Electrosurgical device having a dielectrical seal

An electrosurgical device comprising:

• a longitudinal housing having a switching mechanism disposed thereon and a nose area configured for inserting an electrode therein, said housing further having contact structure therein configured to electrically couple to said switching mechanism;
• an electrical cord electrically coupled to said contact structure and extending from a proximal end of said housing;
• a plug connector having a counting mechanism, the plug connector connected to a proximal end of said electrical cord and configured for connecting to a power supply source for supplying current to said contact structure via said electrical cord, said counting mechanism having structure for counting the number of times said plug connector is coupled to said power supply source;
• an elastomeric seal formed integral with said housing having a lip portion circumferentially extending from said nose area;
• and
• an actuator elastomeric seal disposed around said housing and operatively associated with said switching mechanism.

A kit for performing electrosurgical procedures comprising:

• an electrosurgical device having a longitudinal housing;
• at least one elastomeric seal formed integral with said housing for sealing components therein;
• and
• a plug connector having a counting mechanism, the plug connector connected to a proximal end of an electrical cord, said electrical cord configured for coupling said counting mechanism with circuitry within said housing of said electrosurgical device, said counting mechanism configured for connecting to a power supply source for supplying current to said circuitry via said electrical cord, said counting mechanism having structure for counting the number of times said plug connector is coupled to said power supply source.

An electrosurgical device comprising:

• a housing having a switching mechanism configured to operatively couple to contact structure;
• an actuator operatively associated with the switching mechanism for operating the electrosurgical device between a cutting and a coagulating mode;
• and
• a seal overlaying at least a portion of the housing for preventing fluids and contaminants from entering the housing, said seal defining an opening at a distal end of the housing for inserting an electrode therein, wherein said switching mechanism includes a pair of moving contacts each corresponding to a stationary contact of said contact structure, wherein one of said moving contacts slides along said corresponding stationary contact upon actuation of said actuator to clean said moving contact and said stationary contact.