Valleylab, Inc.

Conmed Corporation

Kenneth D Taylor

Jenifer Serafin Kennedy

Dale F Schmaltz

Jeffrey L Eggleston

Alan R Lee

Stephen Norman Donnigan

Kamala J Grasso

Gregory J Bell

An adapter includes a coupling mechanism that mates with a protruding nozzle of a gas-enhanced electrosurgical coagulation handpiece to convert the coagulation handpiece into a gas-enhanced electrosurgical cutting instrument. An adapter electrode and flow passageways of the adapter conduct electrical energy and gas from the nozzle of the coagulation handpiece to a protruding cutting end portion of an adapter electrode.

Adapter and method for converting gas-enhanced electrosurgical coagulation instrument for cutting

A surgical safety apparatus for use in connection with an energizable surgical device prevents inadvertent activation of a surgical tool. The energizable surgical device may include an electrosurgical system, a laser scalpel, an ultrasonic aspirator, and combinations thereof. An activation circuit is in connection with the source of energy and in connection with the handpiece. The activation circuit has two states: the first state disconnects the source of energy from the handpiece, the second state connects the source of energy to the handpiece. A sensing element is connected to the activation circuit. The sensing element signals the activation circuit to convert the activation circuit from the first state to the second state. The activation circuit may remain in the second state for a preestablished period of time followed by a reversion to the first state. The activation circuit may include a relay which may be connected to operate accessories including smoke evacuators, lights, videos or irrigators. The sensing element may be disposed to sense the proximity of the surgical tool to the surgical site. The sensing element may be disposed to sense a voice command. The sensing element can monitor the activations of an electrical switch associated with the surgical tool. If the sensing element detected a specified timed pattern of activations of the electrical switch, for example a double click, then the sensing element would signal the activation circuit to convert to the second state.

Energizable surgical tool safety device and method

A laser and electrosurgical system has a handpiece with a proximal and distal end from which laser radiation and/or electrosurgical energy is selectively or concurrently directed. The ends are along an axis; an electrode extends distally along the axis. Sources of laser and electrosurgical energy are available and controlled. An initiation circuit for the laser selectively delivers it before electrosurgery. Prior delivery targets tissue. The laser creates an ionized conductive pathway for electrosurgery. The combined concurrent application of laser and electrosurgery has a mechanism to selectively distribute energy about the axis. A laser deflecting surface or a beam deflector vibrate relative to the axis. A power switch has levels for laser cut and ionization and/or a delay therebetween for electrosurgical coagulation. A wave guide or an array thereof deliver radiation along the axis. A method has steps of directing selectively and concurrently laser and electrosurgery by aiming the axis, controlling laser and electrosurgical energy, delivering laser before electrosurgery, forming an ionized conductive pathway for the electrosurgery, distributing the laser about the axis in a predetermined pattern by deflecting the laser in a predetermined pattern generally along but slightly displaced from the axis to direct electrosurgical energy in a predefined pattern on the patient's target tissue. In another possible approach, there are additional steps of delivering the laser radiation as a beam and varying an ionized conductive pathway by refracting or diffracting the laser radiation beam with the mechanism having a beam pattern deflector.

Laser-assisted electrosurgery system

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Broomfield, CO, United States of America

Kenneth D Taylor