Cautery apparatus

Abstract

A cautery device includes an elongated handpiece and a cautery tip extending from the handpiece. The tip defines a channel extending coaxially with the handpiece along an entire length of the cautery tip from a proximal open end to a distal open end. The device includes a gas supply connection extending from the proximal end of the handpiece for supplying gas to the cautery tip. The gas supply connection is fluidly coupled to the cautery tip. The device includes an electric supply connection extending from the proximal end of the handpiece for supplying electricity to the cautery tip. The electric supply connection is electrically coupled to the cautery tip. The gas supplied to the cautery tip is introduced to the channel at the proximal open end and exits the tip at the distal open end.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cautery device, comprising:
 an elongated handpiece;   a cautery tip extending distally from the elongated handpiece;   a switch disposed on the elongated handpiece and configured to move between an open configuration to prevent delivery of electricity to the cautery tip and a closed configuration to permit delivery of electricity to the cautery tip;   a valve having a stem portion in vertical alignment with the switch, the valve configured to move between a closed configuration wherein the stem portion prevents delivery of a gas to the cautery tip and an open configuration wherein the stem portion is configured to move within the handpiece to adjust the delivery of the gas to the cautery tip; and   a spring disposed between the switch and a distal end of the stem portion, wherein the distal end of the stem portion is vertically spaced from the spring when the valve is in the closed configuration, and the distal end of the stem portion compresses the spring when the valve is in the open configuration such that the spring moves the switch to the closed configuration and maintains the switch in the closed configuration while the stem portion is moving within the handpiece to adjust the delivery of the gas to the cautery tip while the valve is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         22 . The cautery device according to  claim 21 , further comprising an electric supply connection coupled to the handpiece and configured to electrically couple the cautery tip to an electric power supply. 
     
     
         23 . The cautery device according to  claim 21 , further comprising a gas supply connection coupled to the handpiece and configured to fluidly couple the cautery tip to a gas source. 
     
     
         24 . The cautery device according to  claim 21 , further comprising a button disposed on the handpiece and configured to move the valve within the handpiece. 
     
     
         25 . The cautery device according to  claim 24 , wherein the button has a range of motion that progressively moves the valve from the closed configuration toward the open configuration as a function of distance traveled by the button. 
     
     
         26 . The cautery device according to  claim 21 , wherein the valve is normally in the closed configuration and configured to move to the open configuration in response to actuation of a button disposed on the handpiece. 
     
     
         27 . The cautery device according to  claim 21 , wherein the cautery tip defines a lumen configured to receive the delivery of the gas. 
     
     
         28 . A cautery device, comprising:
 a cautery tip extending from a handpiece;   a valve train fluidly coupled to the cautery tip and including a valve having a stem portion, the valve configured to move between a closed configuration wherein the stem portion prevents delivery of a gas to the cautery tip and an open configuration wherein the stem portion is configured to move within the handpiece to adjust delivery of the gas to the cautery tip;   a switch disposed in vertical alignment with the stem portion and configured to move between an open configuration to prevent delivery of electricity to the cautery tip and a closed configuration to permit delivery of electricity to the cautery tip; and   a spring disposed between the switch and a distal end of the stem portion, wherein the distal end of the stem portion is vertically spaced from the spring when the valve is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         29 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , wherein the distal end of the stem portion compresses the spring when the valve is in the open configuration such that the spring moves the switch to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , wherein the spring is configured to maintain the switch in the closed configuration while the stem portion is moving within the handpiece to adjust the supply of the gas to the cautery tip while the valve is in the open configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , further comprising a button disposed on the handpiece and configured to move the valve within the handpiece. 
     
     
         32 . The cautery device according to  claim 31 , wherein the button has a range of motion that progressively opens the valve as a function of distance traveled by the button. 
     
     
         33 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , wherein the valve is normally in the closed configuration and configured to move to the open configuration in response to actuation of a button disposed on the handpiece. 
     
     
         34 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , further comprising a button disposed on the handpiece, wherein actuation of the button:
 moves the stem portion within the handpiece to move the switch between the open and closed configurations; and   maintains the delivery of electricity to the cautery tip while the valve is in the open configuration by engaging the spring with the stem portion to compress the spring against the switch while moving the stem portion within the handpiece to adjust the supply of the gas to the cautery tip.   
     
     
         35 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , wherein the cautery tip defines a lumen configured to receive the delivery of the gas. 
     
     
         36 . The cautery device according to  claim 28 , further comprising a multi-lumen tube extending from the handpiece and configured to supply gas to the cautery tip and electricity to the cautery tip. 
     
     
         37 . A cautery device, comprising:
 a cautery tip extending from a handpiece;   a valve having a stem portion disposed within the handpiece, the valve configured to move between a closed configuration wherein the stem portion prevents delivery of a gas to the cautery tip and an open configuration wherein the stem portion is configured to move within the handpiece to adjust the delivery of the gas to the cautery tip;   a button disposed on the handpiece and configured to:
 move the stem portion within the handpiece to actuate a switch disposed within the handpiece and in vertical alignment with the stem portion to control delivery of electricity to the cautery tip; and 
 maintain the delivery of electricity to the cautery tip while the valve is in the open configuration by engaging a spring with the stem portion to compress the spring against the switch while moving the stem portion within the handpiece to adjust the delivery of gas to the cautery tip. 
   
     
     
         38 . The cautery device according to  claim 37 , wherein a flow rate of the delivery of gas to the cautery tip is adjustable based on a position of the button in a range of motion of the button. 
     
     
         39 . The cautery device according to  claim 37 , wherein the cautery tip defines a lumen configured to receive the delivery of the gas. 
     
     
         40 . The cautery device according to  claim 37 , further comprising a multi-lumen tube extending from the handpiece and configured to supply gas to the cautery tip and electricity to the cautery tip.