Trigger lockout mechanism
First Claim
1. A medical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
at least one electrical contact;
a radio frequency (RF) generation circuit configured to be operated by a battery and operable to generate an RF drive signal and to provide the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact;
an activation button coupled to an activation button lever supported by the housing, the activation button controls the activation of the RF generation circuit to apply the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact, the activation button lever comprising a top surface, the activation button lever rotatable about an activation button pivot point;
a cutting blade operably coupled to a sheath; and
a control lever supported by the housing and pivotally coupled to a trigger lever comprising a projection to engage the top surface of the activation button lever, the control lever is operable to control the actuation of the cutting blade by actuating the sheath in a distal direction when the control lever is rotatably moved proximally about a trigger pivot point;
wherein the top surface of the activation button lever and the projection of the trigger lever remain engaged to prevent actuation of the cutting blade until the activation button is fully rotatably moved proximally about the activation button pivot to activate the RF generation circuit such that the cutting blade is locked out until the RF generation circuit is activated.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical instrument includes a housing, an RF generation circuit activation button coupled to an activation button lever supported by the housing. The activation button lever includes a top surface, the activation button lever rotatable about an activation button pivot point. A cutting blade is operably coupled to a sheath. A control lever is supported by the housing and pivotally coupled to a trigger lever including a projection to engage the top surface of the activation button lever and to control the actuation of the cutting blade by actuating the sheath in a distal direction by rotatably moving the control lever proximally about a trigger pivot point. The top surface of the activation button lever and the projection of the trigger lever remain engaged to prevent actuation of the cutting blade until the activation button is fully rotatably moved proximally about the activation button pivot.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A medical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; at least one electrical contact; a radio frequency (RF) generation circuit configured to be operated by a battery and operable to generate an RF drive signal and to provide the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact; an activation button coupled to an activation button lever supported by the housing, the activation button controls the activation of the RF generation circuit to apply the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact, the activation button lever comprising a top surface, the activation button lever rotatable about an activation button pivot point; a cutting blade operably coupled to a sheath; and a control lever supported by the housing and pivotally coupled to a trigger lever comprising a projection to engage the top surface of the activation button lever, the control lever is operable to control the actuation of the cutting blade by actuating the sheath in a distal direction when the control lever is rotatably moved proximally about a trigger pivot point; wherein the top surface of the activation button lever and the projection of the trigger lever remain engaged to prevent actuation of the cutting blade until the activation button is fully rotatably moved proximally about the activation button pivot to activate the RF generation circuit such that the cutting blade is locked out until the RF generation circuit is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a medical instrument, comprising a housing;
- at least one electrical contact;
a radio frequency (RF) generation circuit coupled to and operated by a battery and operable to generate an RF drive signal and to provide the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact;
an activation button coupled to an activation button lever supported by the housing, the activation button controls the activation of the RF generation circuit to apply the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact, the activation button lever comprising a top surface, the activation button lever rotatable about an activation button pivot point;
a cutting blade operably coupled to a sheath; and
a control lever supported by the housing and pivotally coupled to a trigger lever comprising a projection to engage the top surface of the activation button lever, the control lever is operable to control the actuation of the cutting blade by actuating the sheath in a distal direction when the control lever is rotatably moved proximally about a trigger pivot point, the method comprising;locking out the cutting blade until the activation button is fully engaged to activate the RF generation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- at least one electrical contact;
Specification