Patent ID: 7101370

Claim:
An electrosurgical handpiece comprising a squeezable handle ( 12 ) and a main housing including a distal tubular housing ( 18 ) and within the tubular housing ( 18 ) an elongated electrosurgical electrode ( 22 ) that can be selectively extended and retracted with respect to the distal end of the tubular housing ( 18 ) by squeezing the handle, characterized in that: (a) the main housing comprises a first main body ( 14 ) and a second main body ( 16 ) located rearwardly of the first main body and longitudinally aligned with the first main body and slidingly coupled to the first main body, (b) the squeezable handle ( 12 ) being connected to and across the first and second main bodies such that, when the handle is unsqueezed, the first and second main bodies assume a first longitudinal position relative to one another, and when the handle is squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume a second longitudinally-displaced position relative to one another, (c) spring means ( 34 ) connected to and biasing the first and second main bodies into their first position, (d) the elongated electrosurgical electrode ( 22 ) having at its distal end an electrically-active part ( 24 ) and being connected to the second main body ( 16 ) for sliding movement therewith, the electrosurgical electrode ( 22 ) having an outer contact region ( 78 ) spaced rearwardly of its distal end and electrically-connected to its electrically-active part ( 24 ), (e) the second main body ( 16 ) having a forwardly-projecting part ( 54 ) coupled to the first main body ( 14 ) and comprising circumferential outer grooves ( 68 ) on the forwardly-projecting part, and axial inner grooves ( 64 ) on the forwardly-projecting part, (f) an electrical terminal means ( 26 ) at the rearwardly-located main body ( 16 ) and having bare wires ( 60 ) extending internally of the rearwardly-located main body, the bare wires having a portion located in the outer grooves on the forwardly-projecting part and a portion located in the inner grooves on the forwardly-projecting part and terminating internally in an exposed electrically-conductive region ( 98 ) such that the electrode contact region ( 78 ) is in electrical contact with the exposed electrically-conductive region ( 98 ) of the bare wires when the handpiece is in its assembled condition, (g) whereby, when the electrical terminal is activated and the handle squeezed, the first and second main bodies assume their second position and the electrically active part ( 24 ) of the electrode ( 22 ) is extended out of the distal end of the tubular first member ( 18 ) and is capable of supplying electrosurgical currents when applied to a patient.