Patent ID: 8022327

Claim:
A switch for an electrosurgical pencil comprising: an electrical circuit frame, formed of electrically conductive metal sufficiently thick to carry current sufficient to cut, coagulate, ablate, excise, cauterize, and seal tissues by application of electric current to biological tissue, the circuit frame having a main conducting strip, a first side conducting strip, and a second side conducting strip, the main conducting strip, first side conducting strip, and second side conducting strip are physically and electrically connected to each other by a plurality of conducting strip isthmus, the main conducting strip having a first bay with a first contact ring at its periphery, and a second bay with a second contact ring at its periphery, a main insulation displacement connector, and means for holding an active electrode, the first side conducting strip formed with a first protrusion which extends into the first bay, the end of the first protrusion positioned approximately in the center of the first bay, and a first side insulation displacement connector, the second side conducting strip formed with a second protrusion which extends into the second bay, the end of the second protrusion positioned approximately in the center of the second bay, and a second side insulation displacement connector, a non-conductive base, forming an open cabinet for the switch, molded over the circuit frame, the base having a plurality of base openings leading from its bottom surface into the cabinet, the plurality of base openings formed to expose the plurality of conducting strip isthmus, and large enough to allow insertion of cutters, the base formed with a first well which exposes the first contact ring of the first bay, and a second well which exposes the second contact ring of the second bay, into which circuit closing elements may be placed, and a first means for making electrical contact between the contact ring at the periphery of the first bay and the end of the first protrusion, and a second means for making electrical contact between the contact ring at the periphery of the second bay and the end of the second protrusion, whereby the main conducting strip, and the first and second side conducting strips may be physically and electrically separated from one another by cutting the plurality of conducting strip isthmus.