JPS61109227A - Switch for electric surgery - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an electrosurgical switch assembly that utilizes a resilient conductive contact dome mounted above a contact pin, the switch assembly It concerns the establishment of an electric current to electrodes attached to a solid body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrosurgical switch assemblies that can be used for surgical cutting and coagulation are known. Because such switch assemblies are often disposable, low cost construction is an important issue. It is.

The assembly of this invention is itself disclosed in U.S. Pat.
4 and 4,359,614, as is known in the manufacture of switch assemblies. The invention further utilizes low cost materials and components that can perform multiple functions as explained below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, an electrical switch assembly comprises an insulating base, a power conductor plate mounted on this base and terminating in a device for connection to an electrode, embedded in said base and comprising a power source. a pair of contact pins provided with means for connection to said first pin electrically contacting said conductor plate and securing it to said base;
a pin projects through an aperture in said conductor plate;
an insulating casing surrounding the pair of contact pins, the base and the conductor plate, and a resilient casing attached to the conductor plate above the second pin and protruding from the casing; said resilient conductive contact dome, said resilient conductive contact dome being capable of contacting said second pin when depressed to supply current from said power source to said electrode. ing.

Description of examples The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an insulative base QQI, which is the building block of the assembly that receives and positions the remaining parts of the invention. The base is made of an insulating material such as plastic, for example Zytel®, a versatile nylon plastic molding material.

A power conductor plate 02) is attached to the base and terminates in a device circle for connection to electrodes (not shown).

The conductor plate is made of a known metal or metal alloy, for example a copper alloy such as phosphor bronze.

The conductor plate may include side panels that grip the insulating base and have fasteners therethrough, such as pins, to provide a secure connection between the conductor plate and the base.

The contact pins (16, 18, 20) are fixed switch contacts,
Electric wires housed in cable (28) < 22.24.2
6) acts as a current conductor between the wire and the power conductor plate, and as a fixture to hold the assembly together. These pins are generally made of brass.

Pin 16 is in contact with plate 12, but contact pins 18 and 20 are not. Openings in the conductor plate (30, 32
) avoid such contact between the plate and the pin. pin 1
8 and 20 only need to be on the insulating base. Alternatively, there may be some clearance between the bottom surfaces of the pin heads 18 and 20 and the top surface of the insulating base. 3 pins 16.18
and 20 are embedded in the insulating base. These pins pass through wires 22, 24 and 26, respectively, to establish the necessary electrical contact with the wires.

Fig. 2 shows an insulating casing (3) housing an insulating base (10), a power conductor plate a2, and contact pins (16, 18, 20).The insulating material used for this is generally Plastic materials, such as Surly
n: registered trademark). This casing provides structural rigidity and strength to the assembly. The switch assembly must be able to withstand fluids commonly present in operating rooms, such as blood, alcoholic water, and saline solutions. This is because these fluids can penetrate the switch assembly and cause a short circuit. Due to the chemical composition of some of these fluids, switch assembly components can be adversely affected by deterioration and corrosion. In selected embodiments of the invention, the casing therefore provides fluid resistance to the assembly.

Resilient conductive contact domes (36, 38) are attached to the power conductor plate above the contact pins (18 and 20, respectively). An opening (eg 42) is provided in the casing to receive the contact dome, so that electrical contact is established between the contact dome and the power conductor plate. The contact dome is generally dome-shaped with a generally planar central region from which the remainder of the dome slopes downwardly and outwardly to a lower edge. Advantageously, the lower edge rests on the power conductor plate in order to establish the necessary electrical contact with the power conductor plate. The contact dome is designed such that the desired tactile response upon depression is achieved with minimal physical space requirements. The contact dome may be made of any resilient material that allows the dome to be depressed to establish electrical contact with the contact pins and complete the switch circuit. A suitable material for the dome is, for example, resilient stainless steel.

Pressing down on the dome (36) to establish electrical contact with the contact pin sends an electrical signal to the power source to which the cable 28 is connected. As a result, a current is transmitted via the wire 22 and the pin 16 to the conductor plate 12 and from there via the connection device α to the electrode. The patient has a pad containing the other electrode, so that high electrical power is passed through the patient's body to establish a power circuit, as is known in the art of electrosurgical pencils.

The assembly includes a resilient insulating cover (4
0) may be attached. This cover provides fluid resistance to the assembly. Such a cover is conveniently made of the same material as the insulating casing, such as the aforementioned Surlyn in the form of a film backed with an acrylic adhesive.

FIG. 6 shows the electrical wiring of the switch of this invention. As previously discussed, wire 22 is connected to pin 16, wire 24 is connected to pin 18, and wire 26 is connected to pin 20. A portion of the power conductor plate in FIG. 3 has been removed to show the electrical wires 24.

FIG. 4 shows the switch of the present invention with the resilient insulative cover and contact dome 66 depressed to bring the dome into contact with pin 18.

Generally, an insulating enclosure is mounted over the casing and cover to provide an additional dielectric barrier against high voltage breakdown of the assembly and a means of comfortably holding the assembly during use. This enclosure is usually
Access to the contact dome shall be made possible by providing an opening at the location of the contact dome or by providing a resilient material at that location so that the contact dome can be pushed down. A suitable material for the manufacture of the enclosure is a plastic material such as polyethylene.

It will be clear that the assembly of the invention can have more than two contact pins. In the drawing, a third contact pin 20 is embedded in the insulative base and protrudes through an aperture (32) in the power conductor plate, and a second resilient conductive contact dome (38) is shown.
1 is attached to the front conductor plate above the third pin and protrudes through the casing, and the third pin is connected to the voltage of the power supply connected to the second pin a. Devices for connection to power supplies of different voltages (2
6) is provided. Similarly, a fourth contact pin and a sixth resilient contact dome may be present. A resilient insulating cover as described above can also be fitted over such additional contact pins.

As previously mentioned, pressing down on the contact dome supplies current to the electrodes connected to the power conductor plate.

As is known in the art, this electrode can be used for electrosurgical procedures such as cutting or coagulation.

Depending on the power supply to which the contact pin with the contact dome is connected, different electrosurgical applications are envisaged. Electrosurgical switches with one contact dome can be used for cutting or coagulation. A switch with this contact dome can be used for cutting and coagulation depending on which contact dome is depressed. Additional domes can be used for additional treatments.

The electrodes connected to the power conductor plate may be fixedly attached to this conductor plate, or preferably removably attached thereto. Standardized removable electrosurgical electrodes are commercially available. The working end of the electrode is shaped to provide a spark to effect cutting, coagulation, etc.

A conventional rocker arm or button device may be mounted above the two contact domes to facilitate the depression of the contact domes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical switch according to the invention without the insulating casing and the resilient conductive contact dome. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical switch assembly of FIG. 1 with an insulative casing and two contact domes. 6 is a top" top plan view of the switch assembly of FIG. 2 partially removed to show the wires 24 and their passage therethrough, and also without the resilient insulating cover. FIG. Figure 4 is a partially removed side elevational view of Figure 3 with an insulating cover; in these Figures 10 is an insulating base; 12 is a power conductor plate; , second and third contact pins, 22, 24 and 26 are electric wires, 0.
62 is an opening in the conductor plate 10, 34 is an insulating casing, 3
6.38 first and second resilient insulating contact domes; 40;
indicates a resilient insulating cover.

Claims (11)

[Claims] (1) an insulating base; a power conductor plate mounted on this base and terminating in a device for connection to an electrode; a pair of contacts embedded in said base and provided with a device for connection to a power supply; a pin, the first pin electrically contacting the conductor plate and securing it to the base, and the second pin protruding through an opening in the conductor plate; , an insulating casing surrounding the pair of contact pins, the base and the conductor plate, and a resilient conductive contact attached to the conductor plate above the second pin and protruding from the casing. an electrical switch comprising: a dome, said resilient conductive contact dome being capable of contacting said second pin when depressed to supply current from said power supply to said electrode; assembly. 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a resilient insulating cover mounted over said contact dome. (3) a third contact pin is embedded in said base and projects through the opening in said conductive plate, and a second resilient conductive contact dome is connected to said conductive plate above said third pin; attached and projecting from said casing, said third pin being provided with a device for connection to a power source of a voltage different from the voltage of the power source connected to said second pin; An assembly according to claim 1. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a resilient insulating cover is mounted over both contact domes. (5) Depressing one contact dome provides a current suitable for use in electrosurgical cutting, and depressing the other contact dome also provides a current suitable for use in electrosurgical coagulation. Assemblies according to scope 3. (6) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein an electrode is attached to the conductive plate. (7) The assembly of claim 6, wherein said electrode is removably attached to said conductive plate. 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said casing provides fluid resistance to said assembly. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said casing provides rigidity to said assembly. (10) Said casing is surrounded by an insulating enclosure that allows depression of said dome and provides fluid resistance to said assembly and a dielectric barrier against high voltage breakdown of said assembly. An assembly according to claim 1. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes an opening at the contact dome.