Patent ID: 7156842

Claim:
An electrosurgical pencil, comprising: an elongated housing; an electrocautery electrode supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrocautery electrode being connected to a source of electrosurgical energy; a plurality of activation switches supported on the housing, each activation switch being configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the source of electrosurgical energy upon actuation thereof; and at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one voltage divider network being electrically connected to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the plurality of activation switches from the source of electrosurgical energy and for controlling the intensity of electrosurgical energy delivered to the plurality of activation switches returning from the electrocautery electrode, the at least one voltage divider network comprises at least one return control wire electrically inter-connecting the electrocautery electrode and the source of electrosurgical energy, the return control wire transmitting excess electrosurgical energy from the electrocautery electrode to the source of electrosurgical energy.