Switching device for electro-surgical instruments

Claim 2

A hand-actuated device for controlling the transmission of electrical current between an electro-surgical generator and a surgical electrode comprising in combination a body portion with a conductive socket for releasable retention of a surgical electrode, said body portion including means for mounting a dual switch assembly for effecting selected transmission of electrical current from an electro-surgical generator to the conductive socket, said dual switch comprising first and second electrically conductive actuating elements, spaced electric insulating sleeves around each of said actuating elements, actuating gaps between said insulating sleeves in which the actuating elements are exposed, an electrically conductive contact element adjacent to said insulating sleeves and slightly spaced from said actuating elements, said actuating elements movable to become temporarily engaged with said contact element in said actuation gaps, electrical leads connecting each of said actuation elements, said contact element, and said socket to an electro-surgical generator, pushbutton means including a pair of generally tubular guides in alignment with said actuating gaps and pushbuttons in said guides disposed for sliding movement therein to cause the aligned actuating element to move into engagement with said contact element, and a flexible covering around the body portion of the device including means covering said pushbutton means whereby pressure applied through said covering means against said pushbutton means will force said pushbutton means against the aligned actuating element causing it to move into contact with said contact element.

Claim 3

The hand-actuated device of claim 1 wherein said covering comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve and said insulating sleeves are made of a heat-shrinkable material.

Claim 4

The hand-actuated device of claim 1 wherein said body portion comprises an elongated non-conductive housing, an interior cavity within said housing adapted to retain said dual switch, a pair of openings in said housing aligned with said first and second actuating elements and extending between an exterior surface of the housing and said interior cavity, and said pushbutton means being slidably retained in the guides within said openings to selectively effect engagement of said actuating elements with said contact element.

Claim 5

A hand-actuated device for controlling the transmission of electrical current between an electro-surgical generator and a surgical electrode comprising in combination a hardened insulating body having a recessed socket portion, a recessed switch mounting portion for the mounting of a dual switch means, and electrical lead wire retaining passages for electrical lead wires, an electrically conductive chuck in said recessed socket portion including means for releasably retaining a surgical electrode, dual switch means in said switch mounting portion, said dual switch means comprising first and second elongated flexible flat actuating strips of electrically conductive material, said actuating strips being longitudinally aligned, a first spacer sleeve of an electric insulating heat-shrinkable material covering adjacent ends of the actuating strips and retaining them in spaced relationship to one another, second and third electric insulating heat-shrinkable sleeves covering the opposite ends of said actuating strips, actuatioin gaps between said first insulating and said second and third insulating sleeves wherein the actuating strips are exposed, an elongated contact strip of an electrically conductive material adjacent said first, second and third insulating sleeves and extending parallel to and spaced from said actuating strips, a pair of pushbutton guides aligned with said actuation gaps on the opposite side of said actuating strips from said contact strip, said pushbutton being slidably received in said guides in a position to move the actuating strips into operative engagement with said contact strip when pressure is applied to said pushbuttons, electrical leads in said retaining passages, said electrical leads being individually connected to said actuating strips, said contact strip, and said chuck and passing out of the body for operative connection to an electro-surgical generator whereby engagement of either of said actuating strips with said contact strip will cause a preselected potential to be placed on said chuck, and a flexible heat-shrinkable covering around said body forming a seal around said actuating and contact strips whereby pressure applied through the flexible opening and against the pushbuttons will cause the pushbuttons to move the aligned Actuating strip into engagement with the contact strip.

Claim 6

A hand-actuated device for controlling the transmission of electrical current between an electro-surgical generator and a surgical electrode comprising in combination a hardened insulating body having a recessed socket portion, a recessed switch mounting portion for the mounting of a dual switch means, and electrical lead wire retaining passages for electrical lead wires, an electrically conductive chuck in said recessed socket portion including means for releasably retaining a surgical electrode, dual switch means in said switch mounting portion, said dual switch means comprising first and second elongated flexible flat actuating strips of electrically conductive material, said actuating strips being longitudinally aligned, a first spacer sleeve of an electric insulating heat-shrinkable material covering adjacent ends of the actuating strips and retaining them in spaced relationship to one another, second and third electric insulating heat-shrinkable sleeves covering the opposite ends of said actuating strips, actuatioin gaps between said first insulating and said second and third insulating sleeves wherein the actuating strips are exposed, an elongated contact strip of an electrically conductive material adjacent said first, second and third insulating sleeves and extending parallel to and spaced from said actuating strips, a pair of pushbutton guides aligned with said actuation gaps on the opposite side of said actuating strips from said contact strip, said pushbutton being slidably received in said guides in a position to move the actuating strips into operative engagement with said contact strip when pressure is applied to said pushbuttons, electrical leads in said retaining passages, said electrical leads being individually connected to said actuating strips, said contact strip, and said chuck and passing out of the body for operative connection to an electro-surgical generator whereby engagement of either of said actuating strips with said contact strip will cause a preselected potential to be placed on said chuck, and a flexible heat-shrinkable covering around said body forming a seal around said actuating and contact strips whereby pressure applied through the flexible opening and against the pushbuttons will cause the pushbuttons to move the aligned Actuating strip into engagement with the contact strip.