US1812608A - Electro-surgical instrument and control - Google Patents

Description

June so, 1931. D. E. ROBERTS 1,812,608

ELECTfiQSURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL Filed Oct. 24, 1929 FIG 2 INVENT OR Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE DONALD E. ROBERTS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ELECTRO-SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL Application filed October 24, 1929.

The invention relates to an improvement in electro-surgical instruments and their controls and the object of the improvement is to allow the operating surgeon to control with his operating hand the amount of current flowing to the cutting or piercing instrument.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1e 1 is an electro-surgical instrument and Fig ure 2 is a magnetically operated spark-gap.

1, Figure 1, is the feed wire to the instrument carrying a high frequency current through the insulated handle 2, Figure 1, to

the cutting or piercing instrument 3, Figure 1.

4, Figure 1, is a rheostat, the resistance of which is lessened by pressing insulated arm, 5, Figure 1, which. is hinged at 6, Figure 1,

2G and carries a wiping contact 7, Figure 1. The insulated arm 5, Figure 1, is returned to the position of full resistance of the rheostat 4:, Figure 1, by spring 8, Figure 1.

1 and 2, Figure 2-, are the sparlcgap points of a high-frequency machine which delivers the current for electro-surg ry, but as no patent is claimed on such a machine, it is not included in these specifications.

The amount of on 'rent to electro-magnet 3c 3, Figure 2, from battery l, Figure 2, is con trolled by rheostat 4, Figure 1, as shown Wired by broken lines between Figures 1 and 2.

To operate this electrosurgical instrument,

the cutting or piercing point 3, Figure 1, is

placed, then the insulated arm 5, Figure 1,

is pressed, lowering resistance of rheostat 4,

Figure 1, causing electro-magnet 3, Figure 2,

to attract iron spark-gap point 2, Figure 2,

opening gap between spark-gap points 1 and 2, Figure 2; the tension of spring 5, Figure 2,

keeps spark-gap points 1 and 2, Figure 2,

closed when the insulated arm 5, Figure 1,

is not pressed.

Prior to this invention, the current to electro-surgical instruments was controlled by setting the spark-gap open then closing a foot-switch which would allow the current to flow to the patient at full strength; or, the current was controlled by an assistant, who,

Serial No. 402,137.

after the cutting or piercing instrument was in place, would open the spark-gap by means of a rod or screw.

WVith the instrument described in these specifications, the surgeon can smoothly control the current to the cutting or piercing instrument with his operating hand, leaving one hand free, and not requiring an assistant or oral instructions to an assistant.

Due to the varying sizes of electro-surgical an instruments, no sizes are given; the experimental model being ten inches long. It is to be understood. that the idea of the invention is to place the control of current to the cutting instrument in the surgeons operating hand; therefore, the electro-magnet 12, F igure 2, may control a magnetically operated rheostat in place of the spark-gap illustrated; the spark-gap only is shown for simplicity of illustration.

I am aware that prior to my invention, rheostats have been used to operate electromagnets and magnets have been used to open spark-gaps. It is also understood that I make no patent claims on the surgical instrument holder illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

An electro-surgical instrument and control consisting of a suitable instrument hanso dle to which is hinged an insulated arm carrying a wiping contact which slides in 0011- tact with a rheostat which is secured approximately at right angles to the instrument handle, in combination with a magnetically operated spark-gap; and operated by manual pressure of the surgeons operating hand pressing upon the insulated arm of the rheostat, thereby opening the spark-gap, allowing current to flow to the operating instrument.

DONALD E. ROBERTS.

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