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US 3,974,833 AGranted
Disposable electrosurgical cautery having optional suction control feature
OwnerJohn G. Durden, IIIinventor
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OwnerJohn G. Durden, IIIinventor
Estimating the term…
A disposable electrosurgical cautery which functions in a dual capacity as a hollow sucker tube as well as a cauterizer, and is intended to be prepackaged in sterilized preferably envelope-type containers, to be used once and disposed of. The cautery consists of an elongated hollow metal electrode and suction tube having an electrical conductor wire permanently connected to the proximal portion, and together are encased in a plastic housing which serves as an insulating handle. The handle is of special anatomically contoured configuration to provide for deft and positive use of the distal or forwardly projecting probe or point of the cautery without chance of short circuits or burns through inadequate wire connections or poor insulation. One of the more preferred embodiments forming a particular basis of this continuation-in-part application provides for a selective operative use of a suction control hole provided strategically in a forward or distal part of the handle and in a corresponding part of the electrode/suction tube, collectively. A preformed control hole in the handle is covered by a weakened integral membrane capable of being readily punched out by surgeons who prefer cauteries with this feature giving them control over the vacuum or suction in a suction-integrated electrosurgical cautery. In operation, blood from a surgical incision or other wound is drawn by vacuum through the barrel of the electrode tube, clear of the severed vessels, and a high frequency current is passed through the electrode to cauterize and prevent further bleeding of the vessels. When the control hole is desired, the weakened membrane usually is initially punched out, and which hole can be covered selectively by the finger of thumb to obtain full or partial suction at the tip of the suction tube.
In a hand-operated electrosurgical cautery instrument constructed particularly for single occasion use as a disposable combination cauterizer electrode and sucker tube, adapted for use with remotely located vacuum source means and electrical high frequency current source and control means, the improvement wherein said cautery instrument comprises:
In a hand-operated electrosurgical cautery instrument embodying a combination cauterizer electrode and sucker tube, the instrument being adapted for use with remotely located vacuum source means and electrical high frequency current source and control means, handle means having electrical and thermal insulating characteristics fully embracing and in sealed relationship with at least an intermediate portion of said combination electrode and sucker tube and terminating short of and freely exposing a substantial distal portion of said electrode/sucker tube, a flexible electrical conductor wire of predetermined length having one end electrically connected to a portion of said electrode tube which is embraced by the handle means, the wire extending from a generally proximal portion and being insulated exteriorly of said handle means for connection with said electrical power source;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.