Bipolar electrosurgery actuator

Abstract

A system for selectively actuating a heating current conductible from a bipolar generator to a surgical tool may comprise an actuator assembly having an output receptacle, an input plug, and an actuating component. The output receptacle may be configured to receive a complementary tool plug of the surgical tool. The input plug may be configured for mating with a generator receptacle receivable of the heating current from the bipolar generator. The generator receptacle may be complementary to the tool plug. The actuating component may have at least one of a switch and a lever arm and may be configured to communicate with the bipolar generator for selectively actuating the heating current to flow from the input plug to the output receptacle upon engagement of the switch or the lever arm.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An actuator for use with an electrosurgical device having an operable handle used to move a working end of the electrosurgical device, where the electrosurgical device comprises a plug for electrically coupling to a generator, the actuator comprising:
 an actuator housing having a first end configured to releasably couple to the plug of the electrosurgical device and a second end configured to connect to the generator;   a switch assembly on the actuator housing having a lever arm, where the lever arm is moveable between a neutral position and an actuated position, where in the neutral position the switch assembly electrically opens a circuit between the generator and the electrosurgical device, and in the actuated position, the switch assembly closes the circuit between the generator and the electrosurgical device; and   where in the neutral position, the lever arm extends from the actuator housing to the operable handle of the electrosurgical device without contacting the operable handle and the plug of the electrosurgical device.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , where the first end of the actuator housing comprises at least one socket, and where the plug of the electrosurgical device comprises at least one prong, where the at least one prong is respectively engageable with the at least one socket. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1 , where the switch assembly further includes a mechanism selected from a group consisting of a push button, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a rotating shaft, a joystick, an electrostatic sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a temperature switch, a rocker switch, and a momentary switch. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 1 , where the lever arm is configured to move to the actuated position by one of the following means: mechanical actuation, electrical resistance, piezoelectric pressure, and electrostatic sensing. 
     
     
         5 . An actuator for use with an electrosurgical device having an operable handle that moves a working end of the electrosurgical device, where the electrosurgical device comprises a connector for electrically coupling to a generator, the actuator comprising:
 an actuator housing having a first end configured to releasably couple to the connector of the electrosurgical device and a second end configured to couple to the generator;   a lever arm coupled to the actuator housing, where the lever arm is moveable between a neutral position and an actuated position, where in the neutral position an electrical circuit between the generator and the electrosurgical device is open, and when in the actuated position, the lever arm electrically closes the electrical circuit between the generator and the electrosurgical device; and   where the lever arm comprises a length that extends from the actuator housing to the operable handle of the electrosurgical device without contacting the operable handle.   
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 5 , where the first end of the actuator housing comprises at least one socket, and where the connector of the electrosurgical device comprises at least one prong, where the at least one prong is respectively engageable with the at least one socket. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 5 , where the actuator further comprises a switch assembly coupled to the lever arm. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 7 , where the switch assembly further includes a mechanism selected from a group consisting of a push button, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a rotating shaft, a joystick, an electrostatic sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a temperature switch, a rocker switch, and a momentary switch. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 5 , where the lever arm is configured to move to the actuated position one of the following means: mechanical actuation, electrical resistance, piezoelectric pressure, and electrostatic sensing.