Michael J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/126,699
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/41, 606/42, 606/45-50, 600/372, 600/374, 302/86, 303/29, 303/35, 303/37, 303/40, 303/465.2
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter

Abstract

A package for a tip, such as a replaceable tip for a bipolar electrosurgical device, is used for insertion of the tip onto and removal of the tip from the end of a device handle, without requiring any direct contact between the user'"'"'s hand and the tip. The package includes a housing having a tip cavity shaped to receive the tip and an opening through which the end of the handle is insertable for removable attachment to the tip. A releasable locking mechanism, which is releasable in response to the end of the handle being disposed in the opening for removable attachment to the tip, retains the tip in the tip cavity. The package may be made from a single piece of molded material, such as a clear plastic. The package may also be used with monopolar, diathermized and non-bipolar tips, as well as other sharp tips such as cannulae, pics and blades, that are attachable to the end of a handle.

Claims

1. A surgical product, comprising

a tip capable of removable attachment to an end of a handle;

a housing having a tip cavity in which said tip is disposed, said housing having an opening through which the end of the handle is insertable for removable attachment to said tip; and

a releasable locking mechanism in said housing for retaining said tip in said tip cavity, said locking mechanism being released in response to engagement of said housing by the end of the handle inserted in said opening for removable attachment to said tip.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein said tip is a bipolar tip of the kind used with a bipolar electrosurgical device.

3. The product of claim 1 wherein said tip is a sharp tip.

4. A surgical product, comprising

a replaceable tip attachable to a handle having an opening and a plurality of coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts therein, the tip comprising

a tip housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tip housing configured to be received within the opening of the handle,

a plurality of electrodes disposed through the tip housing, the electrodes having distal ends that extend distally from the distal end of the tip housing and proximal ends that are coaxial and axially spaced from each other and that extend proximally from the proximal end of the tip housing for connection to the coaxial, axially spaced electrical contacts of the handle when the proximal end of the tip housing is inserted in the opening of the handle,

the proximal end of the tip housing being constructed to be releasably secured to the handle for operation of the surgical device solely by inserting the proximal end of the tip housing axially into the opening of the handle;

and

a housing having a tip cavity in which the tip is disposed, said housing having an opening through which the end of the handle is insertable for removable attachment to the tip.

5. The product of claim 4 wherein the tip housing is configured to provide a snap fit with the handle.

6. A surgical product, comprising

a tip capable of removable attachment to an end of a handle;

a housing having a tip cavity in which said tip is disposed, said housing having an opening through which the end of the handle is insertable for releasable locking engagement with said tip;

a retaining member on said tip for releasable locking engagement with a detent on the end of the handle; and

indicia on said housing indicating the position of said retaining member for alignment of said retaining member with the detent of the end of the handle inserted in the opening.

7. The product of claim 6 wherein said retaining member releasably lockingly engages the detent in response to longitudinal movement of the end of the handle into said housing and said indicia indicates the direction of longitudinal movement for the end of the handle.