Electrosurgical pencil with drag sensing capability
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical pencil, comprising:
- an elongated housing having a blade receptacle provided at a distal end thereof;
an electrocautery blade supported within the blade receptacle, the blade having a distal end extending distally from the housing and a proximal end extending into the housing;
an activation button electrically coupled to the blade;
a strain gauge affixed to the electrocautery blade for measuring a displacement of the blade, wherein the strain gauge is sensitive to a temperature change associated with the electrocautery blade; and
a compensator resistor operatively connected to the strain gauge, wherein the compensator resistor is configured to compensate for changes in temperature of the electrocautery blade that effect the strain gauge.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical pencil (100) configured and adapted to support an electrocautery blade (116). A strain gauge (130) is affixed to the proximal, end of the electrocautery blade and measures the displacement of the blade as a result of resistance and drag acting on the blade. The electrosurgical pencil also includes a meter electrically connected to the strain gauge for monitoring either a change in voltage, a change in electrical current or a change in optical wavelength. The amount of blade displacement as measured by the strain gauge is available for display to the surgeon and/or as sensory input for a control circuit in the electrosurgical generator (118) that modulates the generator output waveform. The electrosurgical pencil further includes a control circuit electrically coupled between the electrocautery blade and the electrosurgical generator. The control circuit is configured and adapted to control power supplied to electrocautery blade based on the displacement measured by the strain gauge.
476 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical pencil, comprising:
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an elongated housing having a blade receptacle provided at a distal end thereof; an electrocautery blade supported within the blade receptacle, the blade having a distal end extending distally from the housing and a proximal end extending into the housing; an activation button electrically coupled to the blade; a strain gauge affixed to the electrocautery blade for measuring a displacement of the blade, wherein the strain gauge is sensitive to a temperature change associated with the electrocautery blade; and a compensator resistor operatively connected to the strain gauge, wherein the compensator resistor is configured to compensate for changes in temperature of the electrocautery blade that effect the strain gauge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; an electrocautery blade supported within the housing and extending partially therefrom, the blade adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator which provides electrosurgical energy to the blade; an activation switch coupled to the generator which permits selective activation of the electrocautery blade; a strain gauge in communication with the electrocautery blade for measuring a displacement of the electrocautery blade, wherein the strain gauge is sensitive to a temperature change associated with the electrocautery blade; and a compensator resistor operatively connected to the strain gauge, wherein the compensator resistor is configured to compensate for changes in temperature of the electrocautery blade that effect the strain gauge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification