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Intelligent selection system for electrosurgical instrument

  • US 6,652,514 B2
  • Filed: 09/13/2001
  • Issued: 11/25/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In combination:

  • a) an electrosurgical apparatus comprising a microcontroller and being capable of being switched via the microcontroller from a cutting mode to a coagulation mode and vice versa upon the inputting of mode selection signals to the microcontroller, said electrosurgical apparatus when in the cutting mode generating RF electrosurgical currents capable of performing a cutting operation when applied via an electrosurgical electrode and when in the coagulation mode generating RF electrosurgical currents capable of performing a coagulation operation when applied via the electrosurgical electrode, b) a handpiece for connection to the electrosurgical apparatus and comprising fingerswitches for selectively providing cutting mode or coagulation mode electrosurgical currents from the electrosurgical apparatus to an electrode connected to the handpiece, said handpiece comprising;

    (i) a housing, ii) at least first and second fingerswitches on the housing, iii) means on the housing for receiving and holding an electrode for delivering RF electrosurgical currents, iv) means connected to the housing for supplying a control current to the fingerswitches, v) means connecting the fingerswitches such that when the first fingerswitch is activated a first current level is established and when the second fingerswitch is activated a second current level is established, c) said first and second current levels serving as the control signals and being usable by the microcontroller to select an operating mode of the electrosurgical apparatus, d) further comprising a non-volatile memory in the handpiece and accessible from the microcontroller.

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