Electrosurgical pencil including improved controls

• US 8,663,218 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• 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., Allen, James D. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Flick, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Jenna
• Application Number:
  US12/144,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 606/38, 606/42
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable

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, wherein the electrical circuit is provided with at least one tactile enhancement feature; 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 engage the tactile enhancement feature and provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical pencil, comprising:

an elongated housing configured to support an electrocautery electrode extending distally therefrom;

at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one voltage divider network operable to electrically connect to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling at least one of an intensity and a mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrocautery electrode, wherein the at least one voltage divider network includes a tactile mask disposed thereon, the tactile mask defining a plurality of apertures therein; and

an intensity controller slidably supported on the housing and including a tactile feedback transmitting feature disposed on a bottom surface thereof that is slidable along the same axis as the intensity controller over at least a portion of the tactile mask, the tactile feedback transmitting feature configured to project through at least one of the plurality of apertures to exert a force on the at least one voltage divider network and move between and into engagement with the plurality of apertures to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical pencil as the intensity controller is moved relative to the housing.

2. The electro surgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the tactile mask overlies at least a portion of the at least one voltage divider network and is positioned between the intensity controller and the voltage divider network.

3. The electro surgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the tactile feedback transmitting feature includes at least one of an actuator and a nub selectively positionable within each of the plurality of apertures of the tactile mask.

4. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of an actuator and a nub extends from a surface of the intensity controller, in a direction toward the tactile mask.

5. The electro surgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the tactile feedback transmitting feature further comprises a spring plunger assembly including a biasing member for maintaining the tactile feedback transmitting feature in contact with at least one of the voltage divider network and the tactile mask.

6. The electro surgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the tactile feedback transmitting feature is configured to selectively strike the at least one voltage divider network.

7. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy, the electrosurgical device comprising:

a housing;

an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy, wherein the electrical circuit is provided with a tactile mask disposed thereon, the tactile mask defining a plurality of apertures therein; and

a controller slidably supported on the housing and including a tactile feedback transmitting feature disposed on a bottom surface thereof that is slidable along the same axis as the controller over at least a portion of the tactile mask, the tactile feedback transmitting feature configured to project through at least one of the plurality of apertures to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and move between and into engagement with the plurality of apertures to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.

8. The electro surgical device according to claim 7, wherein the tactile mask overlies at least a portion of the electrical circuit and is positioned between the controller and the electrical circuit.

9. The electro surgical device according to claim 8, wherein the electrical circuit includes at least one voltage divider network.

10. The electro surgical device according to claim 7, wherein the tactile feedback transmitting feature includes at least one of an actuator and a nub selectively positionable within each of the plurality of apertures of the tactile mask.

11. The electro surgical device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of an actuator and a nub extends from a surface of the controller, in a direction toward the tactile mask.

12. The electro surgical device according to claim 7, wherein the tactile feedback transmitting feature further comprises a spring plunger assembly including a biasing member for maintaining the tactile feedback transmitting feature in contact with at least one of the electrical circuit and the tactile mask.

13. The electro surgical device according to claim 12, wherein the tactile feedback transmitting feature is configured to selectively strike the electrical circuit.