Switch for electrosurgical tool for performing cutting,...

Details Switch for electrosurgical tool for performing cutting,... Switch for electrosurgical tool for performing cutting,...

1999-08-12

2001-07-10

Cohen, Lee (Department: 3739)

Surgery

Instruments

Electrical application

C606S045000, C606S049000, C604S035000, C200S293100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06258088

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a medical device, and more specifically, to a switch and an electrosurgical tool incorporating the switch for performing cutting and coagulation of tissue at an operation site, and simultaneous suctioning of generated smoke.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In surgery performed on patients, surgeons generally employ electrosurgical tools to cut tissue and to coagulate bleeding blood vessels in a process known as cautery. An example of a prior art electrosurgical tools is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,454 to DeOliveira et al.
In order to keep the operation site visible, continuous suction devices are used to suction away blood and other debris before they accumulate and to remove smoke that is generated by the electrical cautery process. This suction is vital so that the surgeon's view of the operation site remains unobscured and the operation can proceed safely.
Previously, separate tools were necessary to perform the cautery process and suctioning. If a surgeon uses both tools simultaneously, both hands are occupied which tends to increase the difficulty of the procedure. Use of a separate suctioning device also makes precise positioning of the electrosurgical tool more difficult. To effectively use both devices simultaneously, it is often necessary for an assistant to operate the suction device as the surgeon operates the electrosurgical tool.
To address the foregoing shortcomings of using separate electrosurgical tools and suctioning tools, various combined tools have been developed as disclosed in the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,363 to Jackson
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,159 to Johnson et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,418 to Rosenbaum
U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,565 to Kuriloff et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,240 to Gentelia et al.
The tools disclosed in the above patents use different control schemes for controlling suction while simultaneously operating the cutting and coagulation parts of the tool. In several of the patents, suction must operate continuously as the suction force is also used to control whether the cutting or coagulation function of the tool is selected. This is achieved by the covering or uncovering of various open ports on the body of the tool by the fingers of the user to select a cutting or coagulation mode.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,431 to Brown is a prior art tool developed by a co-inventor of the tool of the present invention. The Brown tool has a manually actuatable switch that starts operation of the suction action. When the cutting or coagulation functions are not being used, the suction action is automatically stopped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved switch and electrosurgical tool that combines suction, cutting and coagulation functions. The switch is easy to manipulate to control selection of one of the cutting and coagulation functions while automatically providing suction. The switch provides reliable operation with a minimum of moving parts.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a switch for use with an electrosurgical tool having a heatable tip connectable to a power source and a suction passage connectable to a suction source, the switch comprising:
a main body having a suction passage extending therethrough connectable to the suction passage of the tool;
a cavity in the main body intersecting the suction passage of the main body;
a mounting post adapted to be slidably received in the cavity to permit slidable movement of the main body over the mounting post, the mounting post having an end protruding from the main body that is pivotally connectable to the tool; and
an opening extending through the mounting post alignable with the suction passage;
whereby the main body of the switch is manually movable between a default position in which the suction passage and the opening are misaligned to block suction and an operating position in which the suction passage and opening are aligned to permit suction, the main body pivoting with the mounting post in the operating position to permit electrical connection of the heatable tip to the power source to perform cutting or coagulating.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides an electrosurgical tool for use with a power source and a suction source comprising:
a handle for gripping by the user;
an electrically heatable tip extending from the handle and being electrically connectable to the power source;
a suction passage formed in the handle connectable to the suction source; and
a manually actuatable switch comprising a main body having a suction passage extending therethrough connectable to the suction passage of the tool;
a cavity in the main body intersecting the suction passage of the main body;
a mounting post adapted to be slidably received in the cavity to permit movement of the main body over the mounting post, the mounting post having an end protruding from the main body that is pivotally connectable to the handle; and
an opening extending through the mounting post alignable with the suction passage;
whereby the main body of the switch is manually movable between a default position in which the suction passage and the opening are misaligned to block suction and an operating position in which the suction passage and opening are aligned to permit suction, the main body pivoting with the mounting post in the operating position to electrically connect the heatable tip to the power source to perform cutting or coagulating.
Operation of the suction tends to be noisy and employing automatic suction only when the tool is performing cutting or coagulation diminishes irritating and unnecessary noise in the operation room.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2275167 (1942-03-01), Bierman
patent: 3494363 (1970-02-01), Jackson
patent: 3801766 (1974-04-01), Morrison, Jr.
patent: 4872454 (1989-10-01), DeOliveira et al.
patent: 4911159 (1990-03-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5071418 (1991-12-01), Rosenbaum
patent: 5160334 (1992-11-01), Billings et al.
patent: 5195959 (1993-03-01), Smith
patent: 5318565 (1994-06-01), Kuriloff et al.
patent: 5468240 (1995-11-01), Gentelia et al.
patent: 5496314 (1996-03-01), Eggers
patent: 5620441 (1997-04-01), Greff et al.
patent: 5674219 (1997-10-01), Monson et al.
patent: 5800431 (1998-09-01), Brown
patent: 5830214 (1998-11-01), Flom et al.
patent: 5951548 (1999-09-01), DeSisto et al.

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