Gas-enhanced surgical instrument with pressure safety feature

A pressure safety apparatus for electrosurgical instruments providing pressurized ionized gas to a surgical site, comprising:

• a housing capable of receiving a portable source of pressurized ionizable gas and a housing output port for exiting pressurized gas for a patient;
• and
• a pressure safety system between the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas and the housing output port, wherein the pressure safety system includes:
• a first pressure change member having an input side connectable to the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas and an output side, the first pressure change member being configured to release pressurized gas from the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas to the environment in the event the gas pressure at the output side of the first pressure change member exceeds a first predetermined value;
• a second pressure change member having an input side connected to the output side of the first pressure change member and an output side, the second pressure change member being configured to inhibit pressurized gas from exiting the output side of the second pressure change member in the event the gas pressure at the input side of the second pressure change member exceeds a second predetermined value;
• and
• a third pressure change member having an input side connected to the output side of the second pressure change member and an output side connected to the housing output port, the third pressure change member being configured to release pressurized gas from the first and second pressure change members and the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas to the environment in the event the gas pressure at the output side of the second pressure change member exceeds a third predetermined value.

A pressure safety apparatus for electrosurgical instruments providing pressurized ionized gas to a surgical site, comprising:

• a housing having a housing input port capable of connecting to a source of pressurized ionizable gas and a housing output port for exiting pressurized gas for a patient;
• and
• a pressure safety system between the housing input port and the housing output port, wherein the pressure safety system includes:
• a first pressure change member having an input side connected to the housing input port and an output side, the first pressure change member being configured to release pressurized gas from the source of pressurized ionizable gas to the environment in the event the gas pressure at the output side of the first pressure change member exceeds a first predetermined value;
• a second pressure change member having an input side connected to the output side of the first pressure change member and an output side, the second pressure change member being configured to inhibit pressurized gas from exiting the output side of the second pressure change member in the event the gas pressure at the input side of the second pressure change member exceeds a second predetermined value;
• and
• a third pressure change member having an input side connected to the output side of the second pressure change member and an output side connected to the housing output port, the third pressure change member being configured to release pressurized gas from the first and second pressure change members and the source of pressurized ionizable gas to the environment in the event the gas pressure at the output side of the second pressure change member exceeds a third predetermined value.

An electrosurgical instrument for providing pressurized ionized gas to a surgical site, comprising:

• a hand-held applicator having proximal and distal ends, a gas delivery member adapted to deliver pressurized ionizable gas to the proximity of an electrode located adjacent the distal end of the hand-held applicator, the electrode being adaptable to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• a portable actuator assembly capable of receiving a source of pressurized ionizable gas therein and having at least one controller that controls the delivery of the gas from the supply of pressurized ionizable gas to the hand-held applicator and controls the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the hand-held applicator;
• and
• a pressure safety apparatus having an input port for connection to the portable actuator assembly and an output port for connection to the hand-held applicator, and a pressure safety system having two or more cascaded pressure change members connected between the input port and the output port, wherein the pressure change members are configured to release pressurized gas into the environment or block the flow of pressurized gas to the output port in the event the pressurized gas supplied by the portable actuator assembly exceeds a predetermined value;
• wherein upon actuation of the at least one controller, gas from the source of pressurized ionizable gas is delivered to the proximity of the electrode through the gas delivery member and electrosurgical energy is delivered to the electrode, such that an ionized gas is emitted from the distal end of the hand-held applicator.

An electrosurgical instrument for providing pressurized ionized gas to a surgical site, comprising:

• a hand-held applicator having proximal and distal ends, a gas delivery member adapted to deliver pressurized ionizable gas to the proximity of an electrode located adjacent the distal end of the hand-held applicator, and at least one controller that controls the delivery of the gas to the proximity of the electrode and controls the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the electrode;
• and
• a pressure safety apparatus capable of receiving a portable source of pressurized ionizable gas, and having an output port for connection to the hand-held applicator and a pressure safety system having two or more cascaded pressure change members connected between the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas and the output port, wherein the pressure change members are configured to release pressurized gas into the environment or block the flow of pressurized gas to the output port in the event the pressurized gas supplied by the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas exceeds a predetermined value;
• wherein upon actuation of the at least one controller, gas from the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas is delivered to the proximity of the electrode through the gas delivery member and electrosurgical energy is delivered to the electrode, such that an ionized gas is emitted from the distal end of the hand-held applicator.

An electrosurgical instrument for providing pressurized ionized gas to a surgical site, comprising:

• a hand-held applicator having proximal and distal ends, a gas delivery member adapted to deliver pressurized ionizable gas to the proximity of an electrode located adjacent the distal end of the hand-held applicator, and at least one controller that controls the delivery of the gas to the proximity of the electrode and controls the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the electrode;
• and
• a pressure safety apparatus having an input port capable of connecting to a source of pressurized ionizable gas, an output port for connection to the hand-held applicator, and a pressure safety system having two or more cascaded pressure change members connected between the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas and the output port, wherein the pressure change members are configured to release pressurized gas into the environment or block the flow of pressurized gas to the output port in the event the pressurized gas supplied by the portable source of pressurized ionizable gas exceeds a predetermined value;
• wherein upon actuation of the at least one controller, gas from the source of pressurized ionizable gas is delivered to the proximity of the electrode through the gas delivery member and electrosurgical energy is delivered to the electrode, such that an ionized gas is emitted from the distal end of the hand-held applicator.