US 8,945,124 B2 · Thermal penetration and arc length controllable electrosurgical pencil

Abstract

An electrosurgical pencil is provided, which includes an elongated housing, an electrocautery electrode supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing. The electrocautery electrode is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. The pencil also includes at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing and electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling intensity, frequency, and/or mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrocautery electrode.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical pencil, comprising:

a housing having an electrocautery electrode supported therein and extending distally therefrom, the electrocautery electrode adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
at least one voltage divider network electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling a frequency, a mode, and an intensity of the electrosurgical energy delivered to the electrocautery electrode;
a plurality of activation switches supported on the housing, each activation switch configured to activate the mode of the electrosurgical energy produced by the source of electrosurgical energy;
and
a controller supported on the housing and operably coupled to the voltage divider network, the controller disposed in operative communication with at least one of the plurality of activation switches, the controller configured to adjust and vary the frequency of the electrosurgical energy delivered to the electrocautery electrode for the mode of the electrosurgical energy activated by at least one of the plurality of activation switches, the voltage divider network configured to store a previous operative frequency setting for each mode and to set the frequency of the electrosurgical energy to the stored previous operative frequency setting when a mode corresponding to the stored previous operative frequency setting is activated.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,039 words

Summary728 words

#1. Technical Field

#The present disclosure relates generally to electrosurgical instruments and, more particularly, to an electrosurgical pencil having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls.

#2. Background of Related Art

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrosurgical pencil in accordance with the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2A is a partially exploded, perspective view of the proximal end of the electrosurgical pencil of FIG. 1;

Detailed description6,047 words

#Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion which is further from the user while the term “proximal” refers to that portion which is closer to the user or surgeon. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

#In general, the present disclosure is directed to an electrosurgical pencil including an electrocautery electrode and at least one VDN electrically connected to a source of electrosurgical energy for controlling at least one of a frequency, an intensity, and a mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrocautery electrode.

#FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of an electrosurgical pencil constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure and generally referenced by numeral 10. While the following description will be directed towards electrosurgical pencils for the purposes of illustration, the features and concepts (or portions thereof) of the present disclosure can be applied to any electrosurgical type instrument, e.g., forceps, suction coagulator, vessel sealers, etc.

Facts

Application

13/567,529Filed 6 Aug 2012 · continuation

Priority

5 Dec 2007

Published

US 2012/0303024 A129 Nov 2012

Granted

3 Feb 2015

Term ends

21 Nov 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

A61B 18/1402
Probes or electrodes therefor: probes for open surgery
A61B 2018/00922
With means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device: by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly…
A61B 2018/00946
Types of switches or controllers: slidable
A61B
Medical diagnosis and surgery

Family

Application60/992,413Us provisional application · filed 5 Dec 2007

Application12/257,290Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Nov 2008

US 2012/0303024 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Nov 2012

US 8,235,987 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2009/0155819 A1Published application

US 7,939,279 B2Related patent

US 8,945,124 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

5 Dec 2007Priority claimedParent application 60/992,413
6 Aug 2012Application filedUS 13/567,529
23 Aug 2012Assigned to Tyco Healthcare Group LPassignment of assignor's interest
2 Oct 2012Assigned to Covidien LPchange of name
29 Nov 2012PublishedUS 2012/0303024 A1
3 Feb 2015GrantedUS 8,945,124 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
21 Nov 2028Term endsEstimated

Thermal penetration and arc length controllable electrosurgical pencil

Life of this patent

Thermal penetration and arc length controllable electrosurgical pencil

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description7,039 words

Drawings

Life of this patent

Classification4 codes

Description7,039 words