CONNECTION OF A BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL HAND PIECE TO A MONOPOLAR OUTPUT OF AN ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR

• US 20120095457A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Inventors: Morgan, Roy E., Auge, Wayne K. II
• Granted Patent: US 9,532,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operatively connecting a bipolar electrosurgical hand piece to a monopolar output of an electrosurgical unit wherein active components simulate expected impedance characteristics of monopolar return electrodes connected to a patient.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical hand piece comprising:

a housing for a connector of an monopolar electrosurgical hand piece;

a pair of active electrical components disposed within said housing, said components at least substantially mimicking a load response produced by an external return circuit of a monopolar electrosurgical unit; and

said bipolar electrosurgical hand piece connected to said connector and operably connectable to monopolar outputs of a monopolar electrosurgical unit.

2. The bipolar electrosurgical hand piece of claim 1 wherein said pair of active electrical components is a pair of capacitors.

3. The bipolar electrosurgical hand piece of claim 1 wherein said pair of active electrical components comprises a pair of at least substantially matching capacitors, each of which is formed from at least two capacitors arranged in series.

4. The bipolar electrosurgical hand piece of claim 1 wherein said pair of active electrical components comprises a pair of at least substantially matching capacitors, each of which is formed from at least two capacitors arranged in parallel.

5. The bipolar electrosurgical hand piece of claim 1 wherein said pair of active electrical components comprises a pair of at least substantially matching capacitors, each of which is formed from at least two capacitors arranged in series and parallel.

6. The bipolar electrosurgical hand piece of claim 1 further comprising a monopolar electrosurgical generator connected to said bipolar electrosurgical hand piece.

7. A method for operably connecting a bipolar electrosurgical hand piece to a monopolar electrosurgical generator comprising:

electrically connecting a first active electrical component from a first return port of the generator to a first conductor of a probe-tip of the hand piece;

electrically connecting a second active electrical component from a second return port of the generator to the first conductor of the prop-tip of the hand piece;

connecting a primary power output of the generator and the common output of the generator to a second conductor of the probe-tip of the hand piece.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component comprise electrical characteristics which are substantial similar to one another.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component comprise a plurality of active components.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component comprise capacitors.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component each comprise a single capacitor.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component each comprise a plurality of capacitors.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component each comprise a capacitor having a value of from about 0.05 μ

F to about 0.5 μ

F.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the first active electrical component and the second active electrical component each comprise a capacitor having a value of from about 0.1 μ

F to about 0.33 μ

F.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of the active components is disposed at least substantially within a connector.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising electrically connecting non-active electrical components to the first conductor of the probe-tip of the hand piece.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein the first conductor of the probe-tip comprises a return electrode of the hand piece.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein the first conductor of the probe-tip comprises an active electrode of the probe-tip of the hand piece.

19. An adaptor comprising:

inputs which at least substantially mate with one or more monopolar outputs of an electrosurgical generator;

outputs which at least substantially mate with a bipolar electrosurgical hand piece; and

one or more active electrical components connected such that when the generator is powering a bipolar hand piece from the generator'"'"'s monopolar output, a return signal observed by the generator is substantially similar to a return signal formed when the generator is powering a monopolar hand piece from the generator'"'"'s monopolar output.

20. The adaptor of claim 19 wherein the return signal from the bipolar hand piece falls within a predetermined range of return signals that the generator regards as acceptable.