Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02488877 2004-12-15
CANADA
TITLE: ELECTROSURGICAL PENCIL
INVENTOR: LEONARD INESON
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrosurgical
instruments and more particularly to electrosurgical pencils for
cauterizing tissue and evacuating smoke from a surgical site.
BACRGROZJND OF THE INVENTION
The coagulation of blood vessels is a necessary part of
medical surgery and is commonly performed by an electrosurgical
tool commonly known as an electrosurgical pencil or coagulator
pencil. In an electrosurgical pencil, a electrically conductive
metal tip, usually flat in shape, extends outwardly from the end of
the body of a hollow plastic main body that acts as a hand grip for
a surgeon using the electrosurgical tool. In use, the tissue of a
patient is electrically connected to one side of an electrosurgical
circuit, and the electrically conductive tip is connected to the
other side of the electrosurgical circuit. When the metal tip
touches or is near the tissue at the surgical site, a high
frequency electrical current flows from the electrode to the
tissue, thus coagulating and cauterizing the tissue.
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Due to the cauterizing effect of the electrically
conductive metal tip, small plumes of smoke are produced, which are
typically referred to as surgical smoke and must be removed. This
surgical smoke is offensive in terms of its pungent odour, and is
also potentially dangerous to surgeons and other operating room
staff in that it contains possible carcinogenic elements, and also
potentially contains transportable viable viral DNA. Exacerbating
this problem, is the fact that such plumes of smoke tend to rise
plumes toward the persons involved in the operation. Further, the
evacuation of smoke away from the surgical site is vital so that
the surgeon's view of the operation site remains as unobscured as
reasonably possible.
In order to evacuate smoke from a surgical site, some
prior art electrosurgical pencils are constructed to have an air
flow passage with an inlet that either terminates adjacent the
metal tip or is in fluid communication with the metal tip, and an
outlet at the opposite end. The outlet is configured to receive
and retain thereon a plastic air flow hose that is connected to a
source of low air pressure that causes air to be drawn from the
electrosurgical pencil. The air flow must be sufficient to draw
away plumes of surgical smoke.
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One problem with such prior art electrosurgical tools is
that they have unnecessarily complicated structures, and are
typically constructed from several parts. Further, many of the
parts are unduly robust for use in a disposable tool. Accordingly,
such prior art electrosurgical tools are expensive, which is highly
undesirable, especially considering that the present day -health
care system in general, and hospitals in particular, are under
severe budget constraints.
Also, it has been found in the prior art that
electrosurgical tools having integral structures for smoke
evacuation usually provide inadequate air flow. For such
evacuation, the amount of air flow (commonly measured in cubic feet
per minute) is greatly improved through the present invention.
Further, the air flow path that the surgical smoke is
evacuated through is defined by several elements, thus, adding to
the cost and complexity and contributing to the problem of a narrow
air flow passage.
U.S. Patent 6,117,134 issued September 12, 2000 to
Cunningham et a1, discloses an Instrument for Suction
Electrosurgery. This instrument has an elongate body 11 molded
from polymer plastic. A main flow passage 14 extends from a
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connecting nipple 12 at its back end to its front end where it
diverts to a narrow forward main passage section 18 and to a branch
passage 20 that extends to an elongate vent 22 that is used to
control air flaw through the passage 14. A hollow metal electrode
tip 30 is inserted into the narrow forward main passage section 18
of the main flow passage 14. The hollow metal tube electrode tip
30 is electrified by means of a wire 26 disposed within a second
passageway 24, with the leading end of the wire 26 having a spade
connector 29 crimped thereon, which spade connector 29 is clamped
in place by the hollow metal tube 30, thus electrically-connecting
the hollow metal tube 30 to an electrical power source. Smoke is
evacuated from a surgical site through the hollow metal tube's
electrode tip 30, into the forward portion of the main passage
section 18, into the main passage 14, through the nipple 1~, and
into a flexible tube connected thereto. The limited cross-section
of this air flow path ensures that the evacuation of surgical smoke
is not maximized. Further, this prior art electrosurgical pencil
has a main body that is very robust and that must be made from
several molded pieces secured together, typically by a suitable
adhesive or. by ultrasonic welding. Further, the air flow path
exists in part, within the electrode itself, thus precluding this
particular prior art electrosurgical pencil from reaching maximum
air flow.
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U.S. Patent 6,149,648 issued November 21, 2000 to
Cosmescu discloses an Electrosurgical Unit Argon Beam Coagulator
Pencil Apparatus and Method for Operating Same. Wherein the
coagulator pencil apparatus 21 comprises a handpiece 22 having a
nozzle assembly 11 mounted thereon via tubing 9, with an electrode
12 removably coupled within a socket 8 and surrounded by the nozzle
assembly 11. An exhaust connector 13 is coupled to the proximal
end of the handpiece 22. At the proximal end of the connector 13
there is namely an exhaust port 15 that is connectable to a source
of low air pressure. In use, smoke is drawn through the nozzle
assembly 11 into the tubing 9 and then into the exhaust connector
13, though the exhaust port 15 and into tubing (not shown). This
particular electrosurgical unit has a large number of components,
many of which components define the air flow path, and is somewY~at
intricate, and is therefore unduly expensive. Further, the cross-
sectional area of the air flow path is quite small and is also not
straight, thus ensuring that the evacuation of surgical smoke is
not maximized.
U.S. Patent 5,800,431 issued September 1, 1998 to Brown,
discloses an Electrosurgical Tool with Suction and Cautery. The
electrosurgical tool 2 has a handle 4 having an internal passage 10
that leads from a connector 16, to a tube 18 and to a source of low
air pressure. The forward end of the internal passage 10 connects
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to an air passage that is in fluid communication with a port 12 at
the front end 8 of the electrosurgical tool 2. A heatable tip 6
extends outwardly from the vicinity of the port 12. The passage 10
is defined by tubing in the rear portion and in the front portion,
which pieces of tubing are connected by a block of material whereat
the internal passage 10 is of a restricted diameter. The cross-
sectional area of the internal passage of this electrosurgical tool
is quite limited due to its- specific construction, which is highly
undesirable. Further, there are several components that define the
air flow path, which makes this prior art electrosurgical tool
unnecessarily expensive.
U.S. Patent 5,951,548 issued September 14, 1999 to
DeSisto et a1 discloses a self evacuating electrocautery device
having a hollow body 12 having an outlet connected to vacuum tubing
20, which is in turn connected to a source of low air pressure. A
disposable electrocautery blade 16 is inserted into the forward end
of the hollow body 12 and terminates within a first air passageway
54. A plurality of plume intake ports 52 permit passage of smoke
into the first passageway 54 past spaced ribs 38_ The first
passageway 54 is connected through an intermittent self-centering
rocker switch 14 to a second airway path 56 which leads to the
vacuum tubing 20. The specific multi-component configuration of
the first airway path 54 especially at the intake ports 52 and the
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spaced ribs 38 tend to restrict the flow of air therethrough and
also make the hollow body 12 of the electrocautery device 10
expensive and difficult to manufacture.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
electrosurgical pencil that evacuates smoke from a surgical site,
wherein the smoke evacuation structure is integrally formed within
the electrosurgical pencil, and that is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
an electrosurgical pencil that evacuates smoke from a surgical
site, wherein the smoke evacuation structure is integrally formed
within the electrosurgical pencil, and that provides maximized air
flow.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide an electrosurgical pencil that evacuates smoke from a
surgical site, wherein the smoke evacuation structure is integrally
formed within the electrosurgical pencil, and wherein the air flow
path for evacuation of surgical smoke is defined by the main body
only.
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SUi~ARY OF THE INSTENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is disclosed a novel electrosurgical pencil for use in
performing surgery on a surgical site. The electrosurgical pencil
comprises a main body portion forming a handle grippable by a user,
and has an electrode end, and an exhaust end. A wire retaining
passage is disposed within the main body portion and has a wire-
receiving opening and an electrode-receiving opening. A metal
electrode tip is mounted on main body portion at the electrode-
receiving opening for engaging tissue in a surgical site to thereby
cut or coagulate the tissue. An electrical switch means is mounted
on the main body portion so as to be operable externally to the
main body portion. A wire enters the wire retaining passage
through the wire-receiving opening and is selectively connectable
in electrically conductive relation through the electrical switch
means to the metal electrode tip. A substantially unobstructed
airflow vent is disposed within the main body portion and has an
inlet disposed adjacent the electrode end of the main body portion
and that is connected in air flow communication via the airflow
vent to an outlet disposed adjacent the exhaust end of the main
body portion. The substantially unobstructed air flow vent permits
maximized air flow for the removal of surgical smoke. The outlet
is connectable in fluid communication via flexible tubing to a
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source of low air pressure, to thereby permit evacuation of
surgical smoke into the inlet of the airflow vent, through the
airflow vent, and out the outlet of the airflow vent.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention there is disclosed a novel electrosurgical pencil for
use in performing surgery on a surgical site. The electrosurgical
pencil. comprises a main body portion forming a handle grippable by
a user, and has a electrode end, and an exhaust end. A wire
retaining passage is defined by the main body portion and has a
wire-receiving opening and an electrode- receiving opening. A
metal electrode tip is mounted on main body portion at the
electrode-receiving opening for engaging tissue in a surgical site
to thereby cut or coagulate the tissue. An electrical switch means
is mounted on the main body portion so as to be operable externally
to the main body portion. A wire enters the wire retaining passage
through the wire-receiving opening and is selectively connectable
in electrically conductive relation through the electrical switch
means to the metal electrode tip. An airflow vent is defined by
the main body portion so as to extend from the electrode end to the
exhaust end of the main body portion, and has an inlet disposed
adjacent the electrode end of the main body portion and connected
in air flow communication via the airflow vent to an outlet
disposed adjacent the exhaust end of the main body portion. The
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air flow vent permits maximized air flow for the removal of
surgical smoke. The outlet is connectable in fluid communication
via flexible tubing to a source of low air pressure, to thereby
permit evacuation of surgical smoke into the inlet of the airflow
vent, through the airflow vent, and out the outlet of the airflow
vent.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is disclosed a novel electrosurgical pencil for use in
performing surgery on a surgical site. The electrosurgical pencil
comprises a main body portion forming a handle grippable by a user,
and has an electrode end, and an exhaust end. A wire retaining
pas age is disposed within the main body portion and has a wire-
receiving opening and an electrode-receiving opening. A metal
electrode tip is mounted on main body portion at the electrode-
receiving opening for engaging tissue in a surgical site to thereby
cut or coagulate the tissue. An electrical switch means is mounted
on the main body portion so as to be operable externally to the
main body portion. A wire enters the wire retaining passage
through the wire-receiving opening and is selectively connectable
in electrically conductive relation through the electrical switch
means to the metal electrode tip. A airflow vent is substantially
solely defined by the main body portion. The airflow vent has an
inlet disposed adjacent the electrode end of the main body portion
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and that is connected in air flow communication via the airflow
vent to an outlet disposed adjacent the exhaust end of the main
body portion. The substantially unobstructed air flow vent permits
maximized air flow for the removal of surgical smoke. The outlet
is connectable in fluid communication via flexible tubing to a
source of low air pressure, to thereby permit evacuation of
surgical smoke into the inlet of the airflow vent, through the
airflow vent, and out the outlet of the airflow vent.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of
the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts
and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
latter of which is briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T8E DRAWINGS
The novel features which are believed to be
characteristic of the electrosurgical pencil according to the
present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and
method of operation, together with further objectives and
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advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following
drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention
will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration and description only, and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying
drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational of the pr~:ferred
embodiment of the electrosurgical pencil according to the present
invention;
Figur~ 2 is a top plan view of the electrosurgical pencil
of Figure 1~
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view taken
along section line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view
similar to Figure 3, but with a length of flexible tubing connected
to the electrosurgical pencil and with the electrosurgical pencil
in a smoke evacuating mode
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Figure 5 is a partially sectioned top plan view taken
along section line 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is an enlarged scale cross-sectional end
elevational view taken along section line 6-6 of Figure 3; and,
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a first
alternative embodiment of the electrosurgical pencil according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EL~ODIMBNT
Referring to Figures 1 through '7 of the drawings, it will
be noted that Figures 1 through 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment
of the electrosurgical pencil of the present invention, and Figure
7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the electrosurgical
pencil of the present invention.
Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 6, which
show a preferred embodiment of the electrosurgical pencil according
to the present invention, as indicated by the general reference
numeral 20, for use in performing surgery on a surgical site. The
preferred embodiment electrosurgical pencil 20 comprises a main
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body portion 30 forming a handle grippable by a user. The main
body portion 30 is preferably shaped in an manner to conform to a
user's hand, for the purpose of comfort and ease of use. The main
body portion 30 has an electrode end 32 and an exhaust end 34.
In order to make the electrosurgical pencil 20 economical
and light in weight, the main body portion 30 is made from a
suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene. In the preferred
embodiment illustrated, the main body portion 30 comprises two
components, namely a left half 36 and a right half 38, as can be
best sen in Figures 2, 5 and 6. The left and right halves 36,38
are joined together by means of ultrasonic welding, as is known in
the plastics industry.
An elongate wire-retaining passage 40 is disposed within
the main body portion 30, and more specifically, is defined by the
main body portion 30. The wire-retaining passage 40 has an
electrode-receiving opening 42 disposed at the electrode end 32 of
the main body portion 30. Similarly, a wire-receiving opening 44
is disposed at the exhaust end 34 of the main body portion 30.
A metal electrode tip 50 has a plastic base 52 and a
pliable plastic end covering 54, and is removably mounted on the
main body portion 30 at the electrode-receiving opening 42. The
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metal electrode tip 50 is for engaging tissue in a surgical site,
to thereby cut or coagulate the tissue, as is well known in the
medical field.
An electrical switch means comprising a single-pole
double-throw rocker type electrical switch 60 is mounted on a small
circuit board 62. The circuit board 62 is mounted within the wire-
retaining passage 40 such that the circuit board 62 is seated on a
plurality of flanges 70, as can be best seen in Figures 3 through
6, so as to be fractionally retained between opposed wised
portions 72 of the flanges 70. The rocker portion 64 of the rocker
type electrical switch 60 extends through a co-operating opening 31
in the main body portion 30. In this manner, the rocker type
electrical switch b0 is mounted on the main body portion 30 so as
to be operable externally to the main body portion 30, by a
physician during surgery_ In use, the forward portion 64f of the
rocker portion 64 is pressed to provide a higher frequency signal
to the metal electrode tip 50 for cutting tissue, as indicated by
arrow "A" in Figure 4, and the rearward portion 64r of the rocker
portion 64 is pressed to provide a lower frequency signal to the
metal electrode tip 50 for cauterizing tissue. Alternatively, two
push-button type switches could be used in place of the rocker type
electrical switch 60.
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An insulated wire 46 enters the wire-retaining passage 40
through the wire-receiving opening 44. The wire 46 is connected in
electrically conductive relation to one terminal 66 of the rocker
type electrical switch 60. The other terminal 68 of the rocker
type electrical switch 60 is connected in electrically conductive
relation to the metal electrode tip 50 via an electrical contact
69. In this manner, the wire 46 is selectively connectable in
electrically conductive relation through the electrical switch
means 60 to the metal electrode tip 50.
An elongate substantially unobstructed airflow vent 80 is
disposed within the main body portion 30, so as to extend from the
electrode end 32 to the exhaust end 34 of the main body portion 30.
In the preferred embodiment, and as can be best seen in Figures 3,
4 and 6, the airflow vent 80 is defined by the main body portion
30, and more specifically, the elongate airflow vent 80 is
substantially solely defined by the main body portion 30. In other
words, the airflow vent 80 is not defined by a mechanical type
switch, nor by a extra tubing, or the like, as in the prior art.
Further, the airflow vent 80 is sealed off from the wire-retaining
passage 40 by horizontal walls 31a and 31b, thus precluding any
smoke or other tissues or liquids from reaching the electrical
parts of the electrosurgical pencil 20, such as the rocker type
electrical switch 60, the circuit board 62, and the wire 46.
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The elongate substantially unobstructed airflow vent 80
has an inlet 82 disposed adjacent the electrode end 32 of the main
body portion 30. The inlet 82 is connected in air flow
communication via the airflow vent 80 to an outlet 84 disposed
adjacent the exhaust end 34 of the main body portion 30. The
substantially unobstructed airflow vent 80 permits maximized air
flow for the removal of surgical smoke.
The outlet 84 is defined by a ridged connector nipple 86.
As can be best seen in Figure 4, a length of flexible tubing 90 is
removably connected to the ridged connector nipple 86. The outlet
84 is thereby connected in fluid communication via the flexible
tubing 90 to a source of low air pressure 92, to thereby permit
evacuation of surgical smoke into the inlet 82 of the airflow vent
80, as indicated by arrow "B", through the airflow vent 80, as
indicated by arrow "C", and out the outlet 84 of the airflow vent
80, as indicated by arrow "B".
As can be best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the wire-
retaining passage 40 and substantially unobstructed airflow vent 80
are substantially parallel one to the other, with the wire-
retaining passage 40 being disposed between the rocker type
electrical switch 60 and the substantially unobstructed airflow
vent 80. Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the substantially
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unobstructed airflow vent 80 is greater than the cross-sectional
area of the wire-retaining passage 40.
In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 1
through 6, the electrode end 32 of the main body portion 30 is
sloped such that the wire-retaining passage 40 extends past the
inlet 82 of the substantially unobstructed airflow vent 80.
In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 7,
the electrosurgical pencil 120 is similar to the preferred
embodiment electrosurgical pencil 20, except that the electrode end
132 of the main body portion 130 is shaped so as to be more
transverse to the length of the main body portion 130.
As can be understood from the above description and from
the accompanying drawings, the electrosurgical pencil according to
the present invention provides a smoke evacuation structure that is
integrally formed within the electrosurgical pencil, and that
provides maximized air flow, and wherein the air flow pith for
evacuation of surgical smoke is defined by the main body only, all
of which features are unknown in the prior art.
Other variations of the above principles will be apparent
to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and
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such variations are considered to be within the scope of the
present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations
may be used in the design and manufacture of the electrosurgical
pencil of the present invention without departing from the spirit
and scope of the accompanying claims.
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