Monopolar electrosurgical multi-plug connector device and method which accepts multiple different connector plugs

• US 6,835,082 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gonnering, Wayne J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, James R
• Application Number:
  US10/298,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20040097117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 439/218, 439/223, 439/217, 439/909
• US Class Current: 439/218
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

Each of a banana pin connector plug, a rolled sheet metal connector plug and a Bovie connector plug are electrically and mechanically connected an electrosurgical generator with a single adapter-less multi-plug connector device. These three connector plugs are prevalently used to connect foot-switched monopolar electrosurgical handpieces to the generator. A socket is moved into a position to connect to the banana pin connector plug, and the socket is moved out of position to permit a contact arm to move into contact with the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug.

Claims

1. A multi-plug connector device for mechanically and electrically connecting multiple different types of connector plugs of foot-switched monopolar electrosurgical handpieces to an electrosurgical generator, comprising:

a base defining a passageway through which the connection plugs are inserted for connection to the connector device and withdrawn for disconnection from the connector device;

a pivot arm having a forward end and a socket connector located at the forward end, the pivot arm connected relative to the base to pivot between a first position in which the socket connector is located in alignment with the passageway and a second position in which the socket connector is located out of alignment with the passageway, the socket connector including a socket for receiving a first type of connector plug inserted through the passageway into the socket when the pivot arm is in the first position;

a pivot electrode having a forward contact arm and a middle contact arm, the pivot electrode connected relative to the base to pivot between a first position and a second position, the first position of the pivot electrode contacting the forward contact arm with the socket connector when the pivot arm is in the first position, the second position of the pivot electrode locating the middle contact arm within the passageway in contact with a second type of connector plug inserted through the passageway when the pivot arm is in the second position; and

an electrical contact member electrically connected to the pivot electrode to conduct current to the pivot electrode.

2. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the pivot electrode is connected the pivot arm to pivot the pivot arm into the second position when the pivot electrode is pivoted to the second position.

3. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the forward contact arm and the middle contact arm are interconnected to move the pivot arm into the second position upon pivoting the pivot electrode to the second position and to move the pivot arm into the first position upon pivoting the pivot electrode to the first position.

4. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the base further defines a space extending transversely across the passageway; and

the middle contact arm moves within the space and through the passageway upon movement of the pivot arm from the second position to the first position.

5. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the pivot arm positions the socket connector at a location in front of the space extending transversely across the passageway when the pivot arm is in the first position.

6. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the base further defines an opening at one end of the passageway through which the connector plugs are inserted into and withdrawn from the passageway; and

the base further defines a receptacle located at the opposite end of the passageway from the opening, the receptacle receiving an end of the second type of connector when the middle contact arm contacts the second type of connector.

7. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the base further defines an opening at one end of the passageway through which the connector plugs are inserted into and withdrawn from the passageway;

the base further defines a receptacle located at the opposite end of the passageway from the opening, the receptacle receiving an end of the second type of connector when the middle contact arm contacts the second type of connector;

the pivot arm positions the socket connector at a location in front of the receptacle within the passageway and positions the socket in alignment with the opening when the pivot arm is in the first position;

the second type of connector plug includes a tip end which is received within the receptacle; and

the pivot electrode moves the middle contact arm into the passageway in front of the receptacle and in contact with the second type of connector plug when the tip end of the second type of connector plug is within the receptacle when the pivot electrode is in the second position.

8. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the forward contact arm and a middle contact arm are positioned to contact the pivot arm and to move the pivot arm from the first position into the second position upon pivoting the pivot electrode from the first position to the second position and to move the pivot arm from the second position into the first position upon pivoting the pivot electrode from the second position to the first position.

9. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

an actuator connected for movement relative to the base to pivot the pivot electrode between the first and second positions.

10. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the connector device is located within an electrosurgical generator behind a housing panel of the electrosurgical generator.

11. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 10, wherein:

the housing panel includes an opening through which a portion of each connector plug is extended when connected to the connector device; and

the passageway is positioned in alignment with the opening in the housing panel.

12. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 11, wherein:

an actuator exposed at the housing panel and connected for movement relative to the housing panel and the connector device and connected to the pivot electrode to pivot the pivot electrode between the first and second positions.

13. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 12, wherein:

the first type of connector plug is a banana pin connector plug; and

the second type of connector plug is one of a rolled sheet metal connector plug or a Bovie connector plug.

14. In an electrosurgical generator, a single multi-plug connector device defining a passageway through which each of a banana pin connector plug, a rolled sheet metal connector plug and a Bovie connector plug is inserted and through which each inserted connector plug is withdrawn, each connector plug electrically connected to a foot-switched electrosurgical handpiece, the multi-plug connector device including at least one contact element operatively positioned within the passageway to mechanically and electrically connect to and to retain each one connected banana pin connector plug, rolled sheet metal connector plug and Bovie connector plug inserted within the passageway.

31. An invention as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the contact element includes a portion which is moves into and out of the passageway according to the type of connector plug which is inserted within the passageway.

32. An invention as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the contact element includes different portions which mechanically and electrically connect to and retain different ones of the connector plugs.

33. An invention as defined in claim 32, further comprising:

an interconnection between the portions of the contact element which moves the one portion into alignment with the passageway and moves the other portion out of alignment with the passageway when mechanically and electrically connecting to and retaining one of the connector plugs and which moves the one portion out of alignment with the passageway and moves the other portion into alignment with the passageway when mechanically and electrically connecting to and retaining another different one of the connector plugs.

34. An invention as defined in claim 33, wherein:

one portion of the contact element comprises a socket.

35. An invention as defined in claim 34, wherein:

another portion of the contact element comprises a contact arm.

36. An invention as defined in claim 33, wherein:

one portion of the contact element comprises a contact arm.

37. An invention as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the contact element includes a socket into which the banana pin connector plug is inserted upon insertion of the banana pin connector plug into the passageway; and

the socket is operatively connected to move into and out of the passageway.

38. An invention as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the contact element includes a contact arm for contacting one of the rolled sheet metal connector plug or the Bovie connector plug upon insertion of the rolled sheet metal connector plug or the Bovie connector plug into the passageway, respectively; and

the contact arm is operatively connected to move into and out of the passageway.

39. An invention as defined in claim 38, wherein:

the contact element also includes a socket into which the banana pin connector plug is inserted upon insertion of the banana pin connector plug into the passageway; and

the socket connector is operatively connected to move into and out of the passageway.

40. An invention as defined in claim 39, further comprising:

an interconnection between the contact arm and the socket which moves the socket into alignment with the passageway and the contact arm out of alignment with the passageway in one operative position and which moves the socket out of alignment with the passageway and the contact arm into alignment with the passageway in another operative position.

15. A multi-plug connector device for mechanically and electrically connecting each one of a banana pin connector plug, a rolled sheet metal connector plug and a Bovie connector plug to an electrosurgical generator, comprising:

a base defining a passageway through which the connection plugs are inserted for connection to the connector device and withdrawn for disconnection from the connector device;

a socket connector defining a socket into which the banana pin connector plug is inserted;

a first member connected to the socket connector and operative to move the socket connector and the socket into and out of alignment with the passageway;

a contact arm for contacting the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug;

a second member connected to the contact arm and operative to move the contact arm into and out of alignment with the passageway; and

an interconnection between the first and second members which moves the socket connector into alignment with the passageway and the contact arm out of alignment with the passageway in one operative position and which moves the socket connector out of alignment with the passageway and the contact arm into alignment with the passageway in another operative position.

16. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 15, further comprising:

an electrode member electrically connecting the socket connector and the contact arm.

17. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 15, further comprising:

an actuator connected to impart the movement to one of the first or second members to cause the interconnection to move the other one of the first or second members.

18. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 15, wherein the rolled sheet metal connector plug includes a front section and a rear section separated by a slot, and the Bovie connector plug includes a prong with a necked area surrounding a forward tip of the prong, and wherein:

the contact arm extends into the slot between the front section and the rear section when contacting the rolled sheet metal connector plug; and

the contact arm extends into the necked area of the forward tip of the prong when contacting the lowly connector plug.

19. A multi-plug connector device as defined in claim 18, wherein:

the contact arm must be removed from the slot of the rolled sheet metal connector plug and from the necked area of the Bovie connector plug to remove the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug from the multi-plug connector device.

20. A method of electrically and mechanically connecting each one of a banana pin connector plug, a rolled sheet metal connector plug and a Bovie connector plug to an electrosurgical generator one connector plug at a time, comprising:

defining a passageway through which each of the connection plugs are inserted for connection to and withdrawn for disconnection from the electrosurgical generator;

moving a socket into the passageway into which the banana pin connector plug may be inserted; and

moving a contact arm into the passageway by which to contact the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

moving the contact arm out of the passageway when the socket is moved into the passageway; and

moving the socket out of the passageway when the contact arm is moved into the passageway.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

interrelating the movement of the socket and the contact arm into and out of the passageway to locate only one of the socket or the contact arm in the passageway at one time.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

extending the passageway from an exterior housing of the electrosurgical generator into an interior of the electrosurgical generator within the housing; and

manually initiating the movement of the socket and the contact arm exteriorly of the exterior housing of the electrosurgical generator.

24. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

positioning a receptacle at a terminal end of the passageway; and

locating a tip end of each of the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug within the receptacle upon moving the contact arm into contact with the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

moving the contact arm transversely into contact with the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug.

26. A method as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

moving the contact arm into and out of the passageway at a position in front of the receptacle relative to the direction of insertion of the connector plugs in the passageway.

27. A method as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

moving the socket into and out of the passageway at a position in front of the receptacle relative to the direction of insertion of the connector plugs in the passageway.

28. A method as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

moving the contact arm into and out of the passageway at a position in front of the receptacle relative to the direction of insertion of the connector plugs in the passageway; and

moving the socket into and out of the passageway at a position in front of the receptacle and the position at which the contact arm moves into and out of the passageway relative to the direction of insertion of the connector plugs in the passageway.

29. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the rolled sheet metal connector plug includes a front section and a rear section separated by a slot, and the Bovie connector plug includes a prong with a necked area surrounding a forward tip of the prong, and further comprising:

moving the contact arm into the slot to contact the rolled sheet metal connector plug; and

moving the contact arm into the necked area to contact the Bovie connector plug.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, further comprising:

retaining the rolled sheet metal connector plug by locating the contact arm in the slot; and

retaining the Bovie connector plug by locating the contact arm in the neck area.