Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ULTRAPOLAR ELECTROSURGERY BLADE AND ULTRAPOLAR
ELECTRO SURGERY PENCILS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to patent application having Serial No.
15/211,270,
filed July 15, 2016, and to patent application having Serial No. 15/211,431,
filed July 15, 2016.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery
blade
and ultrapolar electrosurgery pencils which use monopolar energy in a bipolar
mode for cutting
and coagulation. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar
electrosurgery pencils are
capable of cutting with a sharp non-conductive cutting end of ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade and
cutting or coagulating with activation of active and return electrodes both
contained on the
electrosurgery blades.
The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention has a non-
conductive
planar member with first and second opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and
an opposite non-
cutting end, a first active electrode and a first return electrode both
located on the first opposite
planar side of the non-conductive planar member, and a second active electrode
and a second
return electrode both located on the second opposite planar side of the non-
conductive planar
member. An ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of the present invention includes
a handpiece having
first and second ends and an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present
invention positioned
within the first end of the handpiece. The handpiece may further include a
smoke evacuation
channel contained therein for evacuating smoke and/or debris from the surgical
site.
The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil/handpiece of the present
invention
includes a handpiece member with a first end and second end, a hollow
telescopic member with a
first end and a second end where the hollow telescopic member is
concentrically positioned within
the first end of the handpiece, an electrosurgery blade with both active and
return contacts
positioned within the first end of the hollow telescopic member, a first
hollow conductive tubular
member in contact with either the active or return contact of the
electrosurgery blade contained
within the hollow telescopic member, a first solid cylindrical member in
contact with whichever
contact of the electrosurgery blade that is not in contact with the first
hollow conductive tubular
member and contained within the hollow telescopic
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member, a second hollow conductive tubular member contained within the
handpiece member
such that at least a portion of the first solid cylindrical member is
contained within at least a
portion of the second hollow conductive tubular member, and a second solid
cylindrical
member contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of
the second solid
cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion of the first hollow
conductive tubular
member. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil/handpiece of the
present invention
may also be capable of evacuating smoke andior debris form the surgical site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrosurgery uses an RF electrosurgical generator (also known as an
electrosurgical
unit or ESU) and a handpiece with an electrode to provide high frequency,
alternating radio
frequency (RF) current input at various voltages to cut or coagulate
biological tissue, The
handpiece may be a monopolar instrument with one electrode or a bipolar
instrument with two
electrodes. When using a monpolar instrument, a return electrode pad is
attached to the patient
and the high frequency electrical current flows from the generator, to the
monopolar instrument,
through the patient to the patient return electrode pad, and back to the
generator. Monopolar
electrosurgery is commonly used due to its versatility and effectiveness.
However, the
excessive heat generated with monopolar electrosurgery can cause excessive
tissue damage and
necrosis of the tissue because the return electrode positioned on the back of
the patient causes
.. high voltage and high RF energy to pass through the patient.
In bipolar electrosurgery, active output and patient return functions both
occur at the
surgery site because both the active and return electrodes are contained in
the bipolar
instrument. Therefore, the path of the electrical current is confined to the
biological tissue
located between the active and return electrodes. Although bipolar
electrosurgery enables the
use of lower voltages and less energy and thereby reduces or eliminates the
likelihood of tissue
damage and sparking associated with monopolar electrosurgery, it has limited
ability to cut and
coagulate large bleeding areas.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electrosurgery blade that allows for both
cutting and
coagulation of large areas of tissue without the tissue damage and which
eliminates passing of
energy through the patient. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a sharp
cutting edge and
both active and return electrodes positioned on opposing sides of the
electrosurgery blade
would meet this need. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blades with a sharp
cutting edge and active
and return electrodes positioned on both opposing sides of the electrosurgery
blade described
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with reference to the present invention could be used with an electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil
that does not have smoke evacuation capability but they are also intended to
be used with an
electrosurgery pencil/handpiece that is capable of smoke evacuation during the
electrosurgery
procedure.
A telescopic ultrapolar electrosurgery handpiece/pencil having an
electrosurgery blade
with a sharp cutting edge and both active and return electrodes positioned on
opposing sides of
the electrosurgery blade would also enable both precise cutting and
coagulation of large areas
of biological tissue. Further, such an ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil
would enable a user or surgeon to more easily and efficiently access the
surgical site with
enhanced viewing capability by extending the telescopic member of the
handpiece/pencil as
well as the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade positioned within the telescopic
member of the
handpiece/pencil. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of
the present
invention also enables a user or surgeon to evacuate smoke and/or debris from
the surgical site
while being able to perform precise cutting at the surgical site as well as
cutting and coagulation
of large biological tissue areas located at the surgical site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade which
includes a
non-conductive planar member having first and second opposite planar sides, a
cutting end, and
a non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes each located on the
first opposite planar side
wherein at least a portion of the first opposite planar side is exposed near
the cutting end of the
non-conductive planar member, and second active and return electrodes each
located on the
second opposite planar side wherein at least a portion of the second opposite
planar side is
exposed near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member. In one
exemplary
embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention,
the first active
electrode located on the first planar side mirrors at least a portion of the
second return electrode
located on the second planar side and the first return electrode located on
the first planar side
mirrors at least a portion of the second active electrode located on the
second planar side.
The non-conductive planar member may comprise a ceramic and the first and
second
active electrodes and the first and second return electrodes may comprise a
stainless steel, a
copper, and/or a tungsten. In another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar
electrosurgery
blade of the present invention, the first and second active electrodes and the
first and second
return electrodes may each take the form of an elongated conductive layer that
extends more
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than half the length of the non-conductive planar member. At least a portion
of the elongated
conductive layer of the first. active electrode may extend to, and along a
partial length of, one or
more of the opposing elongated, edges of the first opposite planar side and at
least a portion of
the elongated conductive layer of the first return electrode may extend to,
and along a partial
length of, one or more opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar
side.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade
of the
present invention, at least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the
second return
electrode on the second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar
member mirrors at
least a portion of the elongated conductive layer of the first active
electrode on the first opposite
planar side of the non-conductive planar member and at least a portion of the
elongated
conductive layer of the second active electrode on the second opposite planar
side of the non-
conductive planar member mirrors at least a portion of the elongated
conductive layer of the
first return electrode on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive
planar member.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of
the
.. present invention, the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade includes a non-
conductive planar member
having .first and second opposite planar sides with opposing elongated edges,
a cutting end, and
an opposite non-cutting end, a first active electrode having a hook-shaped
configuration located
on the first opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, a first
return electrode
having a bar-shaped configuration with at least a portion of the first return
electrode positioned
within the hook-shaped configuration of the first active electrode without
touching the first
active electrode, a second return electrode having a hook-shaped configuration
located on. the
second opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, and a second
active
electrode having a bar-shaped configuration with at least a portion of the
second active
electrode positioned within the hook-shaped configuration of the second return
electrode
without touching the second return electrode. The hook-shaped configuration
of the first
active electrode and the second return electrode may be located near the
cutting end of the non-
conductive planar member without covering at least a portion of the first and
second opposite
planar sides located near the cutting end of the non-conductive planar member.
At least a
portion of the hook-shaped configuration of the first active electrode located
on the first
opposite planar side may mirror at least a portion of the hook-shaped
configuration of the
second return electrode located on the second opposite planar side and at
least a portion of the
bar-shaped configuration of the first return electrode may mirror at least a
portion of the bar-
shaped configuration of the second active electrode. The non-conductive planar
member may
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comprise a ceramic and the first and second active electrodes and the first
and second return
electrodes may comprise a stainless steel, a copper, and/or a tungsten.
The first active electrode may take the form of a hook-shaped conductive layer
where at
least a portion of the hook-shaped conductive layer extends to, and along a
partial length of, the
opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side of the non-
conductive planar member
and the first return electrode may take the form of a bar-shaped conductive
layer where at least
a portion of the bar-shaped conductive layer extends to, and along a partial
length of, one of the
opposing elongated edges of the first opposite planar side of the non-
conductive planar
member. Similarly, the second return electrode may take the form of a hook-
shaped conductive
layer where at least a portion of the hook-shaped conductive layer extends to,
and along a
partial length of, the opposing elongated edges of the second opposite planar
side of the non-
conductive planar member and the second actiye electrode may take the form of
a bar-shaped
conductive layer where at least a portion of the bar-shaped conductive layer
extends to, and
along a partial length of, one of the opposing elongated edges of the second
opposite planar side
of the non-conductive planar member.
Further, a portion of the first and second active electrodes and a portion of
the first and
second return electrodes may extend to the opposite non-cutting end of the non-
conductive
planar member. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention
may further
comprise a first conductive insert member in communication with both the first
active electrode
and second active electrode located near the non-cutting end of the non-
conductive planar
member and a second conductive insert member in communication with both the
first return
electrode and the second return electrode located near the non-cutting end of
the non-
conductive planar member. The first and second conductive inserts may each
comprise a metal
contact member that is made of brass and/or copper.
The present invention is also directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil
having a
handpiece with a first and second end and an electrosurgery blade positioned
in the first end of
the handpiece where the electrosurgery blade includes a non-conductive planar
member having
first and second opposite planar sides, a cutting end, and an opposite non-
cutting end, first
active and return electrodes located on the first opposite planar side where
at least a portion of
the first opposite planar side is exposed near the non-conductive cutting end
of the non-
conductive planar member, and second active and return electrodes located on
the second
opposite planar side where at least a portion of the second opposite planar
side is exposed near
the non-conductive cutting end of the non-conductive planar member. The
handpiece may
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further comprise a. smoke evacuation channel contained therein for evacuating
smoke and
debris from the surgical site during, activation of the electrosurgery pencil.
In addition, the
handpiece may further comprise at least one activation button for cutting and
at least one
activation button for coagulation.
The 'present invention is further directed to an ultrapolar telescopic
electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil that is capable of performing precise cutting at a surgical
site as well as
cutting and coagulation of large biological tissue areas at the surgical site.
The ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery pencil of the present invention is also capable of
effectively and
efficiently accessing a surgical site while providing enhanced visibility at
the surgical site by
extending the telescopic member of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil
and the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade contained within the telescopic member
while at the
same time evacuating smoke and/or debris form the surgical site.
In one exemplary embodiment, the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil
of the present invention includes a handpiece member having first and second
ends, a hollow
telescopic member having first and second ends with at least a portion of the
hollow telescopic
member concentrically positioned within the first end of the handpiece member,
an
electrosurgery blade having both active and return contacts positioned within
the first end of
the hollow telescopic member, a first hollow conductive tubular member in
contact with the
active contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow
telescopic tubular
member, a first solid conductive cylindrical member in contact with the return
contact of the
electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic member, a
second hollow
conductive tubular member contained within the handpiece member such that at
least a portion
of the first solid cylindrical member is contained within at least a portion
of the second hollow
conductive tubular member, and a second solid cylindrical member contained
within the
handpiece member such that at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical
member is
contained within at least a portion of the first hollow conductive tubular
member. The
han.dpiece member may further include a smoke evacuation channel in
communication with an
interior of the hollow telescopic tubular member for evacuating smoke and/or
debris form the
surgical site.
The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may further include
a first
support member positioned within the handpiece member with at least a portion
of the second
solid conductive cylindrical member and at least a portion of the second
hollow conductive
tubular member passing through the first support member and/or a second
support member
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positioned Within the hollow telescopic member with at least a portion of the
active contact of
the electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of the return. contact of the
electrosurgery blade
passing through the second support. member. The ultrapolar telescopic
electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil may also include a swivel member connected to the second end
of the
handpiece member to enable a vacuum tube connected to the swivel member to
twist about or
around an electrical cord connected to the handpiece member thereby
facilitating a surgeon's
use of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil by reducing
the drag or pulling
down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil
opposite the
electrosurgery blade.
The first and second hollow conductive tubular members and the first and
second solid
conductive cylindrical members of the ultrapolar telescopic. electrosurgery
bandpiece/pencil of
the present invention may be made of stainless steel, copper, and/or titanium.
Further, the first
and second hollow conductive tubular members may each have an insulator on
their outer
surfaces.
The electrosurgery blade of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil
may include a non-conductive planar member having opposing planar sides with
both an active
contact and a return contact on each opposing planar side of the non-
conductive planar member.
The electrosurgery blade may further include a non-conductive sharp cutting
tip that may be
formed from the non-conductive planar member and the non-conductive sham
cutting tip and
the non-conductive planar member may comprise a ceramic material.
The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/ per of the present
invention may
also include a locking member to lock the hollow telescopic tubular member in
place relative to
the handpiece member. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil of the present
invention may also include at least one activation button for cutting and at
least .one activation
button for coagulation.
In another exemplary embodiment, the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil of the present invention includes a handpiece member having
first and second
ends, a hollow telescopic member having first and second ends with at least a
portion of the
hollow telescopic member concentrically positioned within the first end of the
handpiece
member, an electrosurgery blade having both active and return contacts
positioned within the
first end of the hollow telescopic member, a first solid conductive
cylindrical member in
contact with the active contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained
within the hollow
telescopic tubular member, a first hollow conductive tubular member in contact
with the return
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contact of the electrosurgery blade and contained within the hollow telescopic
tubular member,
a. second solid conductive cylindrical member contained within the handpiece
member such that
at least a portion of the second solid cylindrical member is contained within
at least a portion of
the first hollow conductive tubular member, and a second. hollow conductive
tubular member
contained within the handpiece member such that at least a portion of the
first solid cylindrical
member is contained within at least a portion of the second hollow conductive
tubular member.
Like the previously described exemplary embodiment, the handpiece member may
further
include a smoke evacuation channel in communication with an interior of the
hollow telescopic
tubular member for evacuating smoke and/or debris form the surgical site.
This second exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil may include a first support member positioned within the
handpiece member
with at least a portion, of the second solid cylindrical member and at least a
portion of the
second hollow conductive tubular member passing through the first support
member and/or a
second support member positioned within the hollow telescopic member with at
least a portion
of the active contact of the electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of
the return contact of the
electrosurgery blade passing through the second support member. This
embodiment may also
include a swivel member connected to the second end of the handpiece member to
enable a
vacuum tube connected to. the swivel member to twist about or around an
electrical cord
connected to the handpiece member thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the
ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil by reducing the drag or pulling
down of the end of
the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil opposite the
electrosurgery blade.
Like the first exemplary embodiment, the lust and second hollow conductive
tubular
members and the first and second solid conductive cylindrical members of the
second
exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil of the
present invention may be made of stainless steel, copper, and/or titanium.
Further, the first and
second hollow conductive tubular members may each have an insulator on their
outer surfaces.
In addition, the electrosurgery blade of the second exemplary embodiment of
the ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may include a non-conductive planar
member
having opposing planar sides with both an active contact and a return contact
on each opposing
planar side of the non-conductive planar member. The electrosurgery blade may
further include
a non-conductive sharp cutting tip that may be formed from the non-conductive
planar member
and the non-conductive sharp cutting tip and the non-conductive planar member
may comprise
a ceramic material.
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Further, like the first exemplary enibodiment, the second exemplary embodiment
of the
-ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/ pencil of the present
invention may also include
a locking member to lock the hollow telescopic tubular member in place
relative to the
handpiece member and at least one. activation button for cutting and at least
one activation
button for coagulation.
BRIEF- DESCRIPTION OF THE :DRAWINGS
The subject invention will hereafter be described in conjunction with the
appended,
drawing figures, wherein. like numerals denote like elements, and
1Ø
'FIG: 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade
of the present invention;
.FIG. 2 is a -top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar
electrosurgery
blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3_ is. an opposite side view of the exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade of the present invention Shown in FIG. 1 with the
ultrapolar electrosurgery
blade- in Fla 1 shown. rotated.180 degrees;
FIG, 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Fla 1;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line-5-5 of FIG. 1..;i
FIG. -6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FM. I;
20-
FIG. 7 'is an and view of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of FIGS. I and
3 showing
one exemplary embodiment of a. support member for retaining the ultrapolar
electrosurgery
blade of the present invention so that the conductive inserts in.
communication with the active
and return electrodes of the electrosurgery blade can be easily inserted into
an electrosurgery
pencil;
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention shown in FIG. I;
FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an
ultrapolar
electrosurgery pencil, of the present invention;
FM-. I-0, is a side perspective view of. first exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention showing
the interior
components of the .ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery han.dpiece/pen.cil as
they would appear if
one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil;
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FIG. 11 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 10 but with the ultrapolar
telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the
swivel member of the
ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil which is maintained in
the same position
when the handpiece member and the hollow telescopic member of the ultrapolar
telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil are rotated 180 degrees;
FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention showing
the interior
components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil as
they would appear if
one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil; and
FIG. 13 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 12 but with the ultrapolar
telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the
swivel member of the
ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil which is maintained in
the same position
when the handpiece member and the hollow telescopic member of the ultrapolar
telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil are rotated 180 degrees.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and the
ultrapolar
electrosurgery pencil of the present invention enable a user or surgeon to
perform cutting with
the sharp non-conductive tip of the electrosurgery blade as well as
coagulation of large areas of
.. biological tissue with the electrosurgery blade by placing the
electrosurgery blade on either of
its sides where both active and return electrodes are located. The
electrosurgery blade and
electrosurgery pencil of the present invention may also perform cutting with
the active and
return electrodes of the electrosurgery blade. Exemplary embodiments of the
ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade and the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of the present
invention include an
electrosurgery blade that has a non-conductive planar member with opposite
planar sides, a
cutting end, and a non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes each
located on one
opposite planar side of the non-conductive planar member, and second active
and return
electrodes each positioned on the other opposite planar side of the non-
conductive return
electrode. The cutting end of the non-conductive planar member can form a
sharp non-
conductive cutting end for cutting biological tissue while the active and
return electrodes
located on each side of the non-conductive planar member can be used to
perform coagulation
as well as cutting of biological tissue.
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FIGS. 1 and 3 show opposing side views of an exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
electrostusery blade 10 of the present invention which includes a non-
conductive planar
member 12 having first and second opposite planar sides 14 (see FIG. 1), 16
(see FIG. 2) with
opposing elongated edges 18, a cutting end 20, and an opposite non-cutting end
22, a first
active electrode 24 and a first return electrode 28 each located on the :first
opposite planar side
14 of the non-conductive planar member 12 wherein at least a portion of the
first opposite
planar side 14 is exposed near the non-conductive cutting end 20 of the non-
conductive planar
member 12, and a second active electrode 44 and a second return electrode 38
each located on
the second opposite planar side 16 of the non-conductive planar member 12
wherein at least a
portion of the second opposite planar side 16 is exposed near the non-
conductive cutting end 20
of the non-conductive planar member 12. First and second active electrodes 24,
44 and first
and second return electrodes 28, 38 may each take the form of an elongated
conductive layer
that extends more than half the length of the non-conductive planar member 12.
As shown in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. I and 3, at least a
portion of
the first active electrode 24 and at least a portion of the first return
electrode 28 may extend to,
and along a partial length of, at least one of the opposing elongated edges 18
of the first
opposite planar side 14 of the non-conductive planar member 12. Further, at
least a portion of
the second return electrode 38 may extend to, and along a partial length of,
at least one of the
opposing elongated edges 18 of the second opposite planar side 16 of the non-
conductive planar
.. member 12. As further shown in the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar
electrosurgery
blade shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at least a portion of the first active electrode
24 located on the
first opposite planar side 14 may mirror at least a portion of the second
return electrode 38
located on the second opposite planar side 16 and at least a portion of the
first return electrode
28 located on the first opposite planar side 14 may mirror at least a portion
of the second active
.. electrode 44 located on the second opposite planar side 16. Moreover, the
first active electrode
24 may include a hook-shaped configuration 26 and the first return electrode
28 may include a
bar-shaped configuration 30 where at least a portion of the bar-shaped
configuration 30 of the
first return electrode 28 is positioned within the hook-shaped configuration
26 of the first active
electrode 24: In addition, the second return electrode 38 may include a hook-
shaped
configuration 40 and the second active electrode 44 may include a bar-shaped
configuration 46
where at least a portion of the bar-shaped configuration 46 of the second
active electrode 44 is
positioned within the hook-shaped configuration 40 of the second return
electrode 38.
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The non-conductive planar member 12 may comprise a ceramic which can also form
a
sharp cutting end 20. First and second active electrodes 24, 44 and first and
second return
electrodes 28, 38 may comprise at least one of stainless steel, copper, and/or
tungsten. The
hook-shaped configuration 26 of the first active electrode 24 and the hook-
shaped configuration
40 of the second return electrode 38 may be located near cutting end 20 of non-
conductive
planar member 12 while still enabling at least a portion of the first and
second opposite sides
14, 16 of the non-conductive planar member 12 to be exposed near the non-
conductive cutting
end 20. This enables precise cutting to be performed with the sharp non-
conductive cutting end
20 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10.
Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 may also include a support member 31 which
may
take the form of a variety of configurations as long as it is capable of
supporting the non-
conductive planar member 12 and its associated active and return electrodes so
that the
ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 may be easily connected to an instrument
such as an
electrosurgery pencil. Ultrapolax electrosurgery blade 10 may also include a
first conductive
insert member 50 that is in communication with the first active electrode 24
and the second
active electrode 44 near the opposite non-cutting end 22 of the non-conductive
planar member
12 and a second conductive insert member 52 that is in communication with the
first return
electrode 28 and the second return electrode 38 near the opposite non-cutting
end 22 of the non-
conductive planar member 12.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present
invention
with the non-conductive planar member 12 shown in phantom within the support
member 31.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. I which shows
non-conductive
planar member 12 and first active electrode 24 and first return electrode 28
located on one side
(first opposite planar side 14) of non-conductive planar member 12 and second
active electrode
44 and second return electrode 38 located on the other side (second opposite
planar side 16) of
non-conductive planar member 12. As shown in FIG. 4, there are two portions of
first active
electrode 24 shown on one side of non-conductive planar member 12 and two
portions of
second return electrode 38 shown on the other side of non-conductive planar
member 12 due to
where the cross-section was taken. FIG. 5 shown another cross-section of the
ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
I. FIG. 5 shows
one portion of first active electrode 24 and one portion of first return
electrode 28 on one side of
non-conductive planar member 12 and one portion of second active electrode 44
and one
portion of second return electrode 38 on the other side of non-conductive
planar member 12.
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FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of. FIG.. 1 which shows.
non-conductive
planar member 12 along with first and second active electrodes 24, 44 and
first and second
return electrodes 28, 38 suspended within support member 31. FIG. 6 also shows
first
conductive insert member 50 of .ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 in
communication with first
and second active electrodes 24, 44 and second conductive insert member 52 of
ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade 10 in communication with first and second return
electrodes 28, 38.
An end view of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of FIGS, 1 and 3 showing
one
exemplary embodiment of a support member 31 for retaining the ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade
of the present invention so that the conductive inserts 50, 52 in
communication with the
10 active and return electrodes 24, 44, 28, 38 of the electrosurgery blade
10 can be easily inserted
into an instrument such as an electrosurgery pencil. In just one exemplary
embodiment, support
member 31 may take the form of a hollow cylindrical member 60 having a non-
conductive
insert member 62 with conductive tubular members 64, 66 into which first and
second
conductive insert members 50, 52 can be placed. It will be understood by those
skilled in the
art that the support member for retaining the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade
10 of the present
invention may take any number of forms or configurations.
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. I. As can be
seen in FIG. 8, the
active and return electrodes of the blade are placed on opposite planar sides
of the non-
conductive planar member 12 with the top of non-conductive planar member 12
remaining non-
conductive and free of electrodes.
A side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an ultrapolar
electrosurgery
pencil 70 of the present invention is shown in .FIG. 9. Ultrapolar
electrosurgery pencil 70
includes a handpiece 72 having a first end 74 and a second 76, and an
ultrapolar electrosurgery
blade 10 positioned within the first end 74 of the handpiece. The ultrapolar
electrosurgery
blade 10 shown in FIG. 9 is like the blade 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Conductive
wires 80, 82
connect the first and second conductive insert members 50, 52 to the circuit
board which
enables at least one activation button 86 for cutting and at least one
activation button 88 for
coagulation. Handpiece 72 may include a smoke evacuation channel 71 to enable
evacuation of
smoke and/or debris form the surgical site when performing cutting and/or
coagulation.
The exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil of the present invention enable a user or surgeon to perform
precise cutting as
well as coagulation. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil
of the present
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invention also enables simultaneous evacuation of smoke and/or debris from the
surgical site as
well as the ability to telescopically adjust the length of the ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil depending on the type of access needed to the surgical site.
The ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention also
includes a swivel
member connected to the end of the handpiece member opposite the electrode to
enable a
vacuum tube connected to the swivel member to twist about or around an
electrical cord
connected to the handpiece member thereby facilitating a surgeon's use of the -
ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil by reducing the drag or pulling
down of the end of
the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil during
electrosurgery. Ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil is used interchangeably with
electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil, electrosurgery handpiece, electrosurgery pencil, and
handpiece/pencil
throughout the specification and all are meant to refer to the same subject of
the invention.
FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 of the present invention
showing the interior
components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 as
they would
appear if one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil 110.
Ultrapolar telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 includes a handpiece member 112 having a
first end 114
and a second end 1.16, a hollow telescopic member 118 having a first end 120
and a second 122
where at least a portion of the hollow telescopic member 118 is concentrically
positioned within
the first end 114 of handpiece member 112, an electrosurgery blade 124 having
both an active
contact 126 and a return contact 128 positioned within the first end 120 of
hollow telescopic
member 11.8, a first hollow conductive tubular member 130 in contact with
active contact 126
of electrosurgery blade 124 and contained within the hollow telescopic member
118, a first
solid conductive cylindrical member 132 in contact with return contact 128 of
electrosurgery
blade 124 and contained within the hollow telescopic member 118, a second
hollow conductive
tubular 134 contained within the handpiece member 112 such that at least a
portion of the first
solid cylindrical member 132 is contained within at least a portion of the
second hollow
conductive tubular member 134, and a second solid conductive cylindrical
member 136
contained within the handpiece member 112 such that at least a portion of the
second solid
conductive cylindrical member 136 is contained within at least a portion of
the first hollow
conductive tubular member 130. It, will be understood by those skilled in the
art that other
means for connecting active contact 126 and return contact 128 of
electrosurgery blade 124 to a
circuit board located in or on handpiece member 112 for activating cutting
and/or coagulation
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may be utilized, such as wires each coated with an insulator, for example, as
long as the
insulated wires are durable and capable of ensuring that the respective wires
connected to the
active and return contacts do not come into contact with one another. However,
the solid
conductive cylindrical members and the hollow conductive tubular members that
are described
with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein are
considered to be
a superior means for connecting the active and return contacts of the
ultrapolar electrosurgery
blade to the circuit board that enables activation of cutting and/or
coagulation with the
handpiece/pencil. In addition, the utilization of the solid conductive
cylindrical members and
the hollow conductive tubular members that are described with reference to the
exemplary
embodiments shown and described herein create a handpiece/pencil that is much
less likely to
be subject to failure and a handpiece/pencil that is much less likely to
malfunction and result in
an injury to a patient and or a user/surgeon during use of the
handpiece/pencil.
As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the
electrosurgery
pencil/handpiece of the present invention has a handpiece member 112 and a
hollow telescopic
member 118 which both have channels therein that are in continuity with one
another to enable
evacuation of smoke and/or debris from the surgical site. During evacuation,
the smoke and/or
debris passes through the continuous channel and around the first and second
hollow
conductive tubular members 130, 134 and the first and second solid conductive
cylindrical
members 132, 136 that are. contained in the continuous channel. In addition, a
first support
member 140 is positioned within the handpiece member 112 such that at least a
portion of the
second solid conductive cylindrical member 136 and at least a portion of the
second hollow
conductive tubular member 134 pass through the first support member 140.
Further, a second
support member 142 is positioned within the hollow telescopic member 118 such
that at least a
portion of the active contact 126 of electrosurgery blade 124 and at least a
portion of return
contact 128 of electrosurgery blade 124 pass through the second support member
142. The first
and second hollow conductive tubular members 130, 134 and the first and second
solid
conductive cylindrical members 132, 136 may be made of stainless steel,
copper, and/or
titanium and the outer surfaces of the first and second hollow conductive
tubular members 130,
134 may each be covered with an insulator.
30.
The electrosurgery blade 124 is an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a
non-
conductive planar member with opposing planar sides and both an active contact
126 and a
return contact 128 on each opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar
member. The
ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 24 further includes a non-conductive sharp
cutting tip 145. The
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non-conductive sharp cutting tip 145 may be formed from the non-conductive
planar member
and both may be made of a ceramic material.
Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 also includes a
swivel
member 146 connected to the second end 116 of the handpiece member 112 such
that the
swivel member 146 rotates relative to the handpiece member 112. The swivel
member 146
enables a vacuum tube 148 connected to the swivel member to twist about or
around an
electrical cord 150 connected to the handpiece member 112 thereby facilitating
a surgeon's use
of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 by reducing
the drag or pulling
down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil
110 during
electrosurgery.
FIG. 11 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 10 but with the ultrapolar
telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the
swivel member
146 of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 which is
maintained in the
same position when the handpiece member 112 and the hollow telescopic member
118 of the
-15 ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 are rotated
180 degrees. As can be
seen in FIG. 11, ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 124 also has a second active
contact 127 and a
second return contact 129 located on the opposing planar side of the non-
conductive planar
member that is opposite the opposing planar side that contains active contact
126 and return
contact 128. As can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, active contact 126 and second
active contact
127 are both in contact with, or in communication with, first hollow
conductive tubular member
130 and return contact 128 and second return contact 129 are both in contact
with, or in
communication with, first solid conductive cylindrical member 132. This
configuration of
ultrapolar telescopic electiosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 enables a user or
surgeon to cut
biological tissue with non-conductive sharp cutting tip 145, coagulate
biological tissue with
active contact 126 and return contact 128 on one side of electrosurgery blade
124, coagulate
biological tissue with second active contact 127 and second return contact 129
on the other side
of electrosurgery blade 124, and cut with active contact 126 and return
contact 128 and with
second active contact 127 and second return contact 129 on electrosurgery
blade 124.
The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 110 also includes a
locking
member 160 to lock the hollow telescopic member 118 in place relative to the
handpiece
member 112. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, ultrapolar telescopic
electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil 110 also includes at least one activation button 170 for
cutting and at least one
activation button 172 for coagulation.
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FIG. .12 is a side perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the
ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 of the present invention
showing the interior
components of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 as
they would
appear if one could see inside of the handpiece/pencil 200. Ultrapolar
telescopic electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil 200 includes a handpiece member 212 having a first end 214
and a second end
216, a hollow telescopic member 218 having a first end 220 and a second 222
where at least a
portion of the hollow telescopic member 218 is concentrically positioned
within the first end
214 of handpiece member 212, an electrosurgery blade 224 having both an active
contact 226
and a return contact 228 positioned within the first end 220 of hollow
telescopic member 218, a
first solid conductive cylindrical member 230 in contact with active contact
226 of
electrosurgery blade 224 and contained within the hollow telescopic member
218, a first hollow
conductive tubular member 232 in contact with return contact 228 of
electrosurgery blade 224
and contained within the hollow telescopic member 218, a second solid
conductive cylindrical
member 234 contained within the handpiece member 212 such that at least a
portion of the
second solid conductive cylindrical member 234 is contained within at least a
portion of the
first hollow conductive tubular member 232, and a second hollow conductive
tubular member
236 contained within the handpiece member 212 such that at least a portion of
the first solid
conductive cylindrical member 230 is contained within at least a portion of
the second hollow
conductive tubular member 236. It will be understood by those skilled in the
art that other
means for connecting active contact 226 and return contact 228 of
electrosurgery blade 224 to a
circuit board located in or on handpiece member 212 for activating cutting
and/or coagulation
may be utilized, such as wires each coated with an insulator, for example, as
long as the
insulated wires are durable and capable of ensuring that the respective wires
connected to the
active and return contacts do not come into contact with one another. However,
the solid
conductive cylindrical members and the hollow conductive tubular members that
are described
with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein are
considered to be
a superior means for connecting the active and return contacts of the
ultrapolar electrosurgery
blade to the circuit board that enables activation of cutting and/or
coagulation with the
handpiece/pencil. In addition, the utilization of the solid conductive
cylindrical members and
the hollow conductive tubular members that are described with reference to the
exemplary
embodiments shown and described herein create a handpiece/pencil that is much
less likely to
be subject to failure and a handpiece/pencil that is much less likely to
malfunction and result in
an injury to a patient and or a user/surgeon during use of the
handpiece/pencil.
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As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the
electrosurgery
pencil/handpiece 200 of the present invention has a handpiece member 212 and a
hollow
telescopic member 218 which both have channels therein that are in continuity
with one another
to enable evacuation of smoke and/or debris from the surgical site. During
evacuation, the
smoke and/or debris passes through the continuous channel and around the first
and second
solid conductive cylindrical members 230, 234 and the first and second hollow
conductive
tubular members 232, 236 that are contained in the continuous channel. In
addition, a first
support member 240 is positioned within the handpiece member 212 such that at
least a portion
of the second solid conductive cylindrical member 234 and at least a portion
of the second
hollow conductive tubular member 236 pass through the first support member
240. Further, a
second support member 242 is positioned within the hollow telescopic member
218 such that at
least a portion of the active contact 226 a electrosurgery blade 224 and at
least a portion of
return contact 228 of electrosurgery blade 224 pass through the second support
member 242.
The first and second hollow conductive tubular members 232, 236 and the first
and second solid
conductive cylindrical members 230, 234 may be made of stainless steel,
copper, and/or
titanium and the outer surfaces of the first and second hollow conductive
tubular members 232,
236 may each be covered with an insulator.
The electrosurgery blade 224 is an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a
non-
conductive planar member with opposing planar sides and both an active contact
226 and a
return contact 228 on each opposing planar side of the non-conductive planar
member. The
ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 224 further includes a non-conductive sharp
cutting tip 245.
The non-conductive sharp cutting tip 245 may be formed from the non-conductive
planar
member and both may be made of a ceramic material.
Ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 also includes a
swivel
member 246 connected to the second end 216 of the handpiece member 212 such
that the
swivel member 246 rotates relative to the handpiece member 212. The swivel
member 246
enables a vacuum tube 248 connected to the swivel member to twist about or
around an
electrical cord 250 connected to the handpiece member 212 thereby facilitating
a surgeon's use
of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 by reducing
the drag or pulling
down of the end of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil
200 during
electrosurgery.
FIG. 13 is the same as the view shown in FIG. 12 but with the ultrapolar
telescopic
electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 shown rotated 180 degrees relative to the
swivel member
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246 of the ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 which is
maintained in the
same position when the handpiece member 212 and the hollow telescopic member
218 of the
ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 are rotated 180
degrees. As can be
seen in FIG. 13, ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 224 also has a second active
contact 227 and a
second return contact 229 located on the opposing planar side of the non-
conductive planar
member that is opposite the opposing planar side that contains active contact
226 and return
contact 228. As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, active contact 226 and second
active contact
227 are both in contact with, or in communication with, first solid conductive
cylindrical
member 230 and return contact 228 and second return contact 229 are both in
contact with, or
in communication with, first hollow conductive tubular member 232. This
configuration of
ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 enables a user or
surgeon to cut
biological tissue with non-conductive sharp cutting tip 245, coagulate
biological tissue with
active contact 226 and return contact 228 on one side of electrosurgery blade
224, coagulate
biological tissue with second active contact 227 and second return contact 229
on the other side
of electrosurgery blade 224, and cut with active contact 226 and return
contact 228 and with
second active contact 227 and second return contact 229 on electrosurgery
blade 224.
The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 200 also includes a
locking
member 260 to lock the hollow telescopic member 218 in place relative to the
handpiece
member 212. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, ultrapolar telescopic
electrosurgery
handpiece/pencil 200 also includes at least one activation button 270 for
cutting and at least one
activation button 272 for coagulation.
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein
shows
various exemplary embodiments of the invention. These exemplary embodiments
and modes
are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to
practice the invention and
are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the
invention in any. way.
Rather, the follow* disclosure is intended to teach both the implementation of
the exemplary
embodiments and modes and any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known
or obvious
to those reasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples
are non-limiting
illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, which similarly avail
themselves to any
equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably
skilled in the
art.
Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements,
applications,
proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the
instant invention, in
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addition to those. not specifically recited, can be varied or otherwise
particularly adapted to
specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters, or
other operating
requirements without departing: from the scope of the instant invention and
are intended to be
included in this disclosure,
Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's .intent that the words and
phrases in the
specification and the claims be given the commonly accepted generic meaning or
an ordinary
and accustomed meaning used by those of ordinary skill in: the applicable
arts. In the instance
where these meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification and
the claims should.
be given the broadest. possible, generic meaning. If any other special meaning
is intended for
any word or phrase, the specification will clearly state and define the
special meaning.
