Patent ID: 9345531
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: A61B,A61N

Claim Text:
1. A device for use in a surgical procedure for improving the appearance of skin tissue of a patient by applying RF energy thereto via a handpiece-supported electrode, the device comprising: (a) a handpiece having an electrical conductor configured to receive RF energy from a generator when activated, the handpiece supporting an electrode having an active surface to be brought into contact with the patient's skin to apply received RF energy to the skin when the generator is activated and while the electrode is pressed against the patient's skin, the handpiece comprising: (b) first switch means configured to electrically couple the electrode's active surface to the electrical conductor configured to receive RF energy when and while the active-surface urges against the patient's skin, wherein the first switch means comprises a first electrically conductive member coupled to the electrode and a second electrically conductive member electrically coupled to the electrical conductor configured to receive RF energy, wherein the first electrically conductive member is movable relative to a longitudinal axis of the handpiece in correspondence with the electrode surface between an RF-disconnected position and an RF-connected position, wherein the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member are configured to be electrically coupled with each other in the RF-connected position such that the electrode's active surface is electrically coupled to the electrical conductor configured to receive RF energy in the RF-connected position and electrically isolated from the electrical conductor configured to receive RF energy in the RF-disconnected position; and (c) a biasing member configured to urge the electrode toward the RF-disconnected position, wherein the biasing member is electrically isolated from the second electrically conductive member in the RF-disconnected position, wherein the electrode is movably supported by the handpiece, and the first electrically conductive member comprises an extension of the electrode positioned inside the handpiece, wherein the first electrically conductive member urges against the second electrically conductive member in the RF-connected position when the electrode urges against the patient's skin, and wherein the first electrically conductive member is spaced from the second electrically conductive member in the RF-disconnected position, wherein the electrode is laterally movable relative to the longitudinal axis between the RF-disconnected position and the RF-connected position, and the RF-disconnected and RF-connected positions define outermost extents of the electrode's movement.