Switch mechanisms for safe activation of energy on an electrosurgical instrument

An electrosurgical instrument assembly comprising:

• an electrosurgical generator;
• and
• an electrosurgical instrument connected to the electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including:
• a switch mechanism having a pair of high-energy contacts interconnecting the electrosurgical instrument and the electrosurgical generator;
• a pair of low-energy activation contacts coupled to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to activate the electrosurgical generator;
• and
• an actuator having a first portion for engaging the high-energy contacts in advance of engaging the low-energy activation contacts to supply electrosurgical energy solely through the pair of high-energy contacts to eliminate arcing between the high-energy contacts.

A method of safely activating a high electrosurgical instrument comprising the steps of:

• providing a switch mechanism including a pair of high-energy contacts interconnecting the electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator a pair of low-energy activation contacts coupled to the electrosurgical generator and an actuator engageable with the high-energy contacts and the low-energy activation contacts;
• moving the actuator into engagement with the pair of high-energy contacts to interconnect the electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator;
• and
• subsequently moving the actuator into engagement with the pair of low-energy activation contacts to activate the electrosurgical generator to supply electrosurgical energy solely through the pair of high-energy contacts to eliminate arcing between the high-energy contacts.