Abstract:
According to one configuration, an electrocautery electrode for use in electrocautery or electrosurgery is provided which has a light-emitting component disposed thereon. The electrode is configured to be inserted into or positioned between components of standard electrocautery pencils, making wide distribution easier. According to another configuration, a sleeve is provided with a light-emitting component disposed thereon, the sleeve being sized to fit on any standard electrocautery pencil. The light-emitting component on the electrode or sleeve reduces shadows and allows improved illumination of the treatment sight without necessitating purchase of a new electrocautery device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. The Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to surgical tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to an illumination apparatus for use on an electrocautery or electrosurgical device. 
         [0003]    2. State of the Art 
         [0004]    Surgery generally involves cutting, repairing and/or removing tissue or other materials from a body, whether human or animal. These applications are generally performed by cutting tissue, fusing tissue, or tissue destruction. One of the most ubiquitous procedures to perform these functions in surgery is electrocautery. Many surgeons use electrocautery or electrosurgery instruments because their use is typically cleaner, safer, and more efficient than many of the alternatives. 
         [0005]    “Electrocautery” or “electrosurgery” devices as used broadly herein are designed to coagulate and seal blood vessels, or incise, cut or destroy tissue with heat emanating from the device, or they perform the same functions by creating heat in the tissue via electrical current passing out of the device. For convenience, either modality is referred to herein collectively as electrocautery unless specified as being one or the other. Depending on the voltage used or the heat applied in electrocautery, the instrument can have varying effects on the patient&#39;s body, such as cutting through soft tissue to access a surgical site, or sealing off blood vessels during surgery to keep the site clean and reduce blood loss. Electrocautery may also be used in ablation or removal of undesirable tissue. 
         [0006]    An electrocautery device uses a very high frequency, usually upwards of 100 kHz, to minimize the effect of electrical current on nerves and muscles. The voltage for the electrocautery device is generated by an electrosurgical generator or electrosurgical unit (ESU). Likewise, an ESU can produce a high frequency which is converted into heat by a resistive element or a ferromagnetic material to heat an electrocautery device. The ESU is connected to the instrument, such as an electrocautery pencil, which is held by the surgeon. The electrocautery pencil has a handle portion and an exposed blade portion, or electrode, extending from the end. While the electrode, etc., may be blade shaped, it may also be other shapes as well, Therefore, the active projection of the electrocautery device with which the surgeon “cuts” and causes hemostasis will be discussed generally as an electrode regardless of shape and regardless of whether it functions thermally or electrosurgically. 
         [0007]    Most electrocautery pencils are disposable, and the electrode cautery tip is generally interchangeable to allow for adaptation to the specific needs of the surgeon and the procedure. 
         [0008]    Despite its advantages and common use, one of the persistent challenges of working with an electrocautery pencil is seeing in the depth of a dark wound. Surgical overhead lights, lighted retractors, or lights worn on the surgeon&#39;s head are often used, but these lights are not ideal as they can be cumbersome and a shadow may be cast by the surgeon&#39;s hand or by the electrocautery device itself and obscure the field. 
         [0009]    Some publications show use of an LED light on the body of the pencil; some have powered the lights through batteries; however, none have fully resolved the intricacies of where to place the light and how to proceed without necessitating entire replacement of an electrocautery pencil. 
         [0010]    Thus there is a need for an improved device and method for illumination of the surgical field during electrocautery procedures. The improved device and method should provide a light source very close to the field, thus eliminating shadow problems. Additionally, the device and method should be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, making wide distribution easy and keeping costs down. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Described herein is an illumination device for use on an electrocautery pencil. 
         [0012]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a removable electrocautery electrode is provided with a light-emitting component disposed thereon, with the light-emitting component being electrically connected to the electrode. The electrode and light-emitting component receive power from an external power source connected to the electrocautery pencil. This allows the light-emitting component to operate at any time during surgery when current is flowing to the removable electrode, allowing the light to operate free of the limitations of a battery. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the light source is located on the electrocautery electrode, thus eliminating shadowing and greatly improving the field view of the surgeon. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the electrocautery electrode provided could be used with any standard electrocautery pencil or electrosurgical generator, making wide distribution simple and less expensive than replacing the entire electrocautery pencil or electrosurgical generator. 
         [0015]    According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the electrocautery electrode could be adapted to existing proprietary tip designs. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the light source may be attached to a mount, the mount having a hole therethrough for a standard electrocautery electrode mounting end to extend through. Thus, a surgeon may slide the mounting end of an electrocautery electrode through the mount with the light source, and then into the electrode receptacle of the electrocautery pencil. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the light source may be located on a sleeve configured to be attached to the end of a standard electrocautery pencil. The light source may be powered by a battery, and may be located directly on the sleeve, or connected to the sleeve via flexible positioning wires. 
         [0018]    These and other aspects of the present disclosure are realized in an electrocautery electrode with a light source as shown and described in the following figures and related description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an electrocautery pencil with a removable electrode in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the electrocautery pencil with a removable electrode shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a close-up, front view of the electrocautery pencil with a removable electrode shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a close-up, perspective view of a removable electrocautery electrode in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  shows a close-up, front view of a configuration of the removable electrocautery electrode in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  shows a close-up, front view of an alternate configuration of the removable electrocautery electrode in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5C  shows a close-up, front view of yet another alternate configuration the removable electrocautery electrode in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5D  shows a close-up view of yet another configuration of a removable electrocautery electrode in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a close-up, front view of another configuration of an illumination device for illuminating the surgical field of an electrocautery pencil; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7A  shows a side, perspective view of a standard electrocautery pencil with a configuration of an illumination device shown positioned to be connected to the electrocautery pencil; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7B  shows a side, perspective view of the standard electrocautery pencil and configuration of an illumination device shown in  FIG. 7A  with the illumination device connected to the electrocautery pencil; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8A  shows a side, perspective view of a standard electrocautery pencil with a configuration of an illumination device shown positioned to be inserted onto the electrocautery pencil; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8B  shows a side, perspective view of the standard electrocautery pencil and configuration of an illumination device shown in  FIG. 8A , with the illumination device inserted over the electrocautery pencil; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9A  shows a perspective view of an alternate configuration of an illumination device; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 9B  shows a perspective view of yet another alternate configuration of an illumination device. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    The following description includes various representative embodiments and specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the methods and devices described below can be practiced without employing these specific details, or that they can be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they can be modified and can be used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    Reference in the specification to “one configuration” or “a configuration” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the configuration is included in at least one configuration and not that any particular configuration is required to has a particular feature, structure or characteristic described herein. The appearances of the phrase “in one configuration” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same configuration, and may not necessarily limit the inclusion of a particular element of the invention to a single configuration, rather the element may be included in other or all configurations discussed herein. Thus it will be appreciated that the claims are not intended to be limited by the representative configurations shown herein. Rather, the various representative configurations are simply provided to help one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the inventive concepts claimed herein. 
         [0038]    The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are intended to be exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of the invention in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of configurations of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more configurations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of products or manufacturing techniques that may be used, to provide a thorough understanding of configurations of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that configurations of the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0040]    Prior to discussing particular configurations, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular structures, process steps, or materials discussed or disclosed herein, but is extended to include equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. More specifically, the invention is defined by the terms set forth in the claims. It should also be understood that terminology contained herein is used for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the invention only and is not intended to limit the invention to the aspects or configurations shown unless expressly indicated as such. Likewise, the discussion of any particular aspect of the invention is not to be understood as a requirement that such aspect is required to be present apart from an express inclusion of the aspect in the claims. 
         [0041]    It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a spring” may include one or more of such springs, and reference to “the layer” may include reference to one or more of such layers. 
         [0042]    As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result to function as indicated. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context, such that enclosing the nearly all of the length of a lumen would be substantially enclosed, even if the distal end of the structure enclosing the lumen had a slit or channel formed along a portion thereof. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, structure which is “substantially free of” a bottom would either completely lack a bottom or so nearly completely lack a bottom that the effect would be effectively the same as if it completely lacked a bottom. 
         [0043]    As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint while still accomplishing the function associated with the range. 
         [0044]    As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. 
         [0045]    Concentrations, amounts, proportions and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described. 
         [0046]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side, fragmented view of an electrocautery device, generally indicated at  10 . As will be discussed in additional detail below, the electrocautery device  10  may include a body  16  having a proximal end  12  and a distal end  14 , a removable electrode  20  according to the present disclosure, and an external power supply  19 . As was mentioned previously, the removable electrode  20  may be blade shaped, but it may also be needle shaped or other known configurations. 
         [0047]    The body  16  of the electrocautery device  10  may be of the universal type of electrocautery pencil body, with a standard shape which generally forms a handle for grasping by the surgeon. The body  16  may also have other shapes as commonly used with electrocautery devices. The body  16  of the electrocautery device  10  may include a electrode receptacle  24  in the distal end  14  for receiving the removable electrode  20 , and a connection  25  on the proximal end  12  for attachment to a cable or line which leads to an external power supply  19 . Within the body  16 , there may be provided circuitry to electrically connect the blade shaped removable electrode  20  to the external power supply  19  so that power flowing through the handle either heats the removable electrode  20  or causes the removable electrode  20  to transmit current into tissue to thereby cause hemostasis, cutting, etc. 
         [0048]    A switch  28  may be disposed on the body  16  and controls the electrical supply to the electrode. The switch  28  may be provided with, for example, two buttons,  28   a  and  28   b.  These two buttons,  28   a  and  28   b,  may control two different modes for the device, for example cutting and coagulation, respectively. One having skill in the art will appreciate that the switch  28  could also be located remotely from the body  16 , such as a foot-controlled switch as is known in the art. The switch  28  may also control additional modes for the device. 
         [0049]    The removable electrode  20  (shown in  FIG. 1  as being inserted into the electrode receptacle  24  of the electrocautery device  10 ) may include an electrode tip  32  (or other shaped tip) on the distal end  14 , one or more light-emitting components  37 , and a connection shaft  42  on the proximal end for engaging the distal end  14  of the body  16 . The electrode tip  32 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may be a standard electrode tip that is flat and sharp. It will be appreciated that numerous other types of electrode tips could be used, such as a needle tip, etc. and may be configurated to act as a thermal element of an electrocautery device or an electrode of an electrosurgical device. Additionally, the electrode tip could be adapted to any proprietary design in the field. 
         [0050]    By way of example, the connection shaft  42  of the removable electrode  20  may be round, and may have a diameter of approximately 2.4 mm ( 3/32 inches) in order to be inserted into standard electrocautery pencils. The connection shaft  42  of the removable electrode  20  may also be other various shapes and sizes, configured to be inserted into an electrocautery pencil with a different electrode receptacle  24 . The removable electrode  20  may be fabricated from any suitable conductive material, such as, for example, stainless steel, or may be coated with an electrically conductive material. The removable electrode  20  may also be coated in a non-stick material. 
         [0051]    Disposed on the removable electrode  20  may be one or more light-emitting components  37 . The light-emitting component(s)  37  may be disposed on the removable electrode via a mount  48  (discussed in detail below). The light-emitting component(s)  37  may be electrically connected to the electrode (which receives its power through the electrocautery device  10  from the external power supply  19 ). Thus, whenever the surgeon presses the switch  28  to send power to the removable electrode  20 , the light-emitting component(s)  37  will also receive power and become activated. The light-emitting component(s)  37  may be electrically connected to the electrode through any means suitable and known in the art. According to one configuration, the light-emitting component  37  may be placed in electrical direct contact or direct contact via a conductor contained therein with the conductive removable electrode  20 , eliminating the need for any wiring. 
         [0052]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a top view of the electrocautery device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . This view shows the ergonomic shape of the body  16  of the electrocautery device  10 . One having skill in the art would appreciate that many different designs exist for the shape of electrocautery pencils, and that the present disclosure could be configured to be compatible with any pencil body design. 
         [0053]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a front view of the electrocautery device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The light-emitting component(s)  37  may be disposed on a mount  48 . The mount may be round in shape, so as to be free from abrupt corners. Additionally, the mount  48  may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the distal end  14  of the body  16  of the electrocautery pencil, so as to not impede movement of the removable electrode  20  in a wound. 
         [0054]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a front perspective view of the removable electrode, generally indicated at  20 . The mount  48  may be disposed perpendicular to the length of the removable electrode  20 , and the light-emitting component(s)  37  may be disposed on the face of the mount  48  proximal to the electrode tip  32 . In  FIG. 4 , the light-emitting components are shown as four distinct lights, as discussed below. It will be appreciated that different numbers of lights may be used depending on the strength of the lights and the lighting needed in location in which the electrode is being used. 
         [0055]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5A-D  there are shown front views of alternate configurations of the removable electrode  20 .  FIG. 5A , is a front view of the removable electrode  20  shown in  FIG. 4 . In this configuration, the light-emitting component(s)  37  are shown as four discrete lights, at approximately 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. The light-emitting component may be comprised of light-emitting diodes, such as blue LEDS, white LEDs, yellow LEDs, etc. LEDs may used advantageously because they consume less energy, have a longer lifetime, are available in smaller sizes, and provide faster switching. Other types of lights may also be used, such as fluorescent, incandescent, etc. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5B  shows a front view of an alternate configuration of a removable electrode  20 . In this configuration, the light-emitting component(s)  37  have been increased to eight discrete lights, placed in a circle around the electrode tip  32  and evenly spaced apart. As there is an increase in the light-emitting components, there may be a resulting enhanced illumination of the surgical field. Additionally, the configuration of lights spaced around the electrode tip  32  virtually eliminates any shadow problems. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5C  shows another alternate embodiment, with a single light-emitting component  37  and a needle-shaped electrode tip  32 . One light may be sufficient depending on the surgeon&#39;s needs. It is appreciated that there are many various configurations for the light sources, and that the present disclosure encompasses a removable electrode tip with a single light source, multiple light sources, and various configurations of light sources. For example,  FIG. 5D  shows an oblong mount  48  with light-emitting component(s)  37  disposed on either slide of the electrode tip  32 . 
         [0058]    According to another possible configuration, the removable electrode  20  may include a mount with the light-emitting component(s)  37  disposed on the mount, but may not include the electrode tip  32 . Rather, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the mount  48  may have a hole  49  disposed therethrough, the hole being sized to allow a standard electrocautery electrode mounting end to fit through the hole  49 . The mount  48  may have at least one light-emitting component  37 , or multiple light-emitting components. The light-emitting component(s)  37  may receive power from a battery  54 , such as a watch battery, disposed on the mount  48 . A single battery may be used, or multiple batteries. Alternatively, the light-emitting components  37  may be configured to be electrically attached to the electrocautery electrode  20 , as discussed above. Additionally, the mount  48  may have an anchoring mechanism to hold it on the electrocautery electrode  20 . 
         [0059]    In use, the surgeon may select the mount  48 , as shown in  FIG. 7A , with the light-emitting component(s)  37 ; select a standard electrocautery electrode  20 ′; and select an electrocautery device  10 . The mounting end of the standard electrocautery electrode  20 ′ may be placed through the hole ( FIG. 6 ) of the mount  48 , and into the electrode receptacle  24  of the electrocautery device  10 . The mount  48  may be held in place by the standard electrocautery electrode  20 .  FIG. 7B  shows a mount  48  connected to an electrocautery device  10  via a standard electrocautery electrode  20 ′. 
         [0060]    Turning now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , there is shown another possible configuration. According to this configuration, the light-emitting component(s)  37  may be attached to the distal end  14  of the electrocautery device  10  via a sleeve  50 . The sleeve  50  may be circular in shape, as the distal end  14  of a standard electrocautery pencil is usually circular in shape. The sleeve  50  may have the light-emitting component(s)  37  attached, and may be inserted over the distal end  14  of the electrocautery device  10  as shown by arrows  52 , to fit the sleeve on the electrocautery device  10  as shown in  FIG. 8B . 
         [0061]    Turning now to  FIG. 9A , the sleeve  50  may be circular in shape, with an open interior  52 . The open interior  52  may have a diameter similar to the distal end  14  of a standard electrocautery pencil body  16 . Thus, according to this configuration, the sleeve  50  with its light-emitting component(s)  37  may be used with nearly any electrocautery pencil. 
         [0062]    The sleeve  50  may be fabricated from any suitable material. The sleeve  50  may be fabricated from a material with some amount of elasticity, with the open interior  52  of the sleeve  50  having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the distal end  14  of a standard electrocautery pencil body  16 . According to this configuration, the sleeve could be stretched slightly to fit over the distal end  14 , positioned at the appropriate location approximate the distal end  14 , and then released. When released, the sleeve  50  may fit snugly and not move further without direct manipulation. For example, the sleeve  50  may be formed of silicon rubber, etc. 
         [0063]    As shown in  FIG. 9A , within the sleeve  50 , or on the sleeve  50 , may be a power source  54  such as a watch battery. One battery may be used, or multiple batteries may be used. According to the configuration shown in  FIG. 9A , four light-emitting components  37  are provided. The light-emitting components  37  may be connected directly to the sleeve  50  as shown in  FIG. 9A , or, as shown in  FIG. 9B , may be connected to the sleeve  50  via flexible positioning wires  59 , fiberoptic line or the like. Flexible positioning wires  59  may allow the surgeon to focus the light-emitting components  37  at the exact position light may be needed. 
         [0064]    In use, the surgeon may slip the sleeve  50  over the distal end  14  of the electrocautery device  10 , position the flexible positioning wires  59  such that the light-emitting components  37  are in the desired position, and proceed with the surgery. If, during surgery, light is needed at a different position, the surgeon may adjust the flexible positioning wires  59  accordingly. 
         [0065]    By placing the light source directly on the electrode, or on the distal end of the electrocautery pencil via a sleeve, the surgeon may have better view of the treatment site and fewer persistent shadow problems. For example, the surgeon may position the light to fall on the tissue immediately where the removable electrode  20  will engage to better see the tissue he or she is about to cut. Additionally, surgeons need not purchase an entirely new electrocautery pencil to realize the advantages described herein. Surgeons need only to buy new electrodes or a new sleeve for use in their current electrocautery pencils, and do not need to replace an entire electrocautery pencil to have additional light. Furthermore, electrical connection of the light-emitting component to the power supply for the electrode allows surgeons to confidently use the light, without worries about battery life. 
         [0066]    There is thus disclosed an improved lighting device and method for use in electrocautery pencils. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.