Electrosurgical pencil including improved controls

• US 8,636,733 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heard, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/393,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 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 each of the housing and the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and 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;

an electrode extending from the housing;

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

a controller slidably supported on the housing configured to exert a force on each of the housing and the circuit, wherein the controller provides a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical apparatus as the controller is moved relative to the housing, the controller including a biasing feature pivotally supported thereon and configured to exert the force on each of the housing and circuit at a location distal relative to where the biasing feature is pivotally supported on the controller;

wherein the biasing feature is a link assembly pivotally supported on a body portion of the controller, the link assembly including a first leg engaging a tactile feature formed in the housing, a second leg engaging the circuit and a biasing member interposed between the first and second leg such that the first leg extends above the body portion and the second leg extends below the body portion.

2. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing feature is a spring pivotally supported on the body portion of the controller, wherein the spring is in contact with at least one of the housing and the electrical circuit.

3. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spring cooperates with the first leg in engagement with the tactile feature formed in the housing.

4. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spring cooperates with the second leg in engagement with the circuit.

5. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member maintains the first leg in engagement with the tactile feature formed in the housing and maintains the second leg in engagement with the electrical circuit.

6. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member maintains the first leg in engagement with the tactile feature formed in the housing.

7. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member maintains the second leg in engagement with the circuit.

8. The electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is a voltage divider network.