Abstract: Smoke evacuation apparatus designed to provide safe and efficient filtration and evacuation of smoke plume generated by laser-surgical, electrosurgical, radiosurgical, and electrocautery devices. A filter assembly is removably mounted on a front panel of the apparatus housing and is thus easily accessible from the front side which typically faces the user. The filter assembly at its front is provided with a hose connector to which the suction hose of the system is conveniently attached, and the front of the filter assembly is configured with a symbol, such as a letter or number, that represents an identification of the system supplier or manufacturer, and the hose connector is mounted on that symbol identifier.

Abstract: A disposable or reusable surgical laser handpiece having an extendable and retractable active laser fiber tip and housed in a body comprising an actuating handle for use in various surgical laser procedures. The fiber tip when extended can be given a specific configuration by associating the fiber with a shaped memory member. The housing can also be constructed to incorporate bipolar or unipolar electrosurgical electrodes.

Abstract: A unipolar electrosurgical electrode or probe that is configured for use in MIS electrosurgical procedures. The electrosurgical electrode comprises a long, thin, flexible, insulated wire configured to cooperate with the small cannula of a mini-endoscope to reach interior tissue not normally reachable by electrosurgical electrodes. When energized, a unipolar discharge is generated at the working end of the electrode. The probe can be used for spinal and endonasal procedures.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for spinal procedures comprises a generally scoop-shaped cup whose periphery is electrically active and is capable of applying RF electrosurgical currents to spinal tissue. The active electrode may comprise an exposed bare wire at the leading edge of the cup. A conduit in a handle section can convey suction to the cup. A tissue clearing member is pivotably mounted on or inside the cup and can be manipulated via a lever on the handle to help dislodge tissue. The tissue clearing member may be a radially-extending vane for rotation in the plane of the cup edge. The tissue clearing member may also be made electrically active thus selectively providing unipolar or bipolar operation.

Abstract: A disposable or reusable bipolar or unipolar electrosurgical handpiece having an extendable and retractable active electrode end and housed in a relatively inexpensive body comprising an actuating handle for use in various electrosurgical procedures. The housing comprises slidable body sections with one of the sections having an internal structure configured for receiving an incoming wire whose stripped end or ends can be contacted to the active electrode end by way of an externally-exposed electrically-conductive band on the electrode.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument that is capable of generating high-quality RF energy at a single frequency in the MHz range best suited for delicate, precise and quick-healing cutting procedures with low leakage currents using a monopolar handpiece, and also provides high-quality RF energy at the same frequency suited for use for carrying out similar procedures for use with a bipolar handpiece. In a preferred embodiment, the instrument is capable of generating sub-modes of electrosurgical currents with different waveforms optimized for cutting and hemostasis, and the various sub-modes are available for both the monopolar and bipolar handpieces. A preferred operating frequency is in the range of 4 MHz. The instrument includes means for maintaining a substantially constant power output irrespective of selection of one of the sub-modes.

Abstract: A novel cutter instrument uses radiofrequency (RF) electrosurgery and RF energy to achieve the desired cutting action with minimum of mechanical force, thereby reducing the risk of tissue damage due to excessive mechanical cutting action. Preferably, a cutter head of the instrument comprises an outer tube of electrically-insulating material with an aperture into which is telescoped an inner electrically-conductive tube. When the working or leading end of the latter is reciprocated across the aperture in the outer tube while RF electrosurgical currents are applied to the inner tube, the cutting action of tissue entering the aperture takes place primarily via the RF electrosurgical currents.

Abstract: An intelligent selection system for operating an electrosurgical instrument for use by a surgeon that depends primarily on the surgical procedure to be employed. The operating mode as well as other operating parameters can be controlled by the handpiece chosen by the surgeon to perform the procedure. Each handpiece is customized to activate when operated one of several preset operating modes of the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrosurgical electrode configured for use in a breast plastic surgical procedure comprises an elongated forceps that is operated as a unipolar electrode. The electrosurgical electrode is provided with internal channels that can provide suction or fluids at the surgical site when a source of suction or fluid is connected to the electrode. It is provided with uniquely configured cutting edges at its distal end for cutting tissue while simultaneously coagulating any bleeding that occurs. It can cleanly and precisely cut tissue and coagulate bleeding vessels at the same time.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system that is capable of performing an electrosurgical procedure while cooling the surgical site before, during or after the surgical procedure. To a handpiece or to an electrosurgical generator may be mounted a pressurized cryogenic fluid container together with means associated with the handpiece for directing the cryogenic fluid when released from the container at the surgical site, and means for activating the valve of the container to release the pressurized fluid from the container.

Abstract: A electrosurgical electrode specifically adapted for use in a surgical procedure for removing lymphoid tissue, specifically a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy procedure. The electrosurgical electrode incorporates a suction or irrigation conduit in the form of a hollow tube for conveying the suction or fluid to the active electrode end. The electrosurgical electrode is preferably provided with a generally spoon-shaped body with a curved end comprising a wire or serrated active edge from which electrosurgical currents can emanate for dissection and hemostasis of tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical curette probe for an adenoidectomy procedure, comprising an elongated electrically-insulating body portion having at a proximate end an electrical connector for receiving electrosurgical RF currents and a fitting for receiving a suction conduit. The electrical connector is internally connected to an active electrode at the distal end of the body portion, which active electrode comprises a bare sharp blade extending across the spaced arms of a claw-shaped end of the body portion. Viewed from the top, the claw-shaped end curves downward, the blade extends in a direction perpendicular to an extension of the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and the sharp cutting edge of the blade faces upwardly. Terminating just behind the claw-shaped end and facing the curved claw-shaped end is a nozzle opening of the suction conduit housed in the body portion and connected to the fitting.

Abstract: An electrosurgical handpiece having a removable section permanently incorporating an electrode adapted for a particular procedure. The handpiece may be labeled for that procedure or otherwise visually distinguished from other handpieces, as, for example, by shape or color-coding, and the optimum electrode for that procedure is already pre-attached to the handpiece. The handpiece comprises a common connector attached at one end to a cable terminating in an end connector for attachment to an electrosurgical instrument, and at its other end adapted to receive and hold and electrically connect to the handpiece proper itself, i.e., a handle for the surgeon to hold and the attached electrode. A family of handpieces are preferably configured to removably attach to the common connector and thus could use the same common connector and cable and end connector for connecting to the instrument as a source of RF electrosurgical currents.

Abstract: A electrosurgical electrode specifically adapted for use in a surgical procedure for removing lymphoid tissue, specifically a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy procedure. The electrosurgical electrode incorporates a suction or irrigation conduit in the form of a hollow tube for conveying the suction or fluid to the active electrode end. The electrosurgical electrode is preferably provided with a generally spoon-shaped body with a curved end comprising a wire or serrated active edge from which electrosurgical currents can emanate for dissection and hemostasis of tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical curette probe for an adenoidectomy procedure, comprising an elongated electrically-insulating body portion having at a proximate end an electrical connector for receiving electrosurgical RF currents and a fitting for receiving a suction conduit. The electrical connector is internally connected to an active electrode at the distal end of the body portion, which active electrode comprises a bare sharp blade extending across the spaced arms of a claw-shaped end of the body portion. Viewed from the top, the claw-shaped end curves downward, the blade extends in a direction perpendicular to an extension of the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and the sharp cutting edge of the blade faces upwardly. Terminating just behind the claw-shaped end and facing the curved claw-shaped end is a nozzle opening of the suction conduit housed in the body portion and connected to the fitting.

Abstract: An intelligent selection system for operating an electrosurgical instrument for use by a surgeon that depends primarily on the surgical procedure to be employed. The operating mode as well as other operating parameters can be controlled by the handpiece chosen by the surgeon to perform the procedure. Each handpiece is customized to activate when operated one of several preset operating modes of the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: All improved electrosurgical electrode for treating diseased tissue and lesions. The electrosurgical electrode has an active surface that may be sharpened or round. The electrosurgical electrode also has a projecting point spaced away from the active surface allowing the projecting point to be separately applied to the tissue to desiccate same.

Abstract: An intelligent selection system for operating an electrosurgical instrument for use by a surgeon that depends primarily on the surgical procedure to be employed. The operating mode as well as other operating parameters can be controlled by the handpiece chosen by the surgeon to perform the procedure. Each handpiece is customized to activate when operated one of several preset operating modes of the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: An RF tonsillar probe comprises a generally elongated insulated structure having means for coupling to the bipolar outlet of electrosurgical apparatus, and two internal insulated wires leading to a distal end that is angled downwardly and that terminates in two laterally-spaced needle electrodes whose tips are exposed. The probe works best with relatively high-frequency RF electrosurgical currents in excess of 1.5 MHz. The combination of the bipolar mode with electrosurgical currents in the MHz range causes relatively low tissue temperatures avoiding the need for the addition of a complicated temperature-controller structure and suitable circuitry, and the bipolar action confines the RFTA effect to the tissue region between the two active needle electrodes.