Ergonomic actuator for electrosurgical tool

An actuator assembly adapted for use with a bipolar electrosurgical tool comprising a forceps having a tool plug at a proximal region and two blades mounted to the tool plug with facing interior surfaces, each blade extending from the tool plug to an electrode at a distal region of the blade and having an exterior surface with a handle portion at an intermediate region of the blade for articulation of the forceps by a hand of a user, wherein the tool plug is electrically connected to the electrodes for applying to tissue electrical current introduced to the tool plug as the user articulates the forceps with the handle portions, the actuator assembly comprising:

• a connector for removably mounting the actuator assembly on the tool plug and a switch on the connector movable between an open position and a closed position, the connector being configured for connection to an electrical generating apparatus to introduce the electrical current to the tool plug in response to movement of the switch from the open position to the closed position;
• and
• an actuator lever arm removably mounted to the connector for rotation about a hinge at a pivot point and positioned for movement of the actuator lever arm by one finger of the user's hand toward the switch to place the switch in the closed position by contacting the switch with the actuator lever arm, wherein:
• a three-dimensional space is defined by a right hand coordinate system having mutually orthogonal x, y, and z axes with a y-z plane parallel to a longitudinal centerline extending generally between the tool plug and the electrodes and an x-y plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the actuator lever arm when the actuator assembly is mounted on the tool plug, the y-direction being positive from the tool plug toward the electrodes, and
• the actuator lever arm includes a first region extending generally in the positive y-direction from the pivot point to a first location, at which the first region connects to a second region curved convex-outward in the x-direction relative to said centerline, said actuator lever arm being spaced from the exterior surface of one of the two blades in the x-direction to permit rotation of the actuator lever arm by the finger of the user toward said exterior surface of said one blade and into contact with the switch when the connector is mounted on the tool plug.