US 5,312,400 A · Cautery probes for endoscopic electrosurgical suction-irrigation instrument

Abstract

A cautery probe is described for use with an endoscopic instrument where the endoscopic instrument has an electrical contact located therein. The probe includes an insulated handle which extends out of the instrument, a conductive probe element which is mounted in the insulated handle and extends through the distal end of the endoscopic instrument, and an insulating cover. The conductive probe element has a distal cautery surface, and an electrical contact surface at a location between the proximal end of the conductive probe and the distal cautery surface, with the electrical contact surface contacting the electrical contact in the endoscopic instrument when said cautery probe is inserted in the endoscopic instrument. The insulating cover substantially covers the conductive probe element from the insulated handle up to but not at the electrical contact surface, and substantially covers the probe element from a point beyond the electrical contact surface, up to but not at the distal cautery surface. Preferably, the cannula of the endoscopic instrument is used as the electrical contact, and the electrical contact surface of the probe element is a bump which contacts the cannula.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A removable cautery probe for use with an endoscopic instrument having a proximal probe receiving opening and an electrical contact located within said endoscopic instrument, said probe comprising:

a) an insulated handle;
b) a conductive probe means having a proximal end mounted in said insulated handle, a distal cautery surface, and an electrical contact surface at a location between said proximal end of said conductive probe and said distal cautery surface, said electrical contact surface adapted to contact the electrical contact in the endoscopic instrument when said cautery probe is inserted through the proximal probe receiving opening in the endoscopic instrument and extended therethrough;
and
c) an insulating cover for said conductive probe means, said insulating cover substantially covering said conductive probe means from said insulated handle up to but not at said electrical contact surface, and substantially covering said probe means from a point beyond said electrical contact surface, up to but not at said distal cautery surface,
wherein said removable cautery probe is entirely removable from the endoscopic instrument by pulling said insulated handle out of the proximal probe receiving opening of the endoscopic instrument.

2 more elements

A removable cautery probe for use with an endoscopic instrument having a proximal probe receiving opening and an electrical contact located within the endoscopic instrument, said probe comprising:

a) an insulated shank insertable in the endoscopic instrument and having a hollow interior with a proximal opening and a distal opening;
b) a conductive probe means having a proximal end, a distal cautery surface a proximal end extended into the distal opening of said insulating shank, and an electrical contact surface at a location between said proximal end of said conductive probe and said distal cautery surface, said electrical contact surface adapted to contact the electrical contact in the endoscopic instrument when said cautery probe is inserted through the proximal probe receiving opening in the endoscopic instrument;
c) an insulating cover for said conductive probe means, said insulating cover covering said conductive probe means along a portion thereof proximal said electrical contact surface but not at said electrical contact surface, and substantially covering said probe means from a point beyond said electrical contact surface, up to but not at said distal cautery surface;
and
d) means for moving said conductive probe means relative to said insulated shank.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cautery probes for endoscopic electrosurgical suction-irrigation instrument

Life of this patent

Cautery probes for endoscopic electrosurgical suction-irrigation instrument

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19