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Publication Number
US-10327840-B2
Publication Date
2019-06-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electrosurgical tool includes an electrically powered handpiece with a detachable electrode at one end and a power connection at the other. A mechanism for connecting the detachable electrode to the handpiece includes a keyed electrical connection to power the electrode. The handpiece includes a feedback controller incorporated in the tool to adjust operational characteristics of the electrosurgical tool.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a device for conducting surgical procedures that includes a handpiece main body with an electrical conduit passing through the handpiece main body. An electrode attachment is detachably connected to the handpiece main body, and a second electrical conduit passing through the electrode attachment electrically connects to the electrical conduit when the electrode attachment is attached. Together, the electrical conduit and the second electrical conduit provide an electrical path for passing electrical current to a surgical operative field.
A feedback mechanism is positioned within the handpiece main body, and a feedback electrical path is provided between the electrode attachment and the feedback mechanism. The electrode attachment is connected to the handpiece main body through a key interface, where the key interface aligns a first electrical contact on the handpiece main body with one of a plurality of second electrical contacts on the electrode attachment. The aligned contacts transmit an electrical signal to the feedback mechanism to adjust operational parameters of the device.
The key interface further comprises a plurality of keyed positions, each keyed position corresponding to one of the second electrical contacts. Each second electrical contact provides a different signal to the feedback mechanism, resulting in a different adjustment of the operational parameters depending on which second electrical contact is connected to the first electrical contact. The electrode attachment is adapted for rotatable insertion into the handpiece main body to permit selective engagement between the first electrical contact and each second electrical contact associated with the keyed positions.
Claims Coverage
The document explicitly provides two independent claims, which share a common inventive concept of a keyed electrical interface between a detachable electrode attachment and a handpiece, where different keyed contact selections provide different electrical signals to a feedback mechanism that adjusts operational parameters.
Keyed electrical contact selection for feedback-based operational parameter adjustment
A handpiece main body has an electrical conduit passing through the handpiece main body; an electrode attachment is detachably connected; a second electrical conduit passes through the electrode attachment and electrically connects to the electrical conduit when attached to provide an electrical path for passing electrical current to a surgical operative field; a feedback mechanism is positioned within the handpiece main body; a feedback electrical path is between the electrode attachment and the feedback mechanism; and a key interface connects the electrode attachment and the handpiece main body, where the key interface aligns a first electrical contact and one of a plurality of second electrical contacts to transmit an electrical signal to the feedback mechanism to adjust operational parameters.
Rotatable keyed interface providing different signals through different second contacts
The key interface further comprises a plurality of keyed positions, each keyed position corresponding to one of the second electrical contacts; each second electrical contact provides a different signal to the feedback mechanism when connected to the first electrical contact to result in a different adjustment of the operational parameters of the device depending on which second electrical contact is connected to the first electrical contact; and the electrode attachment is adapted for rotatable insertion into the handpiece main body to permit selective engagement between the first electrical contact and each one of the second electrical contacts associated with the keyed positions.
Keyed contact alignment where each keyed position corresponds to a respective second electrical contact
A device includes a handpiece main body with an electrical conduit passing through the handpiece main body; an electrode attachment detachably connected to the handpiece main body; a second electrical conduit passing through the electrode attachment that electrically connects to the electrical conduit when the electrode attachment is attached, providing an electrical path for passing electrical current to a surgical operative field; a feedback mechanism positioned within the handpiece main body; a feedback electrical path between the electrode attachment and the feedback mechanism; and a key interface with at least one first electrical contact on the handpiece main body and at least one second electrical contact on the electrode attachment, where the key interface aligns the at least one first electrical contact and the at least one second electrical contact to transmit an electrical signal to the feedback mechanism to adjust operational parameters.
Different signals from keyed positions with rotatable selective engagement
The key interface further comprises a plurality of keyed positions, each keyed position corresponding to a respective second electrical contact; each second electrical contact provides a different signal to the feedback mechanism when connected to the at least one first electrical contact to result in a different adjustment of the operational parameters depending on which second electrical contact is connected; and the electrode attachment is adapted for rotatable insertion into the handpiece main body to permit selective engagement between the at least one first electrical contact and a selected one of the second electrical contacts.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a detachable electrode attachment and a keyed interface that aligns first and second electrical contacts to transmit different electrical signals to a feedback mechanism, thereby adjusting operational parameters, with rotatable insertion enabling selective engagement with the appropriate second electrical contact for the selected keyed position.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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