Electrosurgical pencil including improved controls

• US 8,597,292 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kerr, Duane E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/394,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 606/42, 606/41, 606/49, 606/45
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00928 by sending a signal to an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00958 for switching between different working modes of the main function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/141 Snare

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to exert a force on a surface of the housing to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical apparatus, comprising:

a housing including an electrode extending distally therefrom;

a circuit supported in the housing and configured to control at least one of an intensity and a mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrode; and

a controller slidably supported on the housing and having a biasing member operably disposed thereon, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on the circuit and provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical apparatus as the controller is moved relative to the housing;

wherein the controller includes a spring lever assembly having (i) a stem extending from a body portion and (ii) a lever pivotally connected to the body portion and contactable with the housing and the circuit, the stem defining a recess configured to retain the biasing member therein and the lever having a tip configured to extend over and overlie the biasing member.

2. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the lever is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing.

3. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a bottom portion of the lever is configured for engagement with the circuit.

4. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member retained within the stem of the spring lever assembly is configured to maintain the tip of the lever in contact with a tactile feature formed in the housing.

5. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the biasing member retained within the stem of the spring lever assembly is configured to maintain a bottom portion of the lever in contact with the circuit.

6. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is configured to maintain the tip of the lever in contact with a tactile feature formed in the housing and to maintain a bottom portion of the lever in contact with the circuit.

7. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is one of a coil spring, a tension spring, and a compression spring.

8. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tactile feature includes one or more adjacent detents.

9. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein movement of the tip of the lever into the one or more adjacent detents causes the bottom portion of the lever to substantially strike the circuit.

10. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body portion includes a nub projecting from a bottom portion thereof.

11. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the stem is located distally or proximally of the nub, such that the lever extends away from the nub.

12. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the nub is separate and distinct from the spring lever assembly.