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US4331149A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrosurgical device

Assignee: Dentsply Research and Development Corp
•
Filing: 1976-06-28
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Granted: 1982-05-25
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Expires: 1996-06-28
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Abstract

Abstract A radio-frequency electrosurgical device which includes an active electrode, a passive electrode, and a radio-frequency generator. The radio-frequency generator induces a radio-frequency potential on a primary winding of an isolation transformer. The secondary winding of the isolation transformer powers the active electrode. One end of the second winding of the isolation transformer is coupled to a return lead connected to the passive electrode and also is coupled to ground through a primary winding of a second transformer. If the passive electrode is disconnected from the return line, there can be an alternate radio-frequency current return path to ground, and a potential is developed across the primary winding of the second transformer. This potential is used to energize a relay to actuate an alarm and to disable the radio-frequency generator if the passive electrode becomes disconnected.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald I. Gonser

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 21:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 157 words
A radio-frequency electrosurgical device which comprises a radio-frequency generator having a power output means and a power return means for supplying a radio-frequency potential between the power output means and the power return means, an active power lead, means for coupling the active power lead to the power output means, a return lead, means for coupling the return lead to the power return means, an active electrosurgical electrode, means for coupling the active power lead to the active electrosurgical electrode to power the active electrosurgical electrode, a passive electrode, means for coupling the passive electrode to the return lead, alternate path return means for coupling the return lead to ground, an electrical shield surrounding the active power lead, means for connecting the shield to ground through the return lead and the alternate path return means, and monitor means in the alternate path return means for indicating a predetermined radio-frequency current return in the alternate path return means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 157 words
A radio-frequency electrosurgical device which comprises a radio-frequency generator having a power output means and a power return means for supplying a radio-frequency potential between the power output means and the power return means, an active power lead, means for coupling the active power lead to the power output means, a return lead, means for coupling the return lead to the power return means, an active electrosurgical electrode, means for coupling the active power lead to the active electrosurgical electrode to power the active electrosurgical electrode, a passive electrode, means for coupling the passive electrode to the return lead, alternate path return means for coupling the return lead to ground, an electrical shield surrounding the active power lead, means for connecting the shield to ground through the return lead and the alternate path return means, and monitor means in the alternate path return means for indicating a predetermined radio-frequency current return in the alternate path return means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
A radio-frequency electrosurgical device as in claim 1 wherein the active power lead is an inner conductor of a coaxial cable and the electrical shield is an outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
A radio-frequency electrosurgical device as in claim 1 wherein the means for indicating a predetermined radio-frequency current return includes means for disabling the radio-frequency generator from powering the active power lead when the radio-frequency current return in the alternate path return means exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
A radio-frequency electrosurgical device as in claim 1 wherein said means for coupling the active power lead to the power output means includes a first capacitor, and wherein said means for coupling the passive electrode to the return lead includes a second capacitor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR1317060A Cited
US3478744A Cited
US3675655A Cited
US3683923A Cited
US3707149A Cited
US3812858A Cited
DE2358641A1 Cited
US4231372A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-05-24 1985-11-23 1986-05-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-05-24 1989-11-23 1990-05-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-05-24 1993-11-23 1994-05-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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