The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 13, 2005
Craig Weinberg, Denver, CO (US);
Robert Sharp, Boulder, CO (US);
Gary M. Couture, Longmont, CO (US);
Darren Odom, Longmont, CO (US);
Craig Weinberg, Denver, CO (US);
Robert Sharp, Boulder, CO (US);
Gary M. Couture, Longmont, CO (US);
Darren Odom, Longmont, CO (US);
Covidien AG, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, CH;
Abstract
Various safe switching mechanisms are provided for use with electrosurgical instruments which prevent arcing between the high-energy contacts as the high-energy source is activated. The switching mechanisms generally include a pair of high-energy contacts and a pair of activation contacts. An actuator is provided which initially engages the high-energy contacts in advance of engagement of the activation contacts to prevent arcing and subsequently disengages the activation contacts in advance of the high-energy contacts as the energy source is deactivated. A method of switching power to an electrosurgical instrument while avoiding damage to high-energy contacts is also disclosed.