Multi-mode combination electrosurgical device

Abstract

An electrosurgical device comprising: (a) forceps including: a first working arm, and a second working arm; (b) a blade; (c) one or more sliders that move along the forceps between at least a first position and a second position; (d) a first activation button; and (e) a second activation button; wherein the electrosurgical device is capable of being switched between: (A) a first configuration wherein: the first working arm and the second working arm are free to move in a direction towards each other so as to grasp tissue therebetween, the blade is retracted within a distal end of the first working arm and a distal end of the second working arm, and the first activation button is configured to produce a first therapy signal; and (B) a second configuration wherein: the first working arm and the second working arm are secured together to prevent movement in a direction towards each other, and the blade is extended so that a distal end of the blade is substantially flush with the distal end of the first working arm and the distal end of the second working arm; wherein at least one of the one or more sliders disable the second activation button when the at least one slider is in a first position, and wherein the at least one slider in a second position: secures the first working arm and the second working arm so that movement of the first working arm and the second working arm are prevented in a direction towards each other, extends the blade, or enables the second activation button to produce a second therapy signal.

We claim: 
     
         1 )- 16 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         17 ) An electrosurgical device comprising:
 (i) a first activation button,   (ii) an optional second activation button,   (iii) one or more sliders, and   (iv) a toggle controller;   wherein the electrosurgical device is capable of being switched between:   a first configuration wherein:   a toggle control button of the toggle controller is inactive or blocked, and   a first therapy current passes from an electrode;   a second configuration wherein:   the toggle control button is exposed when one of the one or more sliders are in the second position; and   the toggle controller is configured to:   toggle the first activation button to produce either the first therapy signal, a third therapy signal, or both; or   toggle the optional second activation button to produce either a second therapy signal or a fourth therapy signal, or both.   
     
     
         18 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more sliders are a first slider and a second slider and the second slider covers the toggle control button of the toggle controller in one or more positions so that the toggle control button is not accessible in at least one position. 
     
     
         19 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 17 , wherein the second slider is the toggle control button and the toggle control button switches between a bipolar state and a monopolar state where the first activation button, the second activation button, or both produce a monopolar signal in the monopolar state and a bipolar signal in the bipolar state. 
     
     
         20 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 19 , wherein the second slider has an off state where the toggle control button is deactivated. 
     
     
         21 ) An electrosurgical device comprising:
 a. a first slider that moves along a body portion of the device between at least a first slider first position and a first slider second position;   b. a second slider that moves along the body portion between at least a second slider first position and a second slider second position;   c. a first activation button; and   d. a second activation button;   wherein when the first slider is in the first slider first position:   (i) the first activation button is configured to produce a first therapy signal,   (ii) the second slider is prevented from moving from the second slider first position, and   wherein when the first slider is in the first slider second position:   (i) the second slider is permitted to move between the second slider first position and the second slider second position.   
     
     
         22 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrosurgical device comprises
 a forceps including:
 a first working arm, and 
 a second working arm; 
   wherein when the first slider is in the first slider first position the first working arm and second working arm are free to move in a direction towards each other so as to grasp tissue therebetween; and   wherein when the second slider is in the second slider second position the first working arm and the second working arm are immobilized from movement in the direction towards each other.   
     
     
         23 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 22 , wherein when the second slider is in the second slider first position the first working arm and the second working arm are free to move in the direction towards each other so as to grasp tissue therebetween. 
     
     
         24 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrosurgical device includes
 a forceps including:
 a first working arm, 
 a second working arm; and 
 a blade, 
   wherein when the first slider is in the first slider first position a distal end of the blade is at a first blade position, and   wherein when the second slider is in the second slider second position the distal end of the blade is at a second blade position that is different from the first blade position.   
     
     
         25 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 24 , wherein the second slider in the second slider first position moves the distal end of the blade to the first blade position. 
     
     
         26 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 24 , wherein the blade, in the first blade position, is retracted so that a distal end of the blade is located proximal of the first working arm and the second working arm, and
 wherein the blade, in the second blade position, is extended to be substantially flush with or extend beyond a distal end of the first working arm and a distal end of the second working arm.   
     
     
         27 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 17 , wherein the electrosurgical device includes:
 the second activation button;   wherein
 the toggle controller is configured to:
 toggle between a first position and a second position so that:
 the first activation button produces the first therapy signal when the toggle in a first position and a third therapy signal when the toggle controller is in a second position; and 
 the second activation button produces a second therapy signal when the toggle is in the first position and a fourth therapy signal when the toggle is in the second position. 
 
 
   
     
     
         28 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 21 , wherein
 as the second slider moves from second slider first position to the second slider second position a blade is moved from a first position to a second position;   when the second slider is in the second slider second position the distal end of the blade is at a second blade position that is different from the first blade position; or   
       when second slider is in the second slider first position the second activation button is blocked or disabled and when the second slider is in the second slider second position the second activation button is configured to produce a second therapy signal. 
     
     
         29 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 17 , wherein the electrosurgical device includes a first working arm having a distal end, a second working arm having a distal end, and a blade having a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first working arm, the distal end of the second working arm, and the distal end of the third working arm are flush in the second configuration. 
     
     
         30 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 29 , wherein insulation is located on a first side of the blade and a second side of the blade, and in the second configuration the first working arm is in contact with the insulation on the first side of the blade so that the insulation on the first side of the blade spaces the first working arm apart from the blade and the second working arm is in contact with the insulation on the second side of the blade so that the insulation of the second side of the blade spaces the second working arm apart from the blade. 
     
     
         31 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the first therapy signal or the third therapy signal extend between the first working arm and the second working arm. 
     
     
         32 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 30 , wherein the second therapy signal or the fourth therapy signal extend from the blade to the first working arm, the second working arm, or both. 
     
     
         33 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 29 , wherein the second therapy signal or the fourth therapy signal extend from the blade to a remote electrode. 
     
     
         34 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrosurgical device includes a first working arm having a distal end, a second working arm having a distal end, and a blade having a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first working arm, the distal end of the second working arm, and the distal end of the third working arm are flush in the second configuration. 
     
     
         35 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 34 , wherein insulation is located on a first side of the blade and a second side of the blade, and in the second configuration the first working arm is in contact with the insulation on the first side of the blade so that the insulation on the first side of the blade spaces the first working arm apart from the blade and the second working arm is in contact with the insulation on the second side of the blade so that the insulation of the second side of the blade spaces the second working arm apart from the blade. 
     
     
         36 ) The electrosurgical device of  claim 35 , wherein the first therapy signal or the third therapy signal extend between the first working arm and the second working arm.