Abstract: Embodiments are directed to various monopolar and bipolar electrosurgical scissor instruments. A monopolar electrosurgical scissor instrument includes one scissor blade that has an electrically conductive tapered edge, where the tapered edge is insufficiently sharp to shear or otherwise mechanically cut tissue. The scissors also include another electrically insulated scissor blade movably mounted to the first scissor blade. The second scissor blade includes a flat contact surface that is aligned with the tapered edge of the first scissor blade. The scissors further include a scissor body that includes a conductor that transfers electrical energy from an energy source to the tapered edge of the first electrically conductive scissor blade to electrically cut interlaying tissue located between the first electrically conductive scissor blade and the second electrically insulated scissor blade.

Abstract: A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode for use with electrosurgical procedures is disclosed. The return electrode includes a conductive element and pads disposed on opposing sides of the conductive element. The conductive element, optionally in combination with the pads, is configured to limit the density of electrical current that passes from a patient to the return electrode. The conductive element and the pads can cooperate to define two separate working surfaces on opposing sides of the return electrode. The return electrode can also be safely used with patients of substantially any size and without requiring adjustments to the power settings of an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instruments associated with controlling the operating modes of an electrosurgical instrument using control signals delivered in a wireless manner from the electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical instrument transmits wireless control signals to the electrosurgical generator to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy. The control signals are delivered to the electrosurgical generator without the need for a conductive cord extending between the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument. The energy is delivered to the electrosurgical instrument, in response to the wireless control signals, along a path through an electrode and the physician utilizing the electrosurgical instrument and/or a conductive path external to the physician. The electrode upon which the physician rests provides a path for the electrosurgical energy and optionally prevents burning of the physician during an electrosurgical procedure.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument that reduces the amount of fatigue experienced by a physician performing electrosurgery includes a hand piece with a utility conduit connected to the hand piece at a central portion of the hand piece. The utility conduit can include an electrical cable and a smoke/fluid evacuation hose. The hand piece can include a channel system that receives a portion of the utility conduit therein and allows a physician to adjust the location on the hand piece at which the utility conduit exits the hand piece. Adjusting the location on the hand piece at which the utility conduit exits the hand piece can reduce the resistance to the movement of the electrosurgical instrument created by the weight of the utility conduit, which leads to less fatigue in a physician's hand during electrosurgery.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument that reduces the amount of fatigue experienced by a physician performing electrosurgery includes a hand piece with a utility conduit connected to the hand piece at a central portion of the hand piece. The utility conduit can include an electrical cable and a smoke/fluid evacuation hose. The hand piece can include a channel system that receives a portion of the utility conduit therein and allows a physician to adjust the location on the hand piece at which the utility conduit exits the hand piece. Adjusting the location on the hand piece at which the utility conduit exits the hand piece can reduce the resistance to the movement of the electrosurgical instrument created by the weight of the utility conduit, which leads to less fatigue in a physician's hand during electrosurgery.

Abstract: A self-limiting electrosurgical electrode for use with electrosurgery and various other surgical procedures is disclosed. The electrode includes a heating element for generating heat to warm a patient resting upon the electrode. The electrode can also include one or more pads to prevent the creation of pressure sores or decubitus ulcers on a patient resting upon the electrode. The electrode has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 ?·cm, which arises from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. Through the selection of the impedance characteristics for the electrode materials, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma.

Abstract: A fluid evacuation device is attachable to a hand-held instrument to provide the hand-held instrument with fluid evacuation capabilities. The fluid evacuation device includes a nozzle, a hose mount, and an evacuation hose. The nozzle has a receptacle that receives a portion of a hand-held instrument therein. The distal end of the nozzle has an opening therein through which fluid may be drawn into the nozzle. The fluid can pass through a flow region in the nozzle. The hose mount extends from the nozzle and connects the hose to the nozzle. The hose mount includes a passageway through which the fluid can pass from the flow region into the evacuation hose.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument that reduces the amount of fatigue experienced by a physician performing electrosurgery includes a hand piece with a utility conduit connected to the hand piece. The utility conduit can include an electrical cable and a smoke/fluid evacuation hose. The location at which the utility conduit exits the hand piece is selectively adjustable to reduce the resistance to the movement of the electrosurgical instrument created by the weight of the utility conduit. An electrosurgical instrument may also include an extendable shaft that allows for selective adjustment of the reach of the operational capabilities of the instrument.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system including a sharpened electrosurgical electrode, which can have a coated surface, and an automatically adjusting electrosurgical wave generator is disclosed. The automatically adjusting wave generator and the sharpened electrode tip provide or enhance the properties, attributes and/or characteristics of the electrosurgical system and prevent tissue damage and reduce incidences of post-operative complications, thereby quickening the healing process. The wave generator detects various circuit parameters and automatically adjusts the output settings, such as the output power level, based on the various circuit parameters, such as tissue impedance, to prevent undesirable tissue damage.

Abstract: An electrode tip for use in performing electro surgical operative procedures to concentrate electrical energy communicated to the patient tissue is disclosed. The electrode tip includes a main body that can receive electrical energy from an electrosurgical generator. The main body includes a working surface defining a flash edge. The working surface communicates the electrical energy to patient tissue during an operative procedure. The flash edge concentrates the electrical energy as it is communicated to the patient tissue. The concentration of the electrical energy from the flash edge reduces excessive tissue damage surrounding an incision site and improves the efficiency of the electrode tip.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument that reduces the amount of fatigue experienced by a physician performing electrosurgery includes a hand piece that is connected to an electrosurgical generator by way of an electrical cable. The electrical cable is connected to the hand piece at a central portion of the hand piece, which reduces the resistance to the movement of the electrosurgical instrument created by the weight of the electrical cable. The reduced resistance leads to less fatigue in a physician's hand during electrosurgery. The hand piece can include a channel system that receives a portion of the electrical cable therein and allows a physician to adjust the location on the hand piece at which the electrical cable exits the hand piece. The channel system can include one or more side channels and/or longitudinal channels. The channels can include detents that define multiple exit locations from the channel system for the electrical cable.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instruments associated with controlling the operating modes of an electrosurgical instrument using control signals delivered in a wireless manner from the electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical instrument transmits wireless control signals to the electrosurgical generator to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy. The control signals are delivered to the electrosurgical generator without the need for a conductive cord extending between the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument. The energy is delivered to the electrosurgical instrument, in response to the wireless control signals, along a path through an electrode and the physician utilizing the electrosurgical instrument and/or a conductive path external to the physician. The electrode upon which the physician rests provides a path for the electrosurgical energy and optionally prevents burning of the physician during an electrosurgical procedure.

Abstract: An electrosurgical return electrode for use in electrosurgery. The return electrode is self-limiting and self-regulating as to current temperature and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. According to one aspect of the invention, an inductor is coupled in series with the electrosurgical return electrode. The inductor is configured to optimize the flow of the electrosurgical current by minimizing the effective bulk impedance of the electrosurgical return electrode when the amount of contact area between the patient and the electrosurgical return electrode is sufficient to conduct electrosurgery. According to another aspect of the present invention, a conductor member is adapted for use with circuitry that indicates to a user when the contact area between the patient and the self-limiting member and/or return electrode is below a given threshold.

Abstract: A self-limiting electrosurgical electrode for use with electrosurgery and various other surgical procedures is disclosed. The electrode includes a heating element for generating heat to warm a patient resting upon the electrode. The electrode can also include one or more pads to prevent the creation of pressure sores or decubitus ulcers on a patient resting upon the electrode. The electrode has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 ?·cm, which arises from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. Through the selection of the impedance characteristics for the electrode materials, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma.

Abstract: A removable semi-insulating sheet for use in self-limiting electrosurgical return semi-insulating sheet for use with electrosurgery. Through the selection of impedance characteristics for the electrode materials of the principal body of the semi-insulating sheet, and through tailoring of semi-insulating sheet geometries, the return electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. The semi-insulating sheet has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 ?·cm. The effective bulk impedance of the sheet may arise from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. The configuration of the presently described return electrode allows the electrode to self-limit the electrode's current densities, thereby preventing burning of a patient during surgery.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus having a counter/lockout mechanism that monitors the number of sterilization/use cycles the electrosurgical apparatus undergoes and indicates the number of sterilization/use cycles that have actually been performed. The counter/lockout mechanism includes a temperature actuated element actuated in response to each sterilization cycle and a mechanically actuated element in response to a use cycle to effectuate a change of one or a plurality of indicia. The counter/lockout mechanism causes a single increment or decrement for each sterilization/use cycle that has been completed while also impeding use of the electrosurgical apparatus when the electrosurgical apparatus has undergone a predetermined number of sterilization/use cycles. In one embodiment, the distance of movement of the mechanically actuated element when fully actuated is greater than the distance the indicator moves when illustrating a change in the number of remaining uses.