Magnetic activation of monopolar and bipolar devices

A method for connecting an electrosurgical device to a power source, the method comprising:

• providing an electrosurgical device having a proximal end and a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a conductive cutting wire extending generally along the longitudinal axis;
• wherein the device includes a housing at the proximal end, the housing including a handle portion having an actuator ring disposed proximally from at least one gripping ring, and the housing includes a recess therein having an axis that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device, and the recess includes a recessed magnetic surface, wherein the recess is disposed in the actuating ring;
• wherein the recessed magnetic surface is electrically connected to the conductive cutting wire;
• providing a power cord having an active wire extending along a longitudinal axis of the cord;
• wherein the power cord includes a cord housing at a distal end thereof;
• wherein the cord housing includes a magnetic post extending therefrom generally transverse to the to the longitudinal axis of the cord;
• aligning the axes of the magnetic post and the recess;
• aligning the longitudinal axes of the device housing and the cord housing;
• inserting the magnetic post into the recess;
• contacting the magnetic post with the recessed magnetic surface to create a magnetic connection therebetween.

An elongate electrosurgical device comprising:

• a tubular body having a proximal and distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween;
• a handle portion coupled to the proximal end of the tubular body, the handle portion having a longitudinal axis therealong;
• a housing of the handle portion at a proximal end thereof, the housing including an actuating ring of the handle portion disposed proximally from at least one gripping ring of the handle portion;
• a recess extending into the actuating ring, the recess having an axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion;
• a recessed magnetic surface disposed within the recess;
• a cutting wire electrically connected to the recessed magnetic surface and extending through the handle portion and the tubular body to the distal end thereof;
• and
• wherein the recess is sized to receive a magnetic post having a shape corresponding to the recess for electrically connecting the cutting wire to an active wire electrically connected to the magnetic post.