Patent ID: 7879032

Claim:
A disposable electrosurgical handpiece comprising: a) a sealed enclosure having at one end means for connecting to an RF cable and at the opposite end an electrosurgical electrode, b) inside the enclosure are: i. an activating voltage source whose output voltage is time dependent, ii. a voltage detector connect to the voltage source for monitoring its output voltage, iii. a switch actuable by the voltage detector upon the output voltage reaching a predetermined value, iv. the switch including a circuit electrically connecting the RF cable to the electrosurgical electrode, c) means accessible from outside the enclosure for activating the voltage source such that the switch circuit electrically connecting the RF cable to the electrosurgical electrode is enabled, d) the switch circuit electrically connecting the RF cable to the electrosurgical electrode becoming disabled upon the output voltage reaching its predetermined value after a certain time period has elapsed.