Electrosurgical pencil including improved controls

• US 8,663,219 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., Kerr, Duane, Sartor, Joe D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Jenna
• Application Number:
  US12/144,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248016A1
• 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; 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 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; and

an intensity controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the intensity controller is configured to exert a force on each of the housing and the at least one voltage divider network via first and second legs disposed on the intensity controller, the first and second legs moveable away from each other within the housing, wherein the intensity controller provides a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical pencil as the intensity controller is moved relative to the housing.

2. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the first and second legs of the intensity controller are components of a torsion spring pivotally supported on a body portion of the intensity controller.

3. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 2, wherein the first leg is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing.

4. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 2, wherein the second leg is configured for engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

5. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 2, wherein the first leg is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing and the second leg is configured for engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

6. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 1, wherein the first and second legs of the intensity controller are components of a link assembly pivotally supported on a body portion, wherein the first leg is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing and the second leg is configured for engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

7. The electrosurgical pencil according to claim 6, wherein the link assembly further includes a biasing member interposed between the first leg and the second leg for maintaining the first leg in engagement with the tactile feature formed in the housing and for maintaining the second leg in engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

8. 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; and

an intensity controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the intensity controller is configured to exert a force on each of the housing and the electrical circuit via first and second legs disposed on the intensity controller, the first and second legs movable away from each other within the housing, the intensity controller configured 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.

9. The electrosurgical device according to claim 8, wherein the first and second legs of the intensity controller are components of a torsion spring pivotally supported on a body portion of the intensity controller.

10. The electrosurgical device according to claim 9, wherein the first leg is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing.

11. The electrosurgical device according to claim 9, wherein the second leg is configured for engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

12. The electrosurgical device according to claim 9, wherein the first leg is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing and the second leg is configured for engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

13. The electrosurgical device according to claim 8, wherein the first and second legs of the intensity controller are components of a link assembly pivotally supported on a body portion, wherein the first leg is configured for engagement with a tactile feature formed in the housing and the second leg is configured for engagement with the at least one voltage divider network.

14. The electrosurgical device according to claim 13, wherein the link assembly further includes a biasing member interposed between the first leg and the second leg for maintaining the first leg in engagement with the tactile feature formed in the housing and for maintaining the second leg in engagement with the electrical circuit.

15. The electrosurgical device according to claim 8, wherein the electrical circuit includes 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.