Powered bipolar resectoscope

An electrosurgical system, comprising:

• a generator including a power source, an energy source, and a controller;
• and
• a resectoscope including:
• a drive assembly operably coupled to the power source for enabling driving of the drive assembly;
• a shaft coupled to the drive assembly, extending distally from a housing, and configured such that when the drive assembly is driven, the shaft translates relative to the housing between a proximal position and a distal position;
• a fixed electrode operably coupled to a first electrical potential of the energy source, the fixed electrode fixed relative to the housing and extending distally from the housing;
• a movable electrode operably coupled to a second electrical potential of the energy source, the movable electrode coupled to the shaft such that translation of the shaft relative to the housing between the proximal position and the distal position moves the movable electrode relative to the fixed electrode between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a longitudinal assembly supporting the movable electrode, the longitudinal assembly including a first arm extending along a first side of the fixed electrode and a second arm extending along a second side of the fixed electrode opposite the first side,
• wherein, the controller is configured to permit the energy source to supply energy to the fixed and movable electrodes upon translation of the shaft from the proximal position to the distal position and to inhibit the supply energy to the fixed and movable electrodes during translation of the shaft from the distal position to the proximal position.

A resectoscope comprising:

• a housing;
• a drive assembly disposed within the housing and including a collar;
• a motor disposed within the housing and configured to move the collar between a proximal position and a distal position;
• a switch assembly disposed within the housing and including a proximal switch and a distal switch, the proximal switch configured such that the collar actuates the proximal switch in the proximal position of the collar, the distal switch configured such that the collar actuates the distal switch in the distal position of the collar;
• a fixed electrode adapted to connect to a first electrical potential, the fixed electrode fixed relative to the housing;
• a movable electrode adapted to connect to a second electrical potential, the movable electrode coupled to the collar such that translation of the collar relative to the housing between the proximal position and the distal position moves the movable electrode relative to the fixed electrode between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a longitudinal assembly supporting the movable electrode, the longitudinal assembly including a first arm extending along a first side of the fixed electrode and a second arm extending along a second side of the fixed electrode opposite the first side,
• wherein the proximal and distal switches control supply of energy to the fixed and movable electrodes such that energy is permitted to be supplied to the fixed and movable electrodes when the movable electrode is moving from the first position to the second position and energy is inhibited from being supplied to the fixed and movable electrodes while the movable electrode is moving from the second position to the first position.