Handswitch cord and circuit

• US 6,402,747 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1997
• 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:
  US09/783,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32-34, 606/37-42, 606/45, 606/48-52
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• 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 handswitch set adapted for use with an electrosurgical instrument that has a proximal end handle for holding by the surgeon and distal end effectors for delivery of electrosurgery to a patient. A replaceable accessory cord is adapted to electrically couple an electrosurgical generator to the instrument with two or more conductors. A handswitch with normally open contacts is near the proximal end. One of the contacts attaches to an active conductor and another of the conductors connected to the other contact. A receptacle on the handswitch connects electrically to the contact. An insulated support on the handswitch engages the instrument preventing relative movement. A button on the support is accessible to the surgeon, but remote from the receptacle land the terminal. The button is electrically isolated from the contacts, the receptacle, the terminal and the conductors. The button moves on the support for closing the contacts and is positioned for control by the surgeon'"'"'s finger. The handswitch controls delivery of a coagulating wave form and a cutting wave form.

Claims

1. In a handswitch set for use with an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical generator being configured to supply electrosurgical energy and waveforms to the electrosurgical instrument through the handswitch set, wherein the improvement comprises:

a handswitch set including a handswitch and a cord set, the cord set configured for electrically connecting the electrosurgical generator with an electrosurgical instrument, the generator including at least three conjugating connections, the at least three conjugating connections being configured for supplying electrosurgical energy, a cutting waveform, and a coagulating waveform;

a button positioned on the handswitch, the button configured to close a pair of contacts, the pair of contacts including a first contact and a second contact normally in an open position, the closing of the pair of contacts being detectable by the electrosurgical generator such that, upon detection of closure, the electrosurgical generator delivers electrosurgical energy through an active conductor to the first contact; and

a switch positioned on the handswitch set for selecting between a cutting waveform and a coagulating waveform, the switch connected with the second contact.

2. The handswitch set of claim 1, wherein the handswitch is adapted to be mounted to the electrosurgical instrument using a pressure sensitive adhesive.

3. The handswitch set of claim 1, wherein the handswitch set includes a support for mounting on the electrosurgical instrument.

4. The handswitch set of claim 3, wherein the support includes the handswitch and the button.

5. The handswitch set of claim 2, wherein the button is configured to actuate the switch for selecting between the two waveforms.

6. The handswitch set of claim 2, wherein the cord set includes a cord, the cord connecting the handswitch to the cord set for the remote positioning of the handswitch from the cord set.

7. The handswitch set of claim 3, wherein the support includes a terminal and the cord set includes a receptacle, the terminal and receptacle configured to electrically connect.

8. The handswitch set of claim 3, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes a handle having a trigger portion and the support is configured to conformingly mount with the trigger portion, the support also defining a cut-out for the distal end of the electrosurgical instrument.

9. In a handswitch set configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical generator being configured to supply electrosurgical energy and waveforms to the electrosurgical instrument through the handswitch set, the electrosurgical instrument including a distal end with end effectors and a proximal end having a stationary portion and a pivoting portion, wherein the improvement comprises:

a handswitch set including a cord set, the cord set configured for electrically connecting the electrosurgical generator with an electrosurgical instrument, the electrosurgical instrument having a distal end a proximal end, the distal end including at least one end effector and defining a longitudinal axis, the electrosurgical instrument including a handle on the proximal end, the handle including a stationary portion having a trigger portion and a pivoting portion, the stationary portion approximately orthogonal to the axis of the end effectors, and the electrosurgical instrument including at least one end effector on the distal end;

the generator configured for at least supplying electrosurgical energy, a cutting waveform, and a coagulating waveform, the electrosurgical generator configured for the delivery through the active conductor of electrosurgical energy to the first contact;

a support configured to conformingly mate with a stationary portion of the handle, the support defining a recess configured and dimensioned for receiving the distal end of the instrument and the support defining a hole configured for the positioning of a handswitch, the hole defined in the support positioned in juxtaposition with the trigger portion of the handle; and

a button positioned in the hole on the handswitch, the button configured to close a pair of contacts normally in an open position, the pair of contacts including a first contact and a second contact, the closing of the contacts by the button resulting in the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the at least one end effector through the first contact and the connecting of one of two waveforms with the first contact, the waveforms including a cutting waveform and a coagulating waveform.

10. The handswitch set of claim 9, wherein the handswitch is adapted to be positioned on the stationary handle and directly connected to the cord set.

11. The handswitch set of claim 9, wherein the support includes a terminal and the terminal is configured to connect with a receptacle of the cord set.

12. The handswitch set of claim 9, wherein the button is adapted to be positioned on a trigger portion of the stationary handle for delivery of electrosurgical energy.