Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An electrosurgical device for selectively effecting bipolar coagulation or cutting of tissue, the device comprising an elongate instrument housing (10) including a guide tube (14); first, second and third contact rods (11, 12, 13) insulated from each other and arranged in the guide tube, free ends of the first and second contact rods (12, 13) serving as coagulation electrodes (22, 23) and a free end of the third rod (11) serving as a cutting electrode (21); an actuation device (15) including means for moving the cutting electrode relative to the coagulation electrodes (22, 23); and a switching device (16) including means for applying an Rf current suitable for bipolar coagulation to the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) in a first switching position, for connecting the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) in parallel in a second switching position, and for applying a potential for tissue cutting to the cutting electrode (21).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electrosurgical device for selectively effecting bipolar coagulation or cutting of tissue, the device comprising an elongate instrument housing (10) including a guide tube (14); first, second and third contact rods (11, 12, 13) insulated from each other and arranged in the guide tube, free ends of the first and second contact rods (12, 13) serving as coagulation electrodes (22, 23) and a free end of the third rod (11) serving as a cutting electrode (21); an actuation device (15) including means for moving the cutting electrode relative to the coagulation electrodes (22, 23); and a switching device (16) including means for applying an Rf current suitable for bipolar coagulation to the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) in a first switching position, for connecting the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) in parallel in a second switching position, and for applying a potential for tissue cutting to the cutting electrode (21).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1 including an Rf transformer (17) operatively connected to the switching device (16), and arranged in the instrument housing (10), the transformer including a secondary winding (19) having a central tap (20).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the Rf transformer has a winding ratio of approximately 1:1 between a primary winding (18) of the Rf transformer (17) and between one end terminal (24) and the central tap (20) of the secondary winding (19), and wherein the Rf transformer has a winding ratio of at least 2:1 between the primary winding (18) and the secondary winding (19) of the Rf transformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the switching device (16) comprises a switch (26) including a switch slider (28) carrying contact springs (27) and a circuit board (29) cooperating with the switch slider and having contacts (30) connected with the electrodes (21, 22, 23) and the Rf transformer so that, in the first switching position, one of the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) is connected with the end terminal (24) and another of the coagulation electrodes with the central tap (20) of the secondary winding (19), respectively, and, in the second switching position, the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) are connected with the end terminal (24) and the cutting electrode (21) with another end terminal (25) of the secondary winding (19).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, including a contact clamping piece (31) fixedly attached to the instrument housing (10) in electrical connection with the switching device (16), the contact rods being secured to the clamping piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide tube (14) is axially displaceable relative to the instrument housing (10) and the contact rods (11, 12, 13).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 6, including a slide member (32) axially displaceable relative to the instrument housing, the guide tube being secured to the slide member, a forceps-like handle (15) for intentional displacement of the guide tube (14) relative to the instrument housing and having one limb (15') connected to the instrument housing (10) and another limb (15") connected to the slide member (32).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the forceps-like handle (15) is formed as a spring handle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, including an insulating piece (33), the contact rods (11, 12, 13) passing through the insulating piece (33) and at least axially fixedly connected to the latter, the insulating piece (33) being axially displaceably arranged in the guide tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the third contact rod (11) forming the cutting electrode (21) has an insulated bent out portion (34) shaped so that a downward movement brought about by displacement of the guide tube (14) forms a spacer between the first and second contact rods (12, 13) forming the two coagulation electrodes (22, 23).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 10, including an insulating hose (35) covering the bent out portion (34) of the third contact rod (11).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, including an insulating piece (33) through which the third contact rod (11) forming the cutting electrode (21) extends, the third contact rod having an upwardly pointing bent section (36) guided out of the insulating piece (33) so that on advancing the guide tube (11) a forceps-like downward movement of the cutting electrode (21) formed by the third contact rod (11) is brought about relative to the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) formed by the first and second contact rods (12, 13).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second contact rods (12, 13) forming the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) have a larger diameter than the cutting electrode (21) formed by the third contact rod (11).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 13, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the first and second contact rods (12, 13) forming the coagulation electrodes to the diameter of the third contact rod (11) forming the cutting electrode is at least 2:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said ratio is greater than 3:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrosurgical device according to claim 14 wherein said ratio is greater than 5:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrosurgical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a ratio of the surfaces of the first and second contact rods (12, 13) forming the coagulation electrodes (22, 23) to the surface of the third contact rod (11) forming the cutting electrode is at least 4:1.