Surgery – Instruments – Electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-12-04
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Electrical application
C606S041000, C200S293100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325795
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set for use with an electrosurgical instrument having no hands witch. More particularly, the replaceable accessory cord connects with the terminal of the electrosurgical instrument and the hands witch attached to the replaceable accessory cord mounts conveniently on the electrosurgical instrument, so the hands witch is accessible to the surgeon controlling the electrosurgical current delivery to a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any electrosurgical instrument, such as scissors, graspers, a forceps, and the like, receives elecrosurgical current from an electrosurgical generator. A remote foot switch or hand switch connected to the electrosurgical generator normally controls the application of electrosurgical current to the electrosurgical instrument. Surgeons frequently prefer the convenience of using a hand switch. Since one hand of the surgeon holds the electrosurgical instrument, the finer actuation of a switch mounted on the electrosurgical instrument is convenient.
To minimize the cost of such electrosurgical instruments, suppliers frequently provide them without an integral hands witch for use by the surgeon. That omission benefits cleanability and sterilization after use if the electrosurgical instrument is reusable (as sterilization would ruin the hands witch circuitry), and minimizes replacement cost if the electrosurgical instrument is disposable. Consideration of the addition of a convenient finger switch may not be worth added expense.
Control of high frequency electrosurgical current at the electrosurgical instrument has long been a problem addressed in many ways. The use of fluidic control disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,363 teaches squeezing a bulb or closing a vacuum port by the surgeon to control electrosurgical current delivery to a forceps. U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,160 is a disposable electrode switch attached to a forceps and functional when the tines are squeezed together. In particular, the electrosurgical current is transmitted in a monopolar application when a terminal on the cord contracts bare metal on the forceps.
Removable hands witches for electrocautery instruments have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,980 and 4,552,143. Conductive spring clips attach the hands witches to an electrosurgical instrument such as scissors, graspers, or a forceps. The electrically wired hands witch allows current passage through electrically conductive clips for attachment to the electrosurgical instrument. Cutting or cauterizing electrosurgical current passing through the hands witch depends on the operation of the button by the surgeon. Insulated handles of the electrosurgical instrument protect the surgeon from the electrosurgical current, but nothing protects the surgeon from the exposed conductive spring clips. U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,007 discloses a hands witch for use in conjunction with electrosurgical instruments with several types of mounts for attachment. These mounting methods include a tubular clip, Velcro®, tie straps, and dual clips for conjunction with slotted receptacles.
There has been a need to convert existing standard electrosurgical instruments such as “Endopath” instruments by Johnson & Johnson or the“Endo” products of United States Surgical Corporation to hand switching with a simple and low cost replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set. No combination of a replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set substitutes for the regular cord set by electrically coupling the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument connects to and additionally affording finger switching on the electrosurgical instrument. No replaceable cord and hands witch set provides universal mounting capability to support a nonintegral hands witch button. No replaceable cord and hands witch set provides an attached hands witch for finger actuation of the switch button adhesively mountable on any reusable or disposable electrosurgical instrument. No replaceable cord and hands witch set provides secure attachment of the hands witch to the electrosurgical instrument by means of a mount or support resistant to longitudinal, lateral, or circumferential movement relative to the electrosurgical instrument.
SUMMARY
A replaceable accessory cord and hands witch set is provided for use with conventional electrosurgical instruments which are not manufactured with resident switches for activation or electrosurgical current. The accessory cord may carry electrosurgical current to the electrosurgical instrument from an electrosurgical generator. The accessory cord may connect with a hands witch, which can include a small button, for activation of the electrosurgical current.
Attached to the switch is a mechanical connector for universal mounting on and attachment to electrosurgical instruments. The mechanical connector may have two adjustable wing-like extensions which wrap around and conform to various parts and surfaces of any electrosurgical instrument. The mechanical connector may be composed of a laminate of a malleable metal and an adhesive, the metal providing tear resistance and stiffness as well as bendability and conformability, and in conjunction with the adhesive, preventing longitudinal, lateral, or circumferential movement of the hands witch relative to the instrument. The mechanical connector can allow for convenient activation of electrosurgical current by the surgeon pressing the button with a finger. The mechanical connector may electrically insulate the hands witch from the instrument preventing leakage, stray current, or grounding by the surgeon.
Alternate embodiments of the replaceable accessory cord provide connections for monopolar and bipolar instruments, as well as varied male or female plug connectors for use with differing models and brands of electrosurgical generators and electrosurgical instruments. The accessory cord may be configured to plug into a footswitch outlet on electrosurgical generator models not equipped with hands witch connections. Additionally, the hands witch may have additional switches for selective activation of different types of electrosurgical waveforms (e.g. cut or coagulation).
Another embodiment comprises the hands witch and mechanical connector described wherein the hands witch connects with a jumper connector for use with a reusable accessory cord. The jumper connector would connect between the reusable accessory cord and the electrosurgical instrument.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3494363 (1970-02-01), Jackson
patent: 3752160 (1973-08-01), Billin
patent: 4370980 (1983-02-01), Lottick
patent: 4552143 (1985-11-01), Lottick
patent: 5196007 (1993-03-01), Ellman et al.
patent: 5304763 (1994-04-01), Ellman et al.
Heard David Nichols
Lindemann Russell Wayne
Peffley Michael
Sherwood Services AG
LandOfFree
Replaceable accessory cord and handswitch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Replaceable accessory cord and handswitch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Replaceable accessory cord and handswitch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2575180