Replaceable accessory cord and handswitch

• US 6,325,795 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Heard, David Nichols, Lindemann, Russell Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/378,931
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32-35, 606/37-42, 606/45-50, 200/293.1, 200/295, 200/329, 200/332.2
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device

Abstract

A replaceable accessory cord and hand switch set for an electrosurgical instrument wherein the accessory cord electrically couples an electrosurgical generator to the electrosurgical instrument. The hand switch is electrically coupled with the accessory cord. A button on the hand switch activates the flow of electrosurgical current in the instrument. An insulated mechanical connector on the hand switch conforms and adheres to the electrosurgical instrument, mounting the hand switch thereon, and preventing longitudinal, lateral, and circumferential movement therebetween. The hand switch is positioned on the electrosurgical instrument for easy access and control by the surgeon'"'"'s finger.

Claims

1. A replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set for use with an electrossurgical instrument, the clectrosurgical instrument having a distal end for delivery therefrom of electrosurgical current to a patient, and a proximal end for holding by a surgeon, the proximal end having a terminal for connecting with the replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set for receiving clectrosurgical current, the replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set comprising:

an accessory cord having a least first and second conductors, the accessory cord including at least one split end defining a conductor cord independently connected to a connector and a switch cord independently connected to a handswitch, the hands witch electrically coupled to the first conductor, for mounting on the proximal end of the electrosurgical instrument for access by the surgeon;

first and second contacts in the handswitch, the contacts normally open, the first contact attached to the first conductor and the second contact connected to the second conductor;

a receptacle on the hands witch connected electrically to the second contact, the receptacle configured to conjugate with the terminal when mounted on the electrosurgical instrument through an RF switch junction and the conductor cord on the electrosurgical instrument;

a support on the hands witch for adjustable mechanical connection, the mechanical connection configured to adapt with the electrosurgical instrument by flexibly conforming to a portion the electrosurgical instrument to prevent movement relative thereto, the support electrically insulated from the pair of contacts, the receptacle, the terminal and the conductors, and

an operating button on the support accessible to the surgeon, the operating button positioned remotely from the receptacle and the terminal so that the operating button is convenient to the surgeon, the operating button electrically isolated from the pair of contacts, the receptacle, the terminal and the conductors, the operating button movably mounted to the support for closing the pair of contacts during use of the Clectrosurgical instrument when applying electrosurgical energy to the patient.

2. The replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set of claim 1 adapted for use with a handle on the electrosurgical instrument for use by the surgeon and one or more end effectors on the electrosurgical instrument for application of electrosurgical energy and wherein the support and operating button are adapted to be physically located on the handle so when the electrosurgical instrument is grasped by the handle, the operating button is positioned for control of electrosurgical energy delivery by the surgeon'"'"'s finger.

3. The replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set of claim 2 wherein the handswitch on the handle is insulated and is adapted to be mounted at the proximal end of the electrosurgical instrument and one or more electrosurgical effectors is located opposite the handle at the distal end of the electrosurgical instrument.

4. The replaceable accessory cord and handswitch set of claim 2 wherein the handswitch is adapted to be electrically connected with the one or more end effectors in a bipolar circuit and a return is located on one of the end effectors and is connected to one of the conductors for completing the electrosurgical circuit.

5. The replaceable accessory cord and handswitch set of claim 2 wherein the handswitch is adapted to be electrically connected with the one or more end effectors in a monopolar circuit and a return pad is on the patient in the electrosurgical circuit.

6. The replaceable accessory cord and handswitch set of claim 2 wherein the receptacle adaptively conjugates with the terminal positioned near the proximal end of the electrosurgical instrument for minimizing the size and bulk of the support.

7. A replaceable handswitch adapted for use with an electrosurgical instrument for use by a surgeon on a patient in an electrosurgical circuit adapted to connect between an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument and the patient, the electrosurgical instrument has a proximal end for holding by the surgeon and a distal end for delivery therefrom of electrosurgery to the patient, the electrosurgical circuit includes a cord for electrically coupling to the electrosurgical generator to supply electrosurgery to the replaceable handswitch, the cord having two or more conductors, the replaceable handswitch comprising:

a pair of normally open contacts in the handswitch so one contact is electrically coupled to an active conductor, the pair of contacts mounted near the proximal end of the electrosurgical instrument for access by the surgeon, the handswitch in the electrosurgical circuit so another conductor from the electrosurgical generator is connected to the other contact;

an RF conductor connected to at least one contact for supplying a high voltage electrosurgical current to the electrosurgical instrument, the RF conductor also supplying a low voltage activation current;

a receptacle on the handswitch connected electrically to the contact, the receptacle configured to mount to the electrosurgical instrument and electrically couple with a terminal positioned on the surgical instrument, the terminal in electrical contact with the active conductor;

a support on the handswitch configured for mounting on the electrosurgical instrument to prevent movement relative thereto, the support electrically insulated from the pair of contacts, the receptacle, the terminal and the conductors, the support attached to a mechanical connector including a flexible adhesive wrap configured to securely conform to and adapt with a portion of the electrosurgical instrument, and

an operating button on the support accessible to the surgeon, the operating button positioned remotely from the receptacle and the terminal, the operating button electrically isolated from the pair of contacts, the receptacle, the terminal and the conductors, the operating button movably mounted relative to the support for closing the pair of contacts to apply electrosurgical energy during the use of the instrument to the patient.

8. The replaceable handswitch adapted for use with the electrosurgical instrument of claim 7, wherein a jumper having a jumper switch contact and a jumper RF contact, the jumper switch being electrically coupled with the handswitch, the jumper RF contact being electrically coupled with a RF conductor and a switch conductor.

9. The replaceable handswitch adapted for use with the electrosurgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the jumper includes a RF switch junction.

10. A switch cord and handswitch for controlling an electrosurgical instrument, the switch cord and handswitch electrically adaptively coupled to an electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument, and adapted to be physically attached to the electrosurgical instrument, the electrosurgical generator capable of producing an electrosurgical current, the switch cord and handswitch comprising:

a handswitch having a handswitch button adapted for electrically controlling the electrosurgical generator to activate or stop electrosurgical current flow to the electrosurgical instrument;

a switch cord extending from the handswitch, the switch cord having at least first and second conductors, the conductors in an electrical circuit with the handswitch button, the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument; and

a mechanical connector attached to the handswitch for supporting the handswitch mounted on the electrosurgical instrument, the mechanical connector having at least two tabs extending beyond the dimensions of the handswitch, each tab including a laminate composed of at least an adhesive layer and a malleable metallic layer, the tabs configured to adapt to the electrosurgical instrument by securely conforming and adhering to a portion of the exterior surface of the electrosurgical instrument.

11. The switch cord and handswitch of claim 10 wherein the laminate composing the tabs of the mechanical connector includes an insulating tape layered on each side of the malleable metal.

12. The switch cord and handswitch of claim 10 wherein the laminate composing the tabs of the mechanical connector includes a release liner layered against the contact side of the adhesive.

13. The switch cord and handswitch of claim 11 wherein the laminate composing the tabs of the mechanical connector includes a release liner layered against the contact side of the adhesive.

14. A method of attaching a switch cord and handswitch via a mechanical connector to an electrosurgical instrument, the handswitch for activating the electrosurgical instrument connected to an electrosurgical generator via the switch cord, the switch cord extending from the handswitch, the electrosurgical generator capable of supplying electrosurgical current, the handswitch having a handswitch button for electrically controlling the electrosurgical generator to activate or stop electrosurgical current flow to the electrosurgical instrument, the switch cord having at least first and second conductors in an electrical circuit with the handswitch button, the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument, the mechanical connector attached to the handswitch for supporting the electrosurgical instrument, the mechanical connector having at least two tabs extending beyond the dimensions of the handswitch, each tab including a laminate composed of at least an adhesive layer and a malleable metallic layer, the mechanical connector sized relative to the electrosurgical instrument for securely conforming and adhering to the electrosurgical instrument, the method of attaching the switch cord and handswitch with the steps of:

conforming the malleable metallic layer of the tabs of the mechanical connector to the electrosurgical instrument; and

adhering the adhesive layer of the tabs of the mechanical connector to the electrosurgical instrument.