# US 8,998,896 B2 · Tube connector for a radio-frequency surgical device, handle for an RF surgical device, and method for connecting tubes for an RF surgical device to such a tube connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,998,896 B2 - Document ID: US8998896B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/498,039 - Filed: 2010-09-22 - Published: 2012-09-27 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-24 - Assignees: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH - Applicants: Horst Kegreiss; Britta Schwahn; Hansjoerg Bjoern Besch; Achim Brodbeck - Inventors: Horst Kegreiss; Britta Schwahn; Hansjoerg Bjoern Besch; Achim Brodbeck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8998896B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/12: by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current - A61B 2018/00916: {with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device} - H01R 13/005: {Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling} - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A tube connector for a radio-frequency surgical device, having two end sleeves, which are each provided with an axial through channel and connected to each other by a web extending from a wall plane of the first end sleeve axially in the direction of the second end sleeve. The web being at least partially made of an electrically conductive material, and the respective end sleeves can be compressed or crimped in some regions for fixing a tube, which can be arranged in the respective through channel. Also disclosed is a handle for an RF surgical device, and to a method for connecting tubes for an RF surgical device to such a tube connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tube connector for an electrosurgical device comprising: two end sleeves which each have an axial through-channel and are interconnected by a web extending axially from a first end sleeve in a direction of a second end sleeve, wherein at least the web at least in sections has an electrically conductive material and the first and second end sleeves can each be compressed or crimped in sections to affix a tube which can be arranged in the through-channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tube connector of claim 1, wherein the first end sleeve comprises a probe-side section and a device-side section, the probe-side section having a smaller cross-sectional diameter than the device-side section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tube connector of claim 1, wherein the device-side section of the first end sleeve has a larger cross-sectional diameter than the second end sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tube connector of claim 1, wherein the second end sleeve and/or the web comprise a bore, wherein the bore extends at least in part in a radial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tube connector of claim 4, wherein the bore is flush with an axial boundary face, facing the first end sleeve, of the second end sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tube connector of claim 2, wherein the first end sleeve comprises a shoulder arranged between the probe-side section and the device-side section, and wherein the shoulder has a larger cross-sectional diameter than the device-side section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tube connector of claim 1, wherein an outer crimping sleeve engages around the device-side section of the first end sleeve in an annular manner and is optionally radially compressible, at least in regions, to affix a device-side tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tube connector of claim 1, wherein the second end sleeve and/or the web comprise at least one soldering region and/or a clamping region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A tube system for an electrosurgical device comprising the tube connector of claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method for connecting tubes for an electrosurgical device comprising connecting the tubes with a tube connector of claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising the following steps: arranging a probe tube in a first through-channel of the first end sleeve and arranging an inner device tube in a second through-channel of the second end sleeve; arranging a first electrical conductor between the first end sleeve and the inner device tube, and introducing at least one first gastight connection into the first end sleeve and introducing at least one second gastight connection into the second end sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first gastight connection comprises a first crimping and/or the second gastight connection comprises a second crimping. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of inserting the first electrical conductor into the second through-channel via an axial boundary face, facing the first end sleeve, of the second end sleeve or a bore, which extends at least in part in a radial direction through the second end sleeve or the web. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of routing an outer device tube via a device-side section of the first end sleeve enclosing the outer device tube by a crimping sleeve, and introducing a third crimping into the crimping sleeve to affix the outer device tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein a second electrical conductor is routed through an opening of the inner device tube and electrically connected to a nozzle pipe, which extends coaxially from a probe tube into the inner device tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of introducing two first gastight connections into the first end sleeve.