Patent ID: 9023035
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An electrosurgical pencil, comprising: an elongated housing having an open distal end, the elongated housing including an actuator operably associated therewith; first and second jaw members extending distally through the open distal end of the elongated housing and transitionable between a closed position and an open position upon actuation of an actuator, at least one of the jaw members configured to treat tissue with monopolar energy and both jaw members configured to treat tissue with bipolar energy; at least one switch operably coupled to a controller disposed in the housing, the at least one switch configured to activate the first and second jaw members to treat tissue with monopolar and bipolar energy; a sensor operably coupled to the pencil and configured to sense tissue disposed between the jaw members, the sensor providing a signal to the controller to disable bipolar activation in the absence of tissue sensed between the jaw members; and an intensity controller that controls the amount of energy delivered to tissue when treating tissue with monopolar energy, the intensity controller including a pressure sensitive activator that adjusts the amount of electrosurgical energy based on the amount of pressure applied to the intensity controller.