Abstract:
An electrocautery device for alternatively searing and coagulating tissue of a patient during surgery is provided. The device has a blade and an electrical cable electrically connecting the blade to an electrosurgical generator. The device comprises a hollow main body and a vacuum mechanism formed in the main body for selectively providing a vacuum for removing any plume created while searing or coagulating tissue. At least one intake port is formed in the main body. Vacuum tubing extends into the main body and is fluidly connected to the intake port. A self-centering switch body rotatable within the main body selectively activates the electrical energy of the electrosurgical generator to either sear or coagulate tissue and activates the vacuum mechanism upon activation of the electrical energy. A pair of non-intersecting, crossing airway paths are alternatively alignable within the main body to connect the intake port to the vacuum tubing.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority of pending provisional patent application Serial No. 60/384,312, filed on May 30, 2002, entitled “Self-Evacuating Electrocautery Device”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to electrosurgical instruments for selectively providing electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator to a patient for searing and coagulating tissue and the like and, more particularly, it relates to electrosurgical instruments for selectively providing electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator to a patient for searing and coagulating tissue and the like which further provides evacuation of the plume associated with the searing and coagulating of the tissue and the like.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    With known prior art electrocautery devices, a plume, as it is referred to by persons skilled in the art is created during surgery by the vaporization of organic material (i.e., the tissue of the patient) which has been ablated by the electric current of the electrocautery device. It is widely known in the medical field that the plume created during electrosurgery is offensive and potentially dangerous to the surgeons and other operating room staff. The high temperature plume, which rises rapidly from the point of the electrosurgical instrument, has been shown to contain possible carcinogenic elements. In fact, of particular significance and concern, it has been discovered that the plume produced by electrosurgical incisions and cauterizations potentially contain and transport viable viral DNA. The viruses transmitted by the plume present a significant health hazard to the operating surgeon and others present in the operating room. In addition to the health hazards to operating personnel, sometimes the plume is produced in such volume that the surgeon&#39;s view of the operative field is obscured thereby placing the patient at substantial risk.  
           [0006]    In the prior art, systems have been developed for aspirating the plume produced by electrocautery devices in electrosurgical procedures. In the typical technique, a conventional hospital suction tube held near the site of electrosurgical procedure by an assistant aspirates the plume. Unfortunately, this method inefficiently requires the fulltime attention of the assistant and the placement of the often bulky suction tube in the operative field which obstructs the operating surgeon&#39;s view. Additionally, since conventional suction tubes that are attached to a vacuum system create substantial noise levels in the operating room coupled with the fact that the suction tubes operate on a continuous basis during surgery, the suction tubes interfere with normal operating room dialogue thereby potentially causing miscommunications and misunderstandings between the operating room surgeon and the operating room staff.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    The present invention is an electrocautery device for selectively providing electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator for alternatively searing and coagulating tissue of a patient during surgery. The electrocautery device has a blade and an electrical cable with the cable electrically connecting the blade to the electrosurgical generator. The electrocautery device comprises a hollow main body and vacuum means formed in the hollow main body for selectively providing a vacuum for removing any plume created while searing or coagulating tissue with the blade of the electrocautery device. At least one intake port is formed in the hollow main body with a vacuum tubing extending into the hollow main body and fluidly connected to the intake port. A self-centering switch body is rotatably mounted within the hollow main body to selectively activate the electrical energy of the electrosurgical generator to either sear or coagulate tissue and to activate the vacuum means upon activation of the electrical energy. A pair of non-intersecting, crossing airway paths alternatively aligns within the hollow main body to connect the intake port to the vacuum tubing upon activation of both the electrical energy and the vacuum means. The airway paths are separated by a wall or septum.  
           [0008]    In addition, the present invention includes an electrosurgical instrument for selectively providing electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator to a patient for searing and coagulation. The electrosurgical instrument has an electrode blade electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a hollow elongated body and a blade receiving opening in the hollow elongated body for receiving the electrode blade. At least one plume intake port is formed in the elongated body adjacent the electrode blade. A switch body is rockingly mounted within the hollow elongated body for selectively searing or coagulating. Fluidly separate, crossing first and second airways are formed within the switch body. Vacuum means alternatingly evacuate the plume through either the first airway or the second airway of the switch body.  
           [0009]    The present invention further includes an electrocautery device for selectively providing electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator for alternatively searing and coagulating tissue of a patient during surgery. The electrocautery device has a blade and an electrical cable with the cable electrically connecting the blade to the electrosurgical generator. The electrocautery device comprises a hollow main body and vacuum means formed in the hollow main body for selectively providing a vacuum for removing any plume created while searing or coagulating tissue with the blade of the electrocautery device. At least one intake port is formed in the hollow main body. A vacuum tubing extends into the hollow main body and is fluidly connected to the intake port. A self-centering switch body having a first side surface and a second side surface is rotatably mounted within the hollow main body to selectively activate the electrical energy of the electrosurgical generator to either sear or coagulate tissue and to activate the vacuum means upon activation of the electrical energy. A first airway path formed only in the first side surface of the switch body and a second airway path formed only in the second side surface of the switch body with the first and second airway paths crossing with each other and alternatively alignable within the hollow main body to connect the intake port to the vacuum tubing upon activation of both the electrical energy and the vacuum means. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating the self-evacuating electrocautery device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the device having a hollow body with an upper body portion and a lower body portion and an electrical and intermittent self-centering switch mechanism;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the self-evacuating electrocautery device of the FIG. 1, constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the self-evacuating electrocautery device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with one side half of the main body being shown;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an elevational side view illustrating the self-evacuating electrocautery device of FIG. 3, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a spring, constructed in accordance with the present invention, for entering the switch body;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a switch body of the self-evacuating electrocautery device, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating the switch body of the self-evacuating electrocautery device, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an elevational side view illustrating the switch body of the self-evacuating electrocautery device, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is an elevational end view illustrating the switch body of the self-evacuating electrocautery device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of the self-evacuating electrocautery device according to the present invention taken along line  4  in FIG. 2 and illustrating the body having a plurality of plume intake ports and a plurality of airway openings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a disposable self-evacuating electrocautery device, indicated generally at  10 , for removing plume created by searing and coagulating tissue and the like during surgical operations with the electrocautery device  10 . Typically, the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention comprises an elongated hollow body  12 , an intermittent self-centering rocker switch  14 , a disposable electrocautery blade  16 , an electrical contact member  18 , flexible plume vacuum tubing  20  connected to a vacuum system (not shown) and an insulated electrical cable  22  electrically connected to a conventional electrosurgical generator (not shown). While the electrocautery device  10  is preferably prepackaged in sterilized containers to be used once and then disposed, it is within the scope of the present invention to have the electrocautery device  10  be non-disposable and disinfectable for re-use by known procedures in the art.  
         [0021]    Still referring to FIG. 1 and now also to FIG. 2, the hollow body  12  of the electrocautery device  10  has a first end  24  and a second end  26  and comprises a first body portion  28  and a second body portion  30 . The first body portion  28  includes a switch receiving opening  32  for receiving the switch  14  and integral first switch stabilizing supports (not shown) within the switch opening  32 . Referring back to FIG. 1, the second body portion  30  includes integral second switch stabilizing supports  36  cooperating with the first switch stabilizing supports of the first body portion  28  to inhibit lateral movement of the switch  14  within the hollow body  12 . Preferably, the first body portion  28  is fixably secured to the second body portion  30  by ultrasonic welding or other means including, but not limited to, adhesive, mechanical means, etc.  
         [0022]    The first body and second body portions  28 ,  30  of the hollow body  12  can further include a plurality of first spaced ribs (not shown) integrally adjacent the first end  24  of the hollow body  12  and a plurality of second spaced ribs (not shown) along and integrally adjacent the second end  26  of the hollow body  12  on both the first body portion  28  and the second body portion  30 . The first and second ribs along with the first and second switch stabilizing supports  36 , are preferably formed integral to the first and second body portions  28 ,  30 , respectively, from the same materials used to form the hollow body  12  during construction of the hollow body  12 . While described as being integral to the first and second body portions  28 ,  30 , it is within the scope of the present invention, however, to construct the first and second ribs and the first and second switch stabilizing supports  36 , from a different material than the material used for the hollow body  12  and, also, to add the first and second ribs and the first and second switch stabilizing supports  36  to the first and second body portions  28 ,  30 , respectively, after the hollow body  12  has been constructed.  
         [0023]    The hollow body  12 , in a preferred embodiment of the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention, is constructed from an inexpensive, thermoplastic, electrically non-conductive material. It is within the scope of the present invention, however, to construct the hollow body  12  from other materials including, but not limited to, ceramic, wood, other plastics, etc.  
         [0024]    The hollow body  12  of the electrocautery device  10  additionally comprises a first opening  42  formed in the first end  24  of the hollow body  12  for receiving the blade  16  and a second opening  44  formed in the second end  26  of the hollow body  12  opposite the first opening  42  for receiving the cable  22  and the plume vacuum tubing  20  as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The blade  16  of the electrocautery device  10  comprises a blade portion  46  for use in alternatively searing or coagulating tissue and the like during surgery, a contact end  48  opposite the blade portion  46  for contacting the electrical contact member  18 , and an insulating sheath  50  positioned about the blade substantially  10  between the blade portion  46  and the contact end  48 . The blade  16  is positioned such that the insulating sheath  50  of the blade  16  is seated and secured within the first end  24  of the hollow body  12  between the first body portion  28  and the second body portion  30  with the blade portion  46  extending away from the hollow body  12 . The first spaced ribs of the hollow body  12  inhibit lateral and transverse movement of the blade  16  within the hollow body  12 .  
         [0025]    As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 10, the hollow body  12  also comprises a plurality of plume intake ports  52  feeding,  20  as illustrated in FIG. 3, into a first airway path  54  at the first end  24  of the hollow body  12  and defined by the first and second body portions  28 ,  30  of the hollow body  12 . The plume intake ports  52  are positioned about the first end  24  of the hollow body  12  in close proximity to the blade  12  effectively remove the plume created during surgical operations. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the plume intake ports  52  are in a circumferential configuration about the first end  24  of the hollow body  12 . A second airway path  56  is defined by the first and second body portions  28 ,  30  at the second end  26  of the hollow body  12  and cooperates with the vacuum tubing  20  to remove the plume from the hollow body  12 . Function and operation of the plume intake ports  52  in conjunction with the first and second airway paths  54 ,  56  and the plume vacuum tubing  20  will be described in further detail below.  
         [0026]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electrical cable  22  of the electrocautery device  10  includes a main insulated contact wire  58 , an insulated searing switch wire  60 , and an insulated coagulating switch wire  62 . The electrical cable  22  is positioned within the second airway path  56  in the second end  26  of the hollow body  12  and extends rearwardly away from the hollow body  12  through the second opening  44  in the second end  26  of the hollow body  12  to a conventional plug (not shown) attached to the electrosurgical generator  45 . In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the electrical cable  22  is positioned within an electrical wire pathway  51 .  
         [0027]    The electrosurgical generator provides electrical energy to the electrical cable  22  and to the vacuum system to remove plume from the area about the blade  16  and the hollow body  12  as will be described in further detail below.  
         [0028]    As mentioned briefly above, the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention comprises a contact member  18  seated within the second switch stabilizing supports  36  of the second body portion  30  of the hollow body  12 . The contact member  18  comprises a main conducting strip  64  electrically connected to the contact end  48  of the blade  16  via a blade receiver  66 . The blade receiver  66  resiliently receives the blade  16  and is electrically connected to the main contact wire  58  on the electrical cable  22  to provide electrical connection between the main contact wire  58  and the blade  16 .  
         [0029]    Still referring to FIG. 1, the contact member  18  further comprises a searing switch conducting strip  68  and a coagulating switch conducting strip  70  mounted adjacent to and selectively connectable to the main conducting switch  64 . The main conducting strip  64  includes an electrically connected, slightly elevated searing raised member  72  and an electrically connected, slightly elevated coagulating raised member  74 . The searing and coagulating raised members  72 ,  74  are movable into contact with the searing and coagulating conducting strips  68 ,  70 , respectively, and serve as electrical contacts for the switch  14  upon rotation of the switch  14  into searing and coagulating positions, respectively, to sear and coagulate tissue as desired.  
         [0030]    The electrical contact member  18  is preferably formed from a single metal stamping. It should be noted, however, that construction of the contact member  18  by other means, besides metal stamping, is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0031]    The switch  18  of the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, is positioned within the switch receiving opening  32  in the first body portion  28  of the hollow body  12  and seated on the second switch stabilizing supports  36  on the second body portion  30  of the hollow body  12 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, a switch cover plate  75  is, preferably, mounted over the switch  18  and the switch receiving opening  32  to inhibit foreign material from entering or escaping the hollow body  12  from around the switch  18 .  
         [0032]    As illustrated in FIG. 5, the switch  18 , when not in use, self-centers via spring  19  into a neutral, non-electrical contact position. On the other hand, the switch  18 , in operation, is intermittently movable into either a searing position or a coagulating position and controls the electrical current delivered to the blade  16  while correspondingly activating the vacuum system and the self-evacuating features of the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention. Both the electrical control by the switch  14  and the self-evacuating features of the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below.  
         [0033]    The switch  14  of the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS.  6 - 9 , includes a switch body  76  having top surface  78 , a bottom surface  80  opposite the top surface  78 , and a first and second rounded side surfaces  82 ,  84  between the top surface  78  and the bottom surface  80 . The first and second rounded side surfaces  82 ,  84  allow the switch  14  to rotatably move within the first and second stabilizing supports  36  of the hollow body  12  of the electrocautery device  10  into and out of the searing and coagulating positions.  
         [0034]    The switch body  76  further includes a searing activation surface  86  positioned on the top surface  78  of the switch body  76  for moving the switch  14  into the searing position, a coagulating activation surface  88  positioned on the top surface  78  of the switch body  76  spaced from the searing activation surface  86  for moving the switch  14  into the cutting position, and first and second plume airway paths  90 ,  92 , extending through the first and second side rounded surfaces  82 ,  84  and the switch body  76 . The non-intersecting, crossing first and second plume airway paths  90 ,  92  provide a path for the plume created during surgical operations such that the plume can travel through the plume intake ports  52 , through the first airway path  54  of the first end  24  of the hollow body  12 , through either of the first or second plume airway paths  90 ,  92  depending on the position of the switch  14 , through the second airway path  56  of the second end  26  of the hollow body  12 , and into the vacuum tubing  20 . The vacuum tubing  20  is connected to a conventional waste receptacle (not shown) for collecting the plume and the like for disposal in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.  
         [0035]    The switch body  76  can further include a searing protuberance  94  on the bottom surface  80  of the switch body  76  substantially opposite the searing activation surface  86  and contactably adjacent the searing switch conducting strip  68  of the contact member  18 . Also, the switch body  76  includes a coagulating protuberance  96  on the bottom surface  80  of the switch body  76 . A recessed area  98  is formed the bottom surface  80  of the switch body  76  between the searing and coagulating protuberances  94 ,  96  to better define the searing and coagulating protuberance  94 ,  96  thereby assuring contact between the searing protuberance  94  and the searing switch conducting strip  68  and between the coagulating protuberance  96  and the coagulating switch conducting strip  70 .  
         [0036]    The procedure of using the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention will now be described. In use, a surgeon or other medical professional grasps the electrocautery device  10  and positions the electrocautery device  10  adjacent the desired tissue to be seared or coagulated. To sear the desired tissue, the surgeon or other medical professional activates the electrocautery device  10  into the searing position by applying pressure to the searing activation surface  86  on the switch body  76  of the switch  14 . The pressure on the searing activation surface  86  causes the searing protuberance  94  to move into contact with the searing raised member  72  and causes the searing raised member  72  to contact the searing switch conducting strip  68 . The contact between the searing raised member  72  and the searing switch conducting strip  68  connects the circuit between the searing switch conducting strip  68  and the main conducting switch  64  to provide both electrical energy to the blade  16  to sear the desired tissue and electrical energy to the vacuum to evacuate the plume associated with the searing of the desired tissue.  
         [0037]    When the searing protuberance  94  on the switch body  76  causes the searing raised member  72  to contact searing switch conducting strip  68 , the first plume airway path  90  in the switch body  76  of the switch  14  aligns with the first and second airway paths  54 ,  56  in the hollow body  12  thereby connecting the plume intake ports  52  with the vacuum tubing  20  and, thus, the waste receptacle. The second plume airway path  92  is effectively closed by the first and second stabilizing supports  36  on the first and second body portions  28 ,  30 , respectively. When the desired searing is completed, the surgeon or other medical professional releases the pressure on the searing activation surface  86  of the switch body  76  causing the switch body  76  to rotate back to the neutral position moving the searing protuberance  94  out of contact with the searing raised member  72  thereby disconnecting the connection and circuit between the searing raised member  72  and the searing switch conducting strip  68  ceasing electrical current to both the blade  16  and the vacuum.  
         [0038]    Coagulation of tissue utilizing the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention is similar to the procedures for searing tissue. To coagulate tissue and the like, the surgeon or other medical professional activates the electrocautery device  10  into the coagulating position by applying pressure to the coagulating activation surface  88  on the switch body  76  of the switch  14 . The pressure on the coagulating activation surface  88  causes the coagulating protuberance  96  to move into contact with the coagulating raised member  74  and causes the coagulating raised member  74  to move into contact with the coagulating switch conducting strip  70 . The contact between the coagulating raised member  74  and the coagulating switch conducting strip  70  connects the circuit between the coagulating switch conducting strip  70  and the main conducting switch  64  to provide electrical current to the blade  16  to coagulate the desired tissue and activate the vacuum on the waste receptacle.  
         [0039]    When the coagulating protuberance  96  on the switch body  76  moves into contact with the coagulating switch conducting strip  70 , the second plume airway path  92  in the switch body  76  aligns with the first and second airway paths  54 ,  56  in the hollow body  12  thereby connecting the plume intake ports  52  with the vacuum tubing  20  and the waste receptacle. The first plume airway path  90  is effectively closed by the first and second stabilizing supports  36  on the first and second body portions  28 ,  30 , respectively. When the desired coagulating is completed, the surgeon or other medical professional releases the pressure on the coagulating activation surface  88  of the switch body  76  causing the switch body  76  to rotate back to the neutral position moving the coagulating protuberance  96  out of contact with the coagulating raised member  74  thereby disconnecting the connection and circuit between the coagulating raised member  74  and the coagulating switch conducting strip  70  ceasing electrical current to both the blade  16  and the vacuum.  
         [0040]    It thus follows that when the electrocautery device  10  of the present invention is in use, being connected to both the electrosurgical generator and the vacuum source, the mutagenic plume created by contact of the blade  16  with the tissue will be immediately evacuated from the operating site to the vacuum source. Of course, suitable filtering systems may be associated with the vacuum system to dispose of contaminants in the materials being drawn to the vacuum source.  
         [0041]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.