US5562503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bipolar adaptor for electrosurgical instrument
Assignee: Ellman International Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-05
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Granted: 1996-10-08
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Expires: 2014-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An adaptor apparatus configured to plug directly into the connectors on the front panel of an electrosurgical instrument, and provided with connector means for receiving mating connectors of both an unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps. Switch means are provided on the adaptor apparatus for allowing a surgeon in an operating room to easily switch over from the unipolar to the bipolar mode by simply throwing the switch. Since the adaptor can be attached to the electrosurgical instrument and the unipolar handpiece and bipolar forceps both attached to the adaptor before a sterile field is created, only the switch handle need be touched to switch between the two modes. Thus, it is easy to maintain the sterile field of the operating room.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan G. Ellman
- 👤 Jon C. Garito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/02; A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00172; A61B2018/00178; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R2101/00; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/12; H01R24/00; H01R24/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
An adaptor for connection to electrosurgical apparatus and for selectively providing power to operate a unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps, said adaptor comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a double-pole, double-throw switch within the housing, said switch having an operating handle protruding from a side of the housing, said switch having a first pair and a second pair of terminals and a set of common terminals for selective connection to the first terminals when the switch handle is in a first position and to the second terminals when the switch handle is in a second position, (c) first electrical connectors at a side of the housing for receiving connectors of a unipolar handpiece and of a ground plate, said first connectors being connected to the first pair of terminals of the switch, (d) second electrical connectors at a side of the housing for receiving connectors of a bipolar forceps, said second connectors being connected to the second pair of terminals of the switch, (e) third electrical connectors at a side of the housing for respectively engaging a fourth connector providing RF electrosurgical currents and a fifth connector providing electrical ground, said third connectors being respectively connected to the set of common terminals of the switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
An adaptor for connection to electrosurgical apparatus and for selectively providing power to operate a unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps, said adaptor comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a double-pole, double-throw switch within the housing, said switch having an operating handle protruding from a side of the housing, said switch having a first pair and a second pair of terminals and a set of common terminals for selective connection to the first terminals when the switch handle is in a first position and to the second terminals when the switch handle is in a second position, (c) first electrical connectors at a side of the housing for receiving connectors of a unipolar handpiece and of a ground plate, said first connectors being connected to the first pair of terminals of the switch, (d) second electrical connectors at a side of the housing for receiving connectors of a bipolar forceps, said second connectors being connected to the second pair of terminals of the switch, (e) third electrical connectors at a side of the housing for respectively engaging a fourth connector providing RF electrosurgical currents and a fifth connector providing electrical ground, said third connectors being respectively connected to the set of common terminals of the switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the third connectors are firmly anchored at a side of the housing such that the third connectors are engageable to the fourth and fifth connectors by plugging the housing via its third connectors into the fourth and fifth connectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein all the connectors are banana-type connectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
217 words
An adaptor for connection to electrosurgical apparatus and for selectively providing power to operate a unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps, said adaptor comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a double-pole, double-throw switch within the housing, said switch having an operating handle protruding from a first side of the housing, said switch having a first pair and a second pair of terminals and a set of common terminals for selective connection to the first terminals when the switch handle is in a first position and to the second terminals when the switch handle is in a second position, (c) first electrical connectors at a second side of the housing for receiving connectors of a unipolar handpiece and of a ground plate, said first connectors being connected to the first pair of terminals of the switch, (d) second electrical connectors at a third side of the housing for receiving connectors of a bipolar forceps, said second connectors being connected to the second pair of terminals of the switch, (e) third electrical connectors at a fourth side of the housing for respectively engaging a fourth connector on the electrosurgical apparatus providing RF electrosurgical currents and a fifth connector on the electrosurgical apparatus providing electrical ground, said third connectors being respectively connected to the set of common terminals of the switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
217 words
An adaptor for connection to electrosurgical apparatus and for selectively providing power to operate a unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps, said adaptor comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a double-pole, double-throw switch within the housing, said switch having an operating handle protruding from a first side of the housing, said switch having a first pair and a second pair of terminals and a set of common terminals for selective connection to the first terminals when the switch handle is in a first position and to the second terminals when the switch handle is in a second position, (c) first electrical connectors at a second side of the housing for receiving connectors of a unipolar handpiece and of a ground plate, said first connectors being connected to the first pair of terminals of the switch, (d) second electrical connectors at a third side of the housing for receiving connectors of a bipolar forceps, said second connectors being connected to the second pair of terminals of the switch, (e) third electrical connectors at a fourth side of the housing for respectively engaging a fourth connector on the electrosurgical apparatus providing RF electrosurgical currents and a fifth connector on the electrosurgical apparatus providing electrical ground, said third connectors being respectively connected to the set of common terminals of the switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adaptor according to claim 4, wherein the first and second connectors are female connectors, and the third connectors are male connectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An adaptor according to claim 5, wherein the third connectors are firmly anchored to the fourth side of the housing whereby the adaptor as a whole can be plugged into the fourth and fifth connectors on the electrosurgical apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
265 words
In combination: an electrosurgical apparatus having a housing with a front panel and on the front panel an RF female connector supplying RF power and an electrical ground female connector when the electrosurgical apparatus is enegized; an adaptor for connection to the electrosurgical apparatus and for selectively providing power to operate a unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps; said adaptor comprising: (a) an adaptor housing, (b) a double-pole, double-throw switch within the adaptor housing, said switch having an operating handle protruding from a first side of the adaptor housing, said switch having a first pair and a second pair of terminals and a set of common terminals for selective connection to the first terminals when the switch handle is in a first position and to the second terminals when the switch handle is in a second position, (c) first electrical connectors at a second side of the adaptor housing for receiving connectors of a unipolar handpiece and of a ground plate, said first connectors being connected to the first pair of terminals of the switch, (d) second electrical connectors at a third side of the adaptor housing for receiving connectors of a bipolar forceps, said second connectors being connected to the second pair of terminals of the switch, (e) third electrical connectors at a fourth side of the adaptor housing for respectively engaging the RF connector on the electrosurgical apparatus front panel for providing RF electrosurgical currents and the ground connector on the electrosurgical apparatus front panel providing electrical ground, said third connectors being respectively connected to the set of common terminals of the switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
265 words
In combination: an electrosurgical apparatus having a housing with a front panel and on the front panel an RF female connector supplying RF power and an electrical ground female connector when the electrosurgical apparatus is enegized; an adaptor for connection to the electrosurgical apparatus and for selectively providing power to operate a unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps; said adaptor comprising: (a) an adaptor housing, (b) a double-pole, double-throw switch within the adaptor housing, said switch having an operating handle protruding from a first side of the adaptor housing, said switch having a first pair and a second pair of terminals and a set of common terminals for selective connection to the first terminals when the switch handle is in a first position and to the second terminals when the switch handle is in a second position, (c) first electrical connectors at a second side of the adaptor housing for receiving connectors of a unipolar handpiece and of a ground plate, said first connectors being connected to the first pair of terminals of the switch, (d) second electrical connectors at a third side of the adaptor housing for receiving connectors of a bipolar forceps, said second connectors being connected to the second pair of terminals of the switch, (e) third electrical connectors at a fourth side of the adaptor housing for respectively engaging the RF connector on the electrosurgical apparatus front panel for providing RF electrosurgical currents and the ground connector on the electrosurgical apparatus front panel providing electrical ground, said third connectors being respectively connected to the set of common terminals of the switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 7, wherein the first and second connectors are female connectors, and the third connectors are male connectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein the third connectors are firmly anchored to the fourth side of the housing whereby the adaptor as a whole can be plugged into the connectors on the front panel of the electrosurgical apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination according to claim 7, further comprising an electrosurgical handpiece with a connector for engaging one of the first connectors, a ground plate with a connector for engaging another of the first connectors, and a bipolar forceps with twin connectors for engaging the second connectors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4244371A
Cited
US5342356A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-04-08 | 2000-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-04-08 | 2004-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-08 | 2008-04-08 | 2008-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |