Switch mechanisms for safe activation of energy on an electrosurgical instrument

• US 7,837,685 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sharp, Robert, Couture, Gary M., Weinberg, Craig, Odom, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet; Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/180,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 606/42, 606/37, 361 2- 3, 361/1, 218/6, 218/7, 218/146, 218/154
• 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 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/014 Application surgical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0066 Auxiliary contact devices for arc transfer H01H9/38; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/541

Abstract

Various safe switching mechanisms are provided for use with electrosurgical instruments which prevent arcing between the high-energy contacts as the high-energy source is activated. The switching mechanisms generally include a pair of high-energy contacts and a pair of activation contacts. An actuator is provided which initially engages the high-energy contacts in advance of engagement of the activation contacts to prevent arcing and subsequently disengages the activation contacts in advance of the high-energy contacts as the energy source is deactivated. A method of switching power to an electrosurgical instrument while avoiding damage to high-energy contacts is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A safe activation switching mechanism coupling an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator comprising:

a pair of high-energy contacts including a first high-energy contact and a second high-energy contact interconnecting an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator;

a pair of low-energy activation contacts including a first low-energy activation contact and a second low-energy activation contact coupled to the electrosurgical generator and configured to activate the electrosurgical generator; and

an actuator having a first portion configured to engage the first high-energy contact and the second high-energy contact and a second portion configured to engage the first low-energy activation contact and the second low-energy activation contact;

wherein initially engaging the first and second high-energy contacts operably connects the electrosurgical instrument to the energy source and subsequently the first and second low-energy activation contacts activate the electrosurgical generator to supply electrosurgical energy solely through the pair of high-energy contacts to eliminate arcing between the high-energy contacts.

2. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a driver having a first connector for engagement with the pair of high-energy contacts and a second connector for engagement with the pair of low-energy activation contacts.

3. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a biasing member positioned between the first and second connectors.

4. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator is vertically movable.

5. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator is horizontally movable.

6. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a first wiper and a second wiper, the first and second wipers are spaced apart such that the first wiper contacts and remains in contact with the first high-energy contact in advance of the second wiper contacting the first low-energy activation contact.

7. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the second high-energy contact and the second low-energy activation contact are a common contact.

8. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a driver having a first elongated drive surface for engagement with the first high-energy contact and the second high-energy contact.

9. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 8, wherein the driver includes a second elongated drive surface for engagement with the first low-energy activation contact and the second low-energy contact.

10. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the first elongated drive surface is substantially longer than the second elongated drive surface.

11. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the pair of high-energy contacts includes a dome switch.

12. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the pair of low-energy activation contacts includes a dome switch.

13. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 8, wherein the driver is horizontally movable.

14. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a first magnet for engaging the pair of high-energy contacts and a second magnet for engaging the pair of low-energy activation contacts.

15. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 14, wherein the first and second magnets are connected together.

16. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 14, wherein the second high-energy contact and the second low-energy activation contact are a common contact.

17. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 16, wherein the first high-energy contact includes a first flexible arm and the first low-energy activation contact includes a second flexible arm, the first and second flexible arms engageable with the common contact.

18. The switching mechanism as recited in claim 1 wherein the actuator is moveable in both a horizontal and a vertical direction to engage at least one of the first and second high energy contacts and the first and second low-energy activation contacts.

19. An electrosurgical instrument assembly comprising:

an electrosurgical generator; and

an electrosurgical instrument connected to the electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including;

a switch mechanism having a pair of high-energy contacts interconnecting the electrosurgical instrument and the electrosurgical generator;

a pair of low-energy activation contacts coupled to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to activate the electrosurgical generator; and

an actuator having a first portion for engaging the high-energy contacts in advance of engaging the low-energy activation contacts to supply electrosurgical energy solely through the pair of high-energy contacts to eliminate arcing between the high-energy contacts.

20. A method of safely activating a high electrosurgical instrument comprising the steps of:

providing a switch mechanism including a pair of high-energy contacts interconnecting the electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator a pair of low-energy activation contacts coupled to the electrosurgical generator and an actuator engageable with the high-energy contacts and the low-energy activation contacts;

moving the actuator into engagement with the pair of high-energy contacts to interconnect the electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator; and

subsequently moving the actuator into engagement with the pair of low-energy activation contacts to activate the electrosurgical generator to supply electrosurgical energy solely through the pair of high-energy contacts to eliminate arcing between the high-energy contacts.