Abstract:
A shorting plate to accommodate multiple needles and provide a secure electrical connection. The plate provides an electrical charge to all needles of an electro surgical device with reduced time and costs in manufacturing. Protrusions formed in the apertures receive the surgical needles and make a secure electrical connection without a permanent connection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to an electro surgical device, and more specifically an electrical shorting plate for surgical needles. 
         [0002]    To effectively remove or treat a tumor with an electro surgical needle device, a surgical needle is given an electrical current. This electrically charged needle is placed in or near the tumor where the heat generated from the current in the needle burns the tumor until it disintegrates or is cut away from healthy tissue. Often in some surgical devices, several needles are used within a single device to treat larger areas than a single needle can treat at once. 
         [0003]    In addition to treating tumors, the electro surgical devices may be used for other applications as well. These applications may include, but are not limited to, other abnormal growths, opening, clogged blood vessels in cardiovascular surgery and debriders for use on polyps in ear, nose and throat surgery. Still other applications include instruments include, for example, surgical laser systems, cryosurgical systems, and electrosurgical systems. 
         [0004]    One method and system for using multiple surgical needles in one device involved providing an electrical current to one needle and electrically shoring the other needles to the charged needle. The shorting is achieved by wrapping conductive material, such as wire, around the multiple needles, including the charged needle, which results in all the needles being electrically charged. 
         [0005]    Another method and system for using multiple needles uses the same wire wrapping technique and further solders the wire to the needles for a more secure connection. The wire wrapping and soldering connection are all contained within a handle or protective layer to ensure that only the ends of the needles are exposed. These methods and systems are time consuming and expensive to manufacture. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed is a system for shorting together multiple electrical surgical needles in a more time effective and cost effective manner while still providing a secure electrical connection between the multiple surgical needles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the present invention includes an electrical shorting plate having an electrically conductive body and a plurality of apertures formed in the electrical body having at least one protrusion disposed at an angle from the body. The body conducts an electrical charge to the plurality of protrusions, the apertures are configured to receive an electrically conductive element, the at least one protrusion resiliently receives the electrically conductive element and maintains a secure electrical connection with the electrically conductive element. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the present invention includes an electrical surgical device having an electrical power source and a plurality of electrically conductive elements where one of the electrically conductive elements is connected to the electrical power source and configured to receive an electrical charge. The embodiment also includes an electrical shorting plate having an electrically conductive body and a plurality of apertures formed in the electrical body, each aperture having at least one protrusion disposed at an angle from the body. The body conducts an electrical charge to the at least one protrusion, the apertures are configured to receive an electrically conductive element, the at least one protrusion resiliently receives the electrically conductive element and maintains a secure electrical connection with the electrically conductive element. 
         [0009]    One advantage of the present invention is improved manufacturing and reduced assembly time. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the present invention is reduced costs for manufacturing. 
         [0011]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is the solid and secure electrical connection between the multiple needles. 
         [0012]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates the existing technology related to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates the present invention as used in a surgical needle device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  illustrates one embodiment of a conductive plate of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3B and 3C  illustrate opposite views of the conductive plate of  FIG. 3A  receiving a conductive element of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of another embodiment of the conductive plate of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the conductive plate of  FIG. 4  of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    An application similar to the present invention in prior art is illustrated in  FIG. 1  where an electro surgical device  18  houses multiple RF energy needles  10 . The RF energy needles  10  are electrically connected with a wire  12  wrapped around and connected to all three needles  10 . One of the needles  10  is electrically charged by an electrical connection provided from a cord  16  that extends into the handle  14 . The wire  12  makes contact with the electrically charged needle  10  and conducts the charge to the other needles  10  when the connection is made between the wire  12  and the needles  10 . This mutual electrical connection causes the plurality of needles  10  and not just a single needle to be charged and capable of treating tumors or performing other medical tasks. Typically, a solder connection is made where the wires  12  connect to the needles  10  to ensure a more secure electrical connection than wrapping. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates the present invention to electrically short multiple needles together for use in a surgical device. The electro surgical device  18  houses multiple electro surgical needles  10  where only one needle  10  is electrically charged. The electrical shorting plate  20  is constructed of a conductive material and contacts each of the surgical needles  10 , thereby conducting the electrical charge from one needle  10  to all of the needles  10  in the device  18 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3A  illustrates one embodiment of the electrical shorting plate  20  in which the shape of the plate  20  is substantially circular. It is to be understood that while a substantially circular shorting plate  20  is shown, the plate  20  could be of any suitable shape. The plate  20  is shown having three apertures  22 , however, it is to be appreciated that any multiple number of apertures  22  might be used with the shorting plate  20 .  FIG. 3A  shows the shorting plate  20  prior to the insertion of RF energy needles  10  into apertures  22 . Each aperture  22  is formed having multiple protrusions or fingers  24  that compressingly contact the needle  10  as well as providing a secure electrical connection to the shorting plate  20 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3B  shows the shorting plate  20  as a RF energy needle  10  is inserted into one of the apertures  22 . As the needle  10  is inserted, the protrusions or fingers  24  contact the needle  10 , providing an electrical connection. The fingers  24  are sufficiently resilient to elastically deflect in order to receive the needle  10  and provide a secure connection that maintains an elastically conductive connection as well as a mechanical retention on the needle  10 .  FIG. 3C  shows the shorting plate  20  with a needle  10  fully inserted through one of the apertures  22 . The fingers  24  are shown as contacting the needle  10  at a slightly greater angle than the fingers  24  in the other apertures  22 . This is because the fingers  24  contacting the needle  10  have elastically deflected to receive the needle  10  and provide a secure connection and frictional hold on the needle  10  to prevent it from moving once inserted. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the shorting plate  20  where the shape is substantially triangular. It should be understood that while a substantially triangular shape is shown, any suitable shape could be used. The shorting plate  20  is preferably stamped from a unitary piece of conductive metal. For example, a phosphorus-bronze material, one containing 98% copper can be used, as well as any copper based alloy. The plate  20  is preferably coated with tin, nickel, gold, silver or any other conductive material. Although the plate  20  can be any thickness suitable for use in the device  18 , in one embodiment the plate is approximately 0.008 inches thick and finished with a chemical plating. Preferably, the plating is a tin material, but it is understood that the plating can be any suitable conductive and durable material. While the fingers  18  can be of any suitable size, in one embodiment the fingers may extend approximately 0.016 inches into the apertures  22 , which are approximately 0.12 inches in diameter. However, it should be understood that the apertures  22  are not necessarily circular, and that fingers  18  and apertures can be any suitable length and size to comfortably accommodate an RF energy needle  10 . In addition, the shorting plate  20  can have any suitable surface area, for example, the surface area may be approximately 0.215 square inches. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the shorting plate  20  where the fingers  24  are visible as protruding below the body  26  of the plate  20 . The fingers  18  are disposed at approximately a forty-five degree angle from the body  26  of the plate  20  before the needle  10  is inserted into the aperture  22 . Once the needle  10  is inserted into the aperture  22 , the fingers  24  resiliently deflect to accommodate the size of the needle  10  and are disposed at a larger angle than forty-five degrees, but no greater than approximately seventy-five degrees. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a prospective view of the shorting plate  20 . Once the plate  20  is stamped, the fingers  24  are preformed at an angle from the plate. This angle is preferably about forty-five degrees as measured from the body  26  of the plate. In addition, the plate may be stamped having as few as two apertures  22  for receiving needles  10  or any other number greater than two. Preferably, three apertures  22  are stamped into the plate  20 , each aperture having three fingers  24 . It is to be understood that alternate finger  24  profiles and apertures  22  profiles may permit the use of angles deviating both greater than or less than forty five degrees. 
         [0028]    The shorting plate  20  can be configured for as low as two needles  10  and can accommodate any number of multiple needles  10  that is greater than two. In addition, the shorting plate  20  can accommodate a wide range of needles  10  varying in size and diameter because the fingers are configured to flexibly accept the needles  10  as they are inserted into the apertures  22  of the plate  20 . In addition, the apertures  22  can be sized to accommodate any particularly sized needle  10  desired to fit in the plate  20 . Once the needles  10  are inserted, no permanent connection, such as soldering, is necessary. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.