Surgery – Instruments – Electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-01-16
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Electrical application
C606S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174310
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
N/A
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bipolar coaxial coagulators are used to coagulate tissue during, for example, eye surgery. A bipolar coaxial coagulator includes coaxial inner and outer conductors separated by an insulating material. A pair of connector pins is electrically coupled to the inner and outer conductors and extends from the housing for connection to a socket of an electrosurgical generator.
A difficulty with bipolar coaxial coagulators has been to electrically connect the coaxial conductors to the spaced connector pins. An exemplary bipolar coagulator is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,002. In this device, the outer conductor includes an offset portion at one end. An opening is ground in the bend of the offset portion. The inner conductor is inserted through this opening. The inner conductor also includes an offset portion at one end. Connector pins are attached to the inner and outer conductors near the offset portions. It has been found, however, that the opening ground in the bend of the offset portion of the outer conductor creates a weakened section in the outer conductor, which may lead to premature failure of the coagulator.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bipolar coagulator with a connector pin having an offset therein. The offset connector pin provides a strong electrical connection between the pin and the conductor. Additionally, the offset connector pin can be manufactured with fewer production operations.
More particularly, the bipolar coagulator comprises an insulative housing comprising a single, unitary body extending along a longitudinal axis from a tip to a connector end. A coaxial conductor is disposed within the insulative housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The coaxial conductor comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and an insulating material concentrically disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The coaxial conductor protrudes from the tip of the housing.
The inner conductor includes a terminal portion protruding from the outer conductor within the connector end of the housing. The terminal portion includes an offset therein to space the terminal portion from the longitudinal axis of the housing. A single-piece, first connector pin, comprising a sleeve portion and a pin portion, is electrically coupled to the terminal portion of the inner conductor within the connector end of the housing. The pin portion protrudes from the connector end of the housing for connection to a socket of an electrosurgical generator.
A single-piece, second connector pin is electrically coupled to the outer conductor within the connector end of the housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The second connector includes a sleeve portion coupled to the outer conductor and a pin portion having an offset therein to space the pin portion from the longitudinal axis of the housing and from the first connector pin.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4548207 (1985-10-01), Reimels
patent: 4674499 (1987-06-01), Pao
patent: 4805616 (1989-02-01), Pao
patent: 5089002 (1992-02-01), Kirwan, Jr.
patent: 5277696 (1994-01-01), Hagen
patent: 5281216 (1994-01-01), Klicek
patent: 5290285 (1994-03-01), Kirwan, Jr.
patent: 5814043 (1998-09-01), Shapeton
8thEdition of the Metals Handbook, vol 4, Forming (pp. 349-352).
Kirwan Surgical Products, Inc.
Peffley Michael
Wingarten, Schurgin, Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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