Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10798~L2
The present invention generally relates to a cautery
device and more particularly pertains to a battery operated remov-
able tip cautery.
Many types of portable battery operated cautery instru-
ments have been developed and used, one of which is described in
U. S. Patent No. 3,613,682. These battery operated cautery inst-
ruments are used on the basic principle that after each surgical
use the entire instrument is disposed of. However, it has been
found that the actual use life of such cauteries is much greater
than the time required for a single surgical use so that the
cautery could be used for other surgical proceedings if a way
could be found to sterilize the instrument for additional surgical
usage. Such sterilization generally requires autoclaving or other
associated heat treating of the instrument, which treatment has
been found to destroy or damage the batteries in the instrument.
Another means of sterilization is accomplished through the use of
ethylene oxide gas. While this treatment does not d~mage the
batteries in the instrument, small hospitals or health treatment
facilities are not provided with the necessary gas treatment ap-
paratus. Another problem inherent with the use of this type ofgas treatment is that aluminum components cannot be used in the
instrument due to the interaction of the gas and the aluminum,
which decreases the sterilization capability of the gas and builds
up salt on the aluminum.
A reusable battery operated cautery is described in
U. S. Patent 3,461,874. This cautery uses a plug-in cautery tip
assembly which is removed and stored in the bore of a charger
-~ stand when the handle assembly is being recharged. It should be
noted that the cautery must be sterilized in the previously dis-
~; 30 cussed manner.
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1079812
The present invention provides a reusable removable
tip cautery of the type having a self-contained voltage source
comprising a housing, a voltage source contained within the hous-
ing, control means adapted to selectively control the transmission
of voltage from the voltage source, the control means being mov-
ably mounted to the housing in operative engagement with the volt-
age source to provide a connection between the voltage source and
a heater tip, an adaptor means serving as a connecting mechanism
mounted to the housing at least partially in operative engagement
with the voltage source, the adaptor means comprising a female
housing and first and second electrodes electrically connected to
the voltage source and mounted in the female housing, disposable
tip means including a heater tip adpated to be energized by the
voltage source removably mounted to the adaptor means, the dis-
posable tip means comprising a male tip housing adapted to mating-
ly engage the female housing of the adaptor means, a third and
fourth electrode mounted in the male tip housing and extending
away from the tip housing, a heater element comprising a heater
tip interconnected between one end of the third and fourth elec-
trodes, the other ends of the third and the fourth electrodesbeing adapted to engage and be electrically connected to the first
and second electrodes of the adaptor means and the voltage source
when said male tip housing matingly engages with said female hous-
ing.
In use, the voltage control means enable the voltage ~ .
supplied by a battery, contained in the housing, to the heating
element to be varied, thus enabling the temperature of the heating
; element to be controlled by the user of the cautery in accordance
; with the particular applications for which the cautery is employed.
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Preferably, said other ends of the tip electrodes are
beveled to form sharp edges which may be employed to perforate a
sterile flexible bag into which the adaptor means and the housing
are inserted.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing
is a hollow substantially cylindrical barrel, preferably formed
of a dielectric material such as polyvinyl or other applicable
substance capable of withstanding relatively abusive treatment
during use. Retaining means are formed at each end of the barrel
to retain the adaptor means and the voltage control means in op-
posite ends thereof.
The tip comprises the heater element and mounting plug.
The mounting plug is configured to connect the heater element to
the adaptor means in operative relation to the battery and the
voltage control means.
In operation, the operator initially determines the
output voltage required for a particular application. The opera-
tor then adjusts the cautery to deliver this preselected output
by rotating the control means relative to the barrel. A visual
indication of the output selected may be indicated by means of
aligning an index maxk formed on the exterior of the control means -
1 with a scale printed around the exterior of the barrel. Having
¦ selected the desired output, the operatox next places the barrel
in the sterile flexible bag and mounts the heater tip to the
~ adaptor means through the flexible bag with the barrel being con-
¦ tained in the bag. The operator then mo~es an actuator to the
econd or "on" position to complete a circuit between the voltage
I source and heater tip, causing the heater element to heat up.
Once heated, the heater element may be touched to exposed wounds
or cuts to clean and heal the wounds or remove sutures and the
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like. In this manner the previously d~termined voltage limits
of proper value are provided.
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It can thus be seen that by virtue of the invention, a
single device can be set to selectively deliver a variety of out-
puts. The housing can also be used several times in a sterile
condition before it is disposed of. The structure as contained
is simple, safe, economical to manufature and easy to. use in any
variety of field conditions~
The invention will become more readily apparent and
understood from the following description of embodiments thereof
given, by way of examp.le, with reference to the drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cautery body
being placed into a protective bag;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view Gf the cautery
body of Figure 1 placed in a protective bag with the tip assembly
mounted to the body;
Figure 3 is an exploded enlarged perspective view of
the tip assembly and adaptor plug partially in section of the
cautery instrument shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view partially in section
of another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view
of a variable temperature cauter~ embodiment of the invention;
i Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the control means
1 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is an end view of the control means of Figure
6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional side
view of the control means taken along line 8'-8' o~ Figure 6;
Figure g is an electrical schematic of the variable
3~ temperature cautery;
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1079812
Figure 10 is a sectional view showing another embodi-
ment of the control means;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing yet an-
other embodiment of the control means; and
Figure 12 is an end view of the embodiment shown in
Figure 11.
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figures 1~12, a cautery 10 comprises a barrel or handle assembly
12 formed by a tubular plastic case 13 in which is mounted an
adaptor plug assembly i4. The adaptor plug assembly 14 comprises
a frusto-conical body 16 which extends past the end of the tubu-
lar handle assembly and is constructed to hold a heater tip
assembly 18 which fits onto the adaptor plug body 16.
The heater tip assembly 18 comprises a plastic plug
body 21 having hollow electrode leads 20 and 22 extending there-
from, the forward ends of which are secured to a wire loop heater
element 24 of platinum or other similar resistance wire. The
wire element 24 is secured to the leads by welding or preferably
crimping the ends of the hollow leads down upon the wire loop
heater element to secure the wire loop element in place. The
leads 20 and 22 extend through the plug 18 and extend on the
distal side outward a predetermined distance which is sufficient
to fit into hollow electrod~ leads 26 and 2~ which are secured in
the adaptor plug ~ody. These leads extend through plug body 16
and terminate at the bottom of an oval shaped blind bore 17 formed
in the plug body. The heater tip assembly is formed with a male
portion 19 which is substantially ovally shaped and adapted to
seat and snugly fit in the oval shaped bore 17 cut in the adaptor
plug body 16.
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It is apparent that the bore can take any desired shape
and the tip assembly male portion any compatable companion shape.
The heater tip assembly body 21 has a frusto-conical shape from
which the oval cylindrical male end portion 19 extends. Planar
surface 23 of the body 21 acts as a stop against the top surface
of adaptor plug 16 thus limiting the distance that the heater
tip assembly 18 can be inserted into the bore 17 of the plug 16.
The distal ends 27 of the leads 20 and 22 extend into the hollow -
electrode leads 26 and 28 of the adaptor plug body when the male
portion 19 is inserted into bore 17 to form an electrical connec-
tion. These distal ends 27 are preferably beveled to form a
sharp cutting edge which is used to penetrate a flexible plastic
bag 32 into which the cautery handle or barrel 12 is dropped.
The flexible plastic bag 32 preferably is provided with
a sealed closed end and an open opposite end which is adapted to
be sealed in a conventional manner through a press fit, tongue
and groove type seal 33 which is known in the art under the trade
mark "ZIPLOC". Bag 32 is provided with an internal funnel 34
of paper or other suitable material which is preferably t~apered
and flexible so that it can be folded into a flat planar config
uration and inserted into the bag 32 for convenient packing and
storage. In use the sterile bag 32 is pulled out of its pre-
sterilized container, the bag seal is broken and pressure is
placed on the funnel sleeve 34 causing it to expand into a sub-
stantially conical shape thereby causing the interior of the
bag 32 to expand allowing for easy entry of the cautery barrel
assembly 12 which is dropped through the funnel 34 into the bag.
I The funnel 34 is then pulled out of the bag and the open end is
pressed together so that the tongue and groove configuration
snaps shut formung a sealed package holding the cautery barrel
or handle in a sterile wrapper.
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The heating tip body 21 is then placed against the bag
adjacent the end of the adaptor plug 16 and the sharp ends 27
of electrical leads 20 and 22 are pressed against the plastic
bag 32, puncturing the package, with the heating tip body 21
being seated next to the adaptor plug body 16 but separated by
the plastic bag wall. The electrical contacts are made by posi-
tioning hollow leads 20 and 22 within the hollow electrcde leads
26 and 28 so that the outer surface of leads 20 and 22 engage the
inner surface of leads 26 and 28. The cautery and associated
batteries contained therein are described in U. S. Patent No.
3,613,682 issued October 19, 1971.
An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in
Figure 4 in which a flexible rubber bag 40 having an O-ring 41
on one end is placed over the cautery body 42 so that a cap 44
and associated heating wire assembly 45 can be placed over the
cautery body and bag 40 with the electrode leads 50 and 52 of
the cap fitting into similarly situated hollow leads 54 and 56
in the cautery adaptor plug. The O-ring 41 of the bag 40 forms
a seal so that after surgery has been performed, the heating cap
44 and the outer covering bag 40 can be removed. A new flexible
bag is then placed on the body with a new heating cap mounted so
that the cautery can again be used for additional cutting or
cauterizing.
In the preferred embodiment the temperature of the
cautery loop can be varied to obtain the desired cutting temper-
ature.
As shown in Fig. 5, this preferred embodiment of the
invention relates to a hand-held variable temperature cautery
indicated as 110 comprising a housing 112 and protective cap 114
removably attached thereto. In the cautery 110 control means 116
10798~2
and adaptor means 118 are attached to opposite ends of housing
112, a first conductor means 120 and a voltage source 122 are
operatively retained within housing 112, and an actuator means
124 is provided outside of the housing.
The housing 112 comprises a hollow suDstantially cylin-
drical barrel 126 including retaining means comprising a pair of
retainer lips 128 and 130 formed on its upper and lower ends in
a substantially annular configuration. The barrel 126 is pre-
ferably formed of dielectric material such as polyvinyl or other
similar or applicable substance providing the desired character-
istics including the ability to withstand relatively abusive
treatment during use. The barrel 126 is internally insulated.
Retainer lips 128 and 130 are configured to operatively couple
the adaptor means 118 and control means 116 respectively to the
barrel 126. A terminal 132 of the voltage source 122, which is
in the form of a battery, engages control means 116 while the
opposite terminal 134 of battery 122 engages adaptor means 118.
; If desired a plurality of batteries or other voltage sources may
be placed in series or parallel, end to end to increase the avail-
able voltage output. The first conductor means 120 comprises an
elongated strip of conductive material which e~tends substantial-
ly the length of the barrel 126. At least one portion 138 of
the strip includes a first contact means or wiper 140 positioned
to operatively engage control means 116 while a second portion
includes a second contact means 142 shaped to operatively engage
the adaptor means 118.
The adaptor means 118 comprises a housing 146 with
electrodes 150 and 152 extending through channels 154 and 156
respectively formed in the housing 146 into the interior of the
barrel 126. The inner end of the first electrode 150 is disposed
to engage the terminal 134 of battery 122 while the second elec-
trode 152 is spaced apart from the terminal 134.
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The outer ends of electrodes 150 and 152 terminate at
the seat of a blind bore 147 cut into housing 146. A heating tip
assembly 153 is designed to be seated in the blind bore 147 so
that the tip assembly can be removably mounted on the adaptor
means 118. The heating tip assembly 153 includes a tip body 155
which holds two throughgoing electrodes 157 and 159 and a wire
tip 163 interconnected between the third electrode 157 and the
fourth electrode 159.
The third and fourth electrodes 157 and 159 are tubular
in shape and of smaller diameter than the first and second elec-
trodes 150 and 152 and are adapted to be inserted into the first
and second electrodes to provide an electrical connection. The
ends 161 of the electrodes 157 and 159 opposite the wire tip 163
are beveled to form sharp cutting surfaces.
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The mounting housing 146 comprises an enlarged base 158
and a reduced upper portion 160 which together cooperatively
form a ledge 162 therebetween. The ledge 162 and retaining lip
128 engage each other to secure the adaptor means 118 to the
barrel 126. As configured, the adaptor means 118 comprises an
integral unit which prevents any accidental separation of parts
during use.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention may
include the integral adaptor means 118 being welded or similarly
attached to casing 112.
As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the control means 116
comprises an adjustment means 164 and a second conductor means
166. The second conductor means 166 comprises a hollow substan-
tially cylindrical member 168 and a conductive wire-like strip
170 coupled thereto. The strip 170 comprises an origin 172 and
terminal point 174. Adjustment means 164 comprises an enlarged
base 176 having oppositely disposed inner portions 178 and 180
extending outwardly from the opposite sides of base 176. The
intersection of base 176 and portion 180 cooperatively forms
ledge 184 which engages bias means 186 to hold the voltage source
122 in engagement with the first electrode 150. Inner portion
178 includes channel 188 for accommodating the junction of origin
172 of strip 170 and cylindrical member 168. Aperture 192 is
formed in the inner portion 178 to secure the terminal contact
means cylindrical member 168 to portion 178 in a corresponding
relation to terminal 132 of battery 122.
The opposite or terminal point 174 of strip 170 is
attached to portion 178 of adjustment means 116 by means of an
integrally formed slot. The slot has its inner wall surface
specifically configured to define a projection means l9n disposed
and configured to engage the terminal point or end 174 of
conductive strip 170 in such a manner as to lock the terminal
10798~Z
point 174 within the slot and thereby maintain the conductive
strip 170 in operative relation relative to the first contact 140
which comprises a portion of the first conductor means.
Another embodiment of the invention is disclose~ in
Figure 10 and includes a substantially L-shaped element 171.
Portion 173 of element 171 may be either solid or hollow as
desired. The portion indicated as 175 is specifically configured
to allow crimping between portion 175 and the origin 172 of
conductive strip 170.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention as
shown in Fig. 12 envisions a solid flange 177 fitted on portion
176 of the control means. Conductive strip 170 has its origin 172
also crimped to engage flange 177 as shown in both Figs. 11 and
12. In the alternative, conductive strip 170 has its origin
tack welded or otherwise securely attached thereto to provide
efficient electrical contact therebetween. It should also be
noted that conductive strip 170 may include any of a number of
various configurations and is not intended to be limited to a
"flat" or "round" configuration as represented. Irrespective
of the embodiment utilized, member or elements 168, 171 and/or 177
are configured and positioned relat~ve to the terminal 132 of
the battery 122 so as to effect proper, efficient and reliable
electric contact therebetween.
As shown in Fig. 5, the actuator means 124 comprises a
suitable dielectric material and includes slot 193 formed inwardly
from one end thereof. Actuator means 124 comprises portion 194
disposed to engage conductor means 120 to move second contact
means 142 into electrical contact with the electrode 152. This
is accomplished when the cap 114 is removed from the housing 112
and the actuator means 124 is manually depressed,
Fi~. 9 represents schematic circuitry of the operation
of cautery 110. The wire-like strip 170 serves as a variable
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resistor, and when the control means 116 is rotated relative to
the housing 112, the position of contact 168 between the wiper 140
and the strip 170 is adjusted to vary the voltage supplied to
applicator means 118. Actuator means (switch) 124, when closed,
completes a circuit passing current through electrodes 150 and
152 and electrodes 157 and lS9 to wire tip 163, which is heated.
In operation, the operator initially determines the
output voltage re~uired for a particular application. The
operator then adjusts the cautery to deliver this preselected
output by rotating the control means 116 relative to the barrel
126. A visual indication of the output selected may be indicated
by means of aligning an index mark formed on the exterior of the
; control means 116 with a s~ale printed around the exterior of
the barrel 126. The adjusted cautery barrel is then dropped
` into bag 32 in the previously described manner, the bag is sealed
; and the tip assembly is mounted to the adaptor means. Having
selected the desired output, the operator moves the actuator
means 1~4 through the bag to the second or "on" position to
complete the circuit between the voltage source 122 and the
heating tip assembly, which has been mounted to the cautery,
causing the wire heater tip element 163 to heat up. Once heated,
the heater element 163 may be touched to exposed wounds or cuts
to clean and heal the wounds or remove sutures and the like.
It is envisioned in all of the previously described
embodiments that the outer bag which serves as a sterilizing
covering for the cautery body can be removed and discarded and
a new bag placed on the cautery body with subsequent tip assem-
blies being inserted into the cautery body for various cutting
and cauterizing functions. Upon use these cutting tip assemblies
can also be discarded so that the cautery bodies with their
associated batteries can be reused as desired. It should be
noted that, in the uses of the described embodiments, the flexible
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1~798~;2
bag covering allows the operating button 194 to be easily
depressed, thus completing the circuit in the disposable cauteries
so that electricity is pro~ided to the resistance tip, thereby
heating the tip to the desired degree necessary.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited to
such embodiments since it may be otherwise embodied ~iithin the
scope of the appended claims.
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