Disposable hand-actuated electrosurgical instruments

A disposable electrosurgical instrument comprising:

• a unitary construction including (a) a tool portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end with a handle portion therebetween for manipulation of the tool by the hand of a user holding the tool, wherein the tool portion includes at least one electrode at the distal end for applying to tissue electrical current introduced to the tool portion when the user manipulates the electrode into contact with the tissue, (b) a switch body integrally mounted to the tool portion at the proximal end thereof, said switch body including a switch electrically connected to the electrode and being movable between an open position and a closed position, and (c) a power cord integrally mounted to the switch body, said power cord being adapted to place the switch in electrical contact with an electrical generating apparatus to introduce electrical current to the electrode when the switch is in the closed position;
• and
• an actuator body having actuator body connecting structure for mounting said actuator body to cooperating switch body connecting structure, said actuator body including an actuating arm movably mounted to said switch body, wherein said actuating arm is adapted to removably mount an actuator lever arm in position for movement by a finger of the user's hand holding the instrument to move the actuating arm to place the switch in the closed position.

A disposable electrosurgical instrument comprising a tool portion, a switch body, and a power cord integrated into a unitary construction, wherein:

• said tool portion extends from a proximal end to a distal end with a handle portion therebetween for manipulation of the tool by the hand of a user holding the tool, wherein the tool portion includes at least one electrode at the distal end for applying to tissue electrical current introduced to the tool portion when the user manipulates the electrode into contact with the tissue;
• said switch body is integrally mounted to the tool portion at the proximal end thereof, wherein the switch body includes (i) a switch electrically connected to the electrode, the switch being movable between an open position and a closed position, and (ii) an actuator body integral with said switch body for mounting an actuator lever arm in position for movement by a finger of the user's hand holding the tool to place the switch in the closed position;
• and
• said power cord is integrally mounted to the switch body, said power cord being adapted to place the switch in electrical contact with an electrical generating apparatus to introduce electrical current to the electrode when the switch is in the closed position.