GB1564435A

GB1564435A - Cauteries

Info

Publication number: GB1564435A
Application number: GB3899776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Concept Inc
Current assignee: Linvatec Corp
Priority date: 1976-01-26
Filing date: 1976-09-21
Publication date: 1980-04-10

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN CAUTERIES (71) We, CONCEPT, INC., a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Florida, United States of America, of 12707 U.S. 19 South, Clearwater, State of Florida, United States of America (assignee of DAVID EDWARD STAUB), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention generally relates to cauteries and more particularly pertains to a cautery containing its own current source.

Many types of portable battery operated cautery instruments have been developed and used, one of which is described in U.S.A. Patent No. 3,613,682. These battery operated cautery instruments are used on the basic principle that after each surgical use the entire instrument is disposed of.

However, it has been found that the actual use life of such cauteries is much greater than the time required for a single surgical procedure so that the cautery could be used for other surgical procedures if a way could be found to re-sterilize the instrument for further surgical usage. Sterilization generallv requires autoclaving or other associated heat treatment of the instrument, which treatment has been found to destroy or damage the batteries in the instrument. Another means of sterilization is accomplished through the use of ethylene oxide gas. While this treatment does not damage the batteries in the instrument, small hospitals or health treatment facilities are not provided with the necessary gas treatment apparatus. Another problem inherent with the use of this type of gas treatment is that aluminium components cannot be used in the instrument due to the interaction of the gas and the aluminium which decreases the sterilization capability of the gas and builds up salt on the aluminium.

A reusable battery operated cautery is described in U.S.A. Patent 3,461,874. This cautery uses a plug-in cautery tip assembly which is removed and stored in the bore of a charger stand when the handle assembly is being recharged. It should be noted that the cautery must be sterilized in the previously discussed manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cautery.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a portable removable tip cautery of the type utilizing a self-contained voltage source, the cautery comprising a housing, a voltage source contained within said housing. adaptor means for providing a connection between said voltage source and a disposable heater tip means, said adaptor means mounted to said housing and extending from said housing, said adaptor means comprising first and second electrodes, said first and second electrodes being electrically connected to said voltage source, said disposable heater tip means adapted to be removably mounted to said adaptor means, said heater tip means comprising a replaceable tip body, third and fourth electrodes mounted inside said tip body and extending therefrom at each end, a heater element comprising a wire tip interconnected between one of the ends of said third and fourth electrodes, the other ends of said third and fourth electrodes being adapted to engage and electrically contact said first and second electrodes of said adaptor means.

Advantageously, an adjustable control means is mounted on the housing permitting the voltage supplied by said voltage source to said heater element to be varied.

Thus it is possible to selectively supply any desired current (within a given range) to the removable heater tip assembly of the cautery. This provides selectivity of temperature to suit the particular applications for which the cautery is being utilized. An actuator means mounted on the cautery housing and functioning in the manner of a switch controls the supply of current to the heater tip assembly by acting on a movable part of a first electric conductor means.

The housing, preferably a hollow substantially cylindrical barrel, is preferably formed of a dielectric material such as polyvinyl or other applicable substance capable of with standing relatively abusive treatment during use. The barrel retaining means can be formed at each end to retain the adaptor means and voltage control means in opposite ends thereof. Disposed within the barrel is the first electric conductor means which comprises a strip of conductive material extending substantially the length of the barrel.

The voltage control means can comprise an adjustment means and a second conductor means attached thereto rotatably attached to the opposite end of the barrel.

The second conductor means comprises an origin and terminus interconnected by a continuous conductor element. The control means is disposed relative to the first conductor means so that the position of the adjustment means relative to the first conductor means determines the voltage value applied to the heater tip assembly.

In operation, the operator initially determines the output voltage required for a particular application. The operator then adjusts the cautery to deliver this preselected output by rotating the control means relative to the barrel. A visual indication of the output selected may be indicated by means of aligning an index mark formed on the exterior of the control means with a scale printed around the exterior of the barrel.

Having selected the desired output, the operator next places the barrel in a sterile flexible bag and mounts the heater tip assembly to the adapter plug through the flexible bag with the barrel being contained in the bag. The operator then moves the actuator to the second or "on" position to complete the circuit between the current source and the heater tip assembly causing the heater element to heat up. Once heated, the heater element may be touched to exposed wounds or cuts to clean and heal the wounds or remove sutures and the like. In this manner the previously determined current limits of proper value are provided.

It can thus be seen that by virtue of an advantageous feature of the invention, a single device can be set to selectively deliver a variety of outputs. The housing can also be used several times in a sterile condition before it is disposed of. The structure as contained is simple, safe, economical to manufacture and easy to use in any variety of field conditions.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cautery body being placed into a protective bag; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the cautery body of Fig. 1 placed in a protective bag with a tip assembly mounted to the body; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view, to a larger scale, of the tip assembly and an adaptor plug, partially in section, of the cautery body shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a variable temperature cautery in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a side view, to a larger scale, of control means of the cautery of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an end view of the control means of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail cross-sectional side view to a still larger scale, of the control means, taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is an electrical schematic diagram of the variable temperature cautery; Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the control means of a cautery according to the present invention; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the control means of a cautery according to the present invention; and Fig. 12 is an end view of the control means shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, a cautery 10 comprises a barrel or handle assembly 12 formed by a tubular plastics case 13 in which is mounted an adaptor plug assembly 14. The adaptor plug assembly 14 comprises a frusto-conical body 16 which extends beyond the end of the tubular handle assembly 12 and is constructed to hold a heater tip assembly 18 which fits into the adaptor plug body 16.

The heater tip assembly 18 comprises a body 21 of plastics material having hollow electrode leads 20 and 22 extending therefrom, the forward ends of which are secured to a wire loop heater element 24 of platinum or other similar resistance wire. The wire element 24 is secured to the leads by welding or preferably crimping the ends of the hollow leads down upon the wire loop heater element to secure the wire loop element in place. The leads 20 and 22 extend through the plug 18 and extend on the distal side outward a predetermined distance which is sufficient to fit into hollow electrode leads 26 and 28 which are secured in the adaptor plug body 16. These leads extend through the plug body 16 and terminate at the bottom of an oval shaped blind cavity 17 formed in the plug body 16 to define a female portion thereof. The heater tip assembly 18 is formed with a male end portion 19 which is substantially ovally shaped and adapted to seat and snugly fit in the oval shaped cavity 17 cut in the adaptor plug body 16.

It is apparent that the cavity 17 can take any desired shape and the tip assembly male portion any compatible corresponding shape.

The heater tip assembly body 21 has a frusto-conical shape from which the oval male end portion 19 extends. A planar surface 23 of the body 21 acts as a stop against the top surface 25 of the adaptor plug body 16, thus limiting the distance that the heater tip assembly 18 can be inserted into the cavity 17 of the plug body 16. The distal ends 27 of the leads 20 and 22 extend into the hollow electrode leads 26 and 28 of the adaptor plug assembly 14 when the male portion 19 is inserted into the cavity 17 to form an electrical connection. These distal ends 27 are preferably bevelled to form a sharp cutting edge which is used to penetrate a flexible plastics bag 32 into which the cautery handle or barrel assembly 12 is dropped.

The flexible plastics bag 32 preferably is provided with a sealed closed end and an open opposite end which is adapted to be sealed in a conventional manner through a press fit, tongue and groove type seal 33 which is known under the trade name "ZIPLOC". The bag 32 is provided with an internal funnel sleeve 34 of paper or other suitable material which is preferably tapered and flexible so that it can be folded into a flat planar configuration and inserted into the bag 32 for convenient packing and storage. In use, the sterile bag 32 is pulled out of its pre-sterilized container, the bag seal is broken and pressure is placed on the funnel sleeve 34 causing it to expand into a substantially conical shape thereby caus ,ing the interior of the bag 32 to expand allowing for easy entry of the cautery barrel assembly 12 which is dropped through the funnel sleeve 34 into the bag. The funnel sleeve 34 is then pulled out of the bag and the open end of the bag is pressed together so that the tongue and groove seal 33 snaps shut forming a sealed package holding the cautery barrel or handle assembly in a sterile wrapper consisting of the bag.

The heating tip body 21 is then placed against the bag adjacent the end of the adaptor plug body 16 and the sharp edges 27 of the electrical leads 20 and 22 are pressed against the plastics bag 32 puncturing the package with the heater tip body 21 being heated next to the adaptor plug body 16 but separated by the plastics bag wall. The electrical contacts are made by positioning the hollow leads 20 and 22 within the hollow electrode leads 26 and 28 so that the outer surface of the leads 20 and 22 engage the inner surface of the leads 26 and 28. The cautery barrel or handle assembly 12 and associated batteries contained therein are described in U.S.A. Patent No. 3,613,682.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4 in which a flexible rubber sheath 40 having an O-ring 41 on one end is placed over the cautery body 42.

A heater tip assembly 45 has a main body portion 44 formed at its rear end with a skirt-like flange functioning as a cap, the cap being placed over the cautery body and sheath 40 with electrode leads 50 and 52 extending from the main body portion fitting into similarly situated hollow leads 54 and 56 in the cautery adaptor plug assembly 14. The O-ring 41 of the sheath forms a seal so that after surgery has been performed, the heater tip assembly 45 and the outer covering sheath 40 can be removed. A new flexible sheath 40 is then placed on the body 42 with a new heater tip assembly 45 mounted so that the cautery can again be used for additional cutting or cauterizing.

In the preferred embodiment, the temperature of the cautery heater element or loop 24 can be varied to obtain the desired cutting temperature.

As shown in Figure 5, this preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a handheld variable temperature cautery 110 comprising a housing 112 and a protective cap 114 removably attached thereto. In the cautery 110 control means 116 and adaptor means 118 are attached to opposite ends of the housing 112, a first conductor means 120 and a current source 122 are operatively retained within the housing 112, and an actuator means 124 is provided outside the housing 112.

The housing 112 comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical barrel 126 including retaining means comprising a pair of retainer lips 128 and 130 formed on its forward and rearward ends in a substantially annular configuration. The barrel 126 is preferably formed of dielectric material, such as a polyvinyl or other similar or applicable substance, providing the desired characteristics including the ability to withstand relatively abusive treatment during use. The barrel 126 is internally insulated. The retainer lips 128 and 130 are configured to operatively couple the adaptor means 118 and the control means 116 respectively to the barrel 126.

One terminal 132 of the current source 122 in the form of a battery engages the control means 116 while the opposite terminal 134 of the battery 122 engages the adaptor means 118. If desired, a plurality of batteries or other voltage sources may be placed in series or parallel, end to end to increase the available voltage or current output. The first conductor means 120 comprises an elongated strip 136 of conductive material which extends substantially the length of the barrel 126. At least one portion 138 of the strip 136 includes a first contact means or wiper 140, positioned to operatively engage the control means 116 while a second portion includes a second contact means 142 shaped to operatively engage the adaptor means 118.

The adaptor means 118 comprises a housing 146 with electrodes 150 and 152 extending through channels 154 and 156 respectively formed in the housing 146 into the interior of the barrel 126. The inner end of the first electrode 150 is disposed to engage the terminal 134 of the battery 122 while the second electrode 152 is spaced apart from the terminal 134.

The outer ends of the electrodes 150 and 152 terminate at the seat of a blind bore 147 cut into the housing 146. A heater tip assembly 153 has a projection designed to be seated in the blind bore 147 so that the tip assembly can be removably mounted to the adaptor means 118. The heating tip assembly 153 includes a tip body 155 which holds two throughgoing electrodes 157 and 159 and a wire tip 163 interconnected between the third electrode 157 and the fourth electrode 159.

The third and fourth electrodes 157 and 159 are tubular in shape and of smaller diameter than the first and second electrodes 150 and 152 and are adapted to be inserted into the first and second electrodes to provide electrical connections. The ends 161 of the electrodes 157 and 159 opposite the wire tip 163 are bevelled to form sharp cutting surfaces.

The adaptor housing 146 comprises an enlarged base 158 and a reduced end portion 160 which form a ledge 162 therebetween. The ledge 162 and the retaining lip 128 engage each other to secure the adaptor means 118 to the barrel 126. As configured, the adaptor means 118 comprises an integral unit which prevents any accidental separation of parts during use.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention may include the integral adaptor means 118 being welded or similarly attached to the housing 112.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the control means 116 comprises an adjustment means 164 and a second conductor means 166. The second conductor means 166 comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical member 168 and a conductive wire-like strip 170 coupled thereto. The strip 170 comprises an origin 172 and a terminal point 174. The adjustment means 164 comprises an enlarged base 176 having oppositely disposed portions 178 and 180 extending outwardly from the opposite sides of the base 176. The intersection of the base 176 and the portion 180 cooperatively forms a ledge 184 which engages bias means 186 to hold the voltage source 122 in engagement with the first electrode 150. The portion 178 includes a channel 188 for accommodating the junction of the origin 172 of the strip 170 and the cylindrical member 168. Similarly, a tab 190 is provided to attach the terminal point 174 thereto. An aperture 192 is formed in the tab to secure the cylindrical member 168 to the portion 178 in a position to enable the member 168 to contact the terminal 132 of the battery 122.

Another embodiment of the control means 116 is shown in Fig. 10 and includes a substantially L-shaped element 171. A portion 173 of the element 171 is shown hollow but may be solid, if desired. The portion indicated as 175 is specifically configured to allow crimping between the portion 175 and the origin 172 of the conductive strip 170.

Yet another embodiment of the control means 116 is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 and has a solid flange 177 fitted on a portion 176 of the control means. The conductive strip 170 has its origin 172 also crimped to engage the flange 177 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. As an alternative, the conductive strip 170 could have its origin tack welded or otherwise securely attached to the flange 177 to provide efficient electrical contact therebetween. It should also be noted that the conductive strip 170 may include any of a number of various configurations and is not intended to be limited to a "flat" or "round" configuration as represented. Irrespective of the embodiment utilized, the member or element 168, 171 and/or 177 are configured and positioned relative to the terminal 132 of the battery 122 so as to effect proper, efficient and reliable electrical contact therebetween.

The opposite or terminal point 174 is attached to the portion 178 of the adjustment means 164 by means of an integrally formed slot. The slot has its inner wall surface specifically configured to define a projection means therein. This projection means is disposed and configured to engage the terminal point or end 174 of the conductive strip 170 in such a manner as to lock the terminal point 174 within the slot and thereby maintain the conductive strip 170 in operative relation relative to the first contact 140 which comprises a portion of the first conductor means 120.

As shown in Fig. 5, the actuator means 124 comprises a button 194 of a suitable dielectric material and has a slot 193 formed inwardly from one end thereof. The cap 114 engages in the slot 193 when the cap is fitted as shown. The button 194 is disposed to engage the conductor means 120 to move the second contact means 142 into electrical contact with the electrode 152. This can be accompished when the cap 114 is removed from the housing 112 and the actuator means 124 is manually depressed.

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram to illustrate the operation of the cautery 110. As shown, when the control means I16 is rotated rela tive to the housing 112, the wiper 140 is caused to slide along the tape 170 to vary the voltage 169 supplied to the adaptor means 118, the voltage 169, and thereby the current to the wire tip 163, depending upon the position of contact therebetween and the resulting resistance. Actuator means (switch) 124, when closed completes the circuit passing current through the electrodes 150 and 152 to the electrodes 157 and 159 on to the wire tip 163 which is heated.

In operation, the operator initially determines the output voltage required for a particular application. The operator then adjusts the cautery to deliver this preselected output by rotating the control means 116 relative to the barrel 126. A visual indication of the output selected may be indicated by means of aligning an index mark formed on the exterior of the control means 116 with a scale printed around the exterior of the barrel 126. After removal of the cap 114, the adjusted cautery barrel is then dropped into the bag 32 in the previously described manner, the bag is sealed and the tip assembly is mounted to the adaptor means.

Having selected the desired output, the operator moves the actuator means 124 through the bag to the second or "on" position to complete the circuit between the voltage source 122 and the heater tip assembly which has been mounted to the cautery causing the wire heater tip 163 to heat up. Once heated, exposed wounds or cuts may be touched by the heater tip 163 to clean and heal the wounds or remove sutures and the like. The control means 116 is disposed relative to the first conductor means 136 so that the position of the conductive strip 170 relative to the contact means 140 determines the voltage value applied to the heater element. In this manner the voltage limits of proper value are provided.

It is envisaged in all of the previously described embodiments that the outer bag or sheath which serves as a sterilizing covering for the cautery body can be removed and discarded and a new bag or sheath placed on the cautery body with replacement tip assemblies being inserted into the cautery body for various cutting and cauterizing functions.

Upon use, these cutting tip assemblies can also be discarded so that the cautery bodies with their associated batteries can be reused as desired. It should be noted that, in the uses of the described embodiments, the flexible bag or sheath covering allows the operating button 194 to be easily depressed thus completing the circuit in the disposable cauteries so that electricity is provided to the resistance tip thereby heating the tip to the desired degree necessary.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is under stood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments since the invention may be otherwise embodied in the scope of the appended claims.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A portable removable tip cautery of the type utilizing a self-contained voltage source, the cautery comprising a housing, a voltage source contained within said housing, adaptor means for providing a connection between said voltage source and a disposable heater tip means, said adaptor means mounted to said housing and extending from said housing, said adaptor means comprising first and second electrodes, said first and second electrodes being electrically connected to said voltage source, said disposable heater tip means adapted to be removably mounted to said adaptor means, said heater tip means comprising a replaceable tip body, third and fourth electrodes mounted inside said tip body and extending therefrom at each end, a heater element comprising a wire tip interconnected between one of the ends of said third and fourth electrodes, the other ends of said third and fourth electrodes being adapted to engage and electrically contact said first and second electrodes of said adaptor means.

2. A cautery according to Claim 1, comprising switch means mounted on said housing for controlling the energisation of said heater element by said voltage source.

3. A cautery according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which said first and second electrodes are tubular and said third and fourth electrodes of said heater tip means slide inside said first and second electrodes of said adaptor means.

4. A cautery according to any preceding Claim, in which said adaptor means comprises a body portion having a blind cavity and said tip body has an end extension seating in said cavity.

5. A cautery according to any preceding Claim, in combination with a removable protective bag, said bag totally enclosing said housing to seal it from an external environment, said third and fourth electrodes penetrating the wall of the bag so that said voltage source can be used a plurality of times while eliminating the possibility of patient to patient cross-contamination with said heater tip body being outside said protective bag yet electrically connected to said voltage source for a surgical operation.

6. A cautery according to Claim 5, wherein said bag is of plastics material and is provided with sealing means at one end, said sealing means being adapted to close off the interior of said bag from the external environment.

7. A cautery according to any one of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tive to the housing 112, the wiper 140 is caused to slide along the tape 170 to vary the voltage 169 supplied to the adaptor means 118, the voltage 169, and thereby the current to the wire tip 163, depending upon the position of contact therebetween and the resulting resistance. Actuator means (switch) 124, when closed completes the circuit passing current through the electrodes 150 and 152 to the electrodes 157 and 159 on to the wire tip 163 which is heated. In operation, the operator initially determines the output voltage required for a particular application. The operator then adjusts the cautery to deliver this preselected output by rotating the control means 116 relative to the barrel 126. A visual indication of the output selected may be indicated by means of aligning an index mark formed on the exterior of the control means 116 with a scale printed around the exterior of the barrel 126. After removal of the cap 114, the adjusted cautery barrel is then dropped into the bag 32 in the previously described manner, the bag is sealed and the tip assembly is mounted to the adaptor means. Having selected the desired output, the operator moves the actuator means 124 through the bag to the second or "on" position to complete the circuit between the voltage source 122 and the heater tip assembly which has been mounted to the cautery causing the wire heater tip 163 to heat up. Once heated, exposed wounds or cuts may be touched by the heater tip 163 to clean and heal the wounds or remove sutures and the like. The control means 116 is disposed relative to the first conductor means 136 so that the position of the conductive strip 170 relative to the contact means 140 determines the voltage value applied to the heater element. In this manner the voltage limits of proper value are provided. It is envisaged in all of the previously described embodiments that the outer bag or sheath which serves as a sterilizing covering for the cautery body can be removed and discarded and a new bag or sheath placed on the cautery body with replacement tip assemblies being inserted into the cautery body for various cutting and cauterizing functions. Upon use, these cutting tip assemblies can also be discarded so that the cautery bodies with their associated batteries can be reused as desired. It should be noted that, in the uses of the described embodiments, the flexible bag or sheath covering allows the operating button 194 to be easily depressed thus completing the circuit in the disposable cauteries so that electricity is provided to the resistance tip thereby heating the tip to the desired degree necessary. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is under stood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments since the invention may be otherwise embodied in the scope of the appended claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A portable removable tip cautery of the type utilizing a self-contained voltage source, the cautery comprising a housing, a voltage source contained within said housing, adaptor means for providing a connection between said voltage source and a disposable heater tip means, said adaptor means mounted to said housing and extending from said housing, said adaptor means comprising first and second electrodes, said first and second electrodes being electrically connected to said voltage source, said disposable heater tip means adapted to be removably mounted to said adaptor means, said heater tip means comprising a replaceable tip body, third and fourth electrodes mounted inside said tip body and extending therefrom at each end, a heater element comprising a wire tip interconnected between one of the ends of said third and fourth electrodes, the other ends of said third and fourth electrodes being adapted to engage and electrically contact said first and second electrodes of said adaptor means.

7. A cautery according to any one of

Claims 4 to 6, in which ends of said first and second electrodes terminate at the inner end of said blind cavity.

8. A cautery according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, in which said tip body has a planar surface cooperating with a planar surface provided on said body portion of the adaptor means, the cooperation of the two surfaces functioning as a stop when mounting said heater tip means to said adaptor means.

9. A cautery, according to any one of Claims 4 to 8, in which said tip body has a frusto-conical shaped portion and said end extension extends from the larger diameter end of said portion, said end extension having a cross-section substantially the same as the cross-section of said blind cavity.

10. A cautery, according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, in which said third and fourth electrodes are tubular and the ends of said third and fourth electrodes which penetrate the wall of said bag are bevelled to provide a cutting edge whereby cutting of the bag wall to permit entry of the electrodes is 'facilitated.

11. A cautery, according to any preceding Claim, comprising adjustable control means mounted on said housing permitting the voltage supplied by said voltage source to said heater element to be varied.

12. A cautery according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, including in combination a flexible sheath which is removably secured to said housing and enclosing said housing to provide a contamination free environment 'f6r said housing, an end of said housing covered by said sheath extending into a cap formed by a skirt-like flange of the tip body, as as to eliminate possible cross-patient contamination when said housing is used in a subsequent surgical procedure.

13. A removable tip cautery substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.