US 5,472,442 A · Moveable switchable electrosurgical handpiece

Abstract

An active electrode switches from a monopolar mode extending from a handpiece and a patient return to a bipolar mode with the active and return electrodes extending. An active lead selectively connects the active output and the active electrode. A return lead selectively connects the return electrode and the return output in the monopolar mode or the return terminal when in the bipolar mode. Terminals connect with wiring to the electrodes to complete the circuit for the bipolar mode. One terminal is on the generator and one is in the handpiece to connect to the electrodes and complete the circuit for bipolar. The electrode has a control on the handpiece for the surgeon to change circuitry and to position the electrode for each mode. The return electrode in the monopolar mode is in the handpiece disconnected from its terminal. The return electrode connects to its terminal when extended from the handpiece but for monopolar a pair of patient pads connected to a monitoring circuit test continuity. A method of use has steps of switching the electrode from the monopolar to bipolar, providing the generator with outputs to the electrodes, having terminals for the electrodes when used for bipolar, including an active lead selectively in circuit between the active output and electrode and including a return lead selectively in circuit between the return electrode and output when monopolar or the terminal when bipolar.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical system with a circuit having an electrosurgical generator with at least a pair of monopolar active and return outputs for supplying electrosurgical energy to electrodes in a first monopolar mode, and a pair of bipolar terminals electrically coupled to the electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to electrodes when used in a second bipolar mode, the electrosurgical system for a surgeon to use on a surgical site comprising:

a handpiece for the surgeon to hold;
a moveable switchable electrode extendably carried on the handpiece for motion relative thereto which moveable switchable electrode is switchable when extended by the surgeon to act as a return electrode positionable relative to and active electrode to effect the operational site when positioned therebetween;
an active electrode carried on the handpiece;
a return attached to the patient for use in the first monopolar mode;
means for mounting the moveable switchable electrode on the handpiece for allowing switching the moveable switchable electrode from the first monopolar mode with an active electrode carried extending from the handpiece and the return attached to the patient, to the second bipolar mode in which the active electrode and return electrode extend from the handpiece in position relative to each other to effect the operational site thereby;
an active lead selectively in circuit between the active output and the active electrode, and
a return lead selectively in circuit between the return attached to the patient and the return output when in the first monopolar mode or the return terminal and the return electrode when in the second bipolar mode so the moveable switchable electrode may be modified at the handpiece by the surgeon to function in either the first monopolar mode or second bipolar mode from the first monopolar mode with an active electrode carried extending from the handpiece and a return attached to the patient to a second bipolar mode in which the active electrode and return electrode extend from the handpiece in position relative to each other to effect the operational site thereby.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Moveable switchable electrosurgical handpiece

Life of this patent

Moveable switchable electrosurgical handpiece

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10