Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical nasal procedure for excising tissue. The procedure is known as DCR. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active tip portion terminating a transversely-extending portion from an electrode shaft. The tissue excising is effected with the bare tip and the adjacent portions of the transversely-extending portion and electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active tip portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure for treating varicose veins. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active sharpened tip portion at the end of a needle-shaped member capable of penetrating the vein of a patient. The vein-tissue damage is effected with the bare tip and the adjacent portions of the needle are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active tip portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical skin grafting procedure. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is uniquely configured to form a U-support terminating in an active wire, generally U-shaped, whose width controls the width of the graft, and the length of whose arms controls the thickness of the graft. The active wire is supported by structure that is completely electrically-insulated to ensure excision only of the desired tissue while avoiding damage to surrounding tissue. The tissue incising is effected with the bare active wire at a depth stopped by a shoulder between the bare wire arms and the adjacent portions of the electrode support.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure for excising nail spicule tissue. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active dome-shaped tip portion. The undesired tissue excising is effected with the bare tip and the adjacent portions of the electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active tip portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: An electrosurgical handpiece comprises a handle and a nose piece for threaded engagement with the handle, together with a collet member which cooperates with the handle and nose piece for removably receiving and locking an electrosurgical electrode to the handle. The mating handle and nose piece are provided with locking structure adjacent their threaded portions which will automatically lock the nose piece to the handle when assembled and thus prevent the nose piece from detaching from the handle while still allowing the nose piece when the electrosurgical handpiece is in use to rotate sufficiently to cause the collet to lock and unlock to an electrode.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical nasal procedure for excising tissue. The procedure is known as DCR. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active tip portion terminating a transversely-extending portion from an electrode shaft. The tissue excising is effected with the bare tip and the adjacent portions of the transversely-extending portion and electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active tip portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: An adaptor apparatus configured to plug directly into the connectors on the front panel of an electrosurgical instrument, and provided with connector means for receiving mating connectors of both an unipolar handpiece and a bipolar forceps. Switch means are provided on the adaptor apparatus for allowing a surgeon in an operating room to easily switch over from the unipolar to the bipolar mode by simply throwing the switch. Since the adaptor can be attached to the electrosurgical instrument and the unipolar handpiece and bipolar forceps both attached to the adaptor before a sterile field is created, only the switch handle need be touched to switch between the two modes. Thus, it is easy to maintain the sterile field of the operating room.

Abstract: A mobile cart comprises a platform for supporting at least a commercially available electrosurgical instrument or apparatus and a smoke evacuator system. Preferably, the mobile cart contains further means for housing additional accessories. The cart is constructed to provide a protected region within which electrical wiring can be run to ensure the wire does not interfere with the surgeon while performing an electrosurgical procedure.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure to improve snoring and OSAS. The procedure is based on the progressive enlargement of the airspace in the oropharynx to eliminate or reduce obstructions that can occur during sleep, by electrosurgical stripping of layers of the vibrating soft palate, the wide posterior tonsil pillars, and redundant posterior pharyngeal mucosa. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active wire portion suspended between wire supports on an electrode shaft. The tissue stripping is effected with the bare wire, and the adjacent portions of the wire supports and electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active wire portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A multiple-wire electrode for use with an electrosurgical handpiece in an electrosurgical medical, dental, or veterinarian procedure, which comprises an electrically-conductive shaft having one end sized to fit on an electrosurgical handpiece and plural spaced electrically-conductive wires electrically connected to the opposite end of the shaft. The ends of the wires are electrically active, whereby when the wire ends are applied to tissue of a patient and the handpiece energized, electrical currents will flow simultaneously from the wire ends to the tissue allowing simultaneous cutting by electrical currents of parallel incisions when the handpiece is drawn across the tissue. Means can be provided connected to the shaft for varying the spacing between the wire ends. The electrode of the invention is of particular use in connection with the harvesting of hair follicles in a hair transplant procedure.

Abstract: A multiple-wire electrode for use with an electrosurgical handpiece in an electrosurgical medical, dental, or veterinarian procedure, which comprises an electrically-conductive shaft having one end sized to fit on an electrosurgical handpiece and plural spaced electrically-conductive wires electrically connected to the opposite end of the shaft. The ends of the wires are electrically active, whereby when the wire ends are applied to tissue of a patient and the handpiece energized, electrical currents will flow simultaneously from the wire ends to the tissue allowing simultaneous cutting by electrical currents of parallel incisions when the handpiece is drawn across the tissue. Means can be provided connected to the shaft for varying the spacing between the wire ends. The electrode of the invention is of particular use in connection with the harvesting of hair follicles in a hair transplant procedure.

Abstract: An electrical coupling unit for electrically connecting an outlet of non-sterile electrosurgical apparatus to a sterile electrosurgical handpiece. The coupling unit is sterile, and can be provided at a location convenient to the surgeon. The coupling unit is also provided with plural outputs for connecting by one or more suitable cables to handpieces held by the surgeon. The latter cables are preferably also maintained in a sterile condition. The coupling unit is provided with a selector switch which functions to selectively connect an output of the electrosurgical apparatus to an output on the coupling unit. The coupling unit outputs are color-coded for ease of selection, each different color representing a different electrosurgical current or instrument. Preferably, the switch knob is also color-coded so that a position representing a particular electrosurgical current or instrument can easily and quickly be achieved.

Abstract: A demonstration model for a gynecological procedure, for example, LLETZ, comprising a platform hingedly supporting a transparent tubing simulating a woman's vaginal canal and sized to accommodate a standard speculum and to receive instruments to practice or demonstrate the procedures.

Abstract: An object holder, especially for dental or medical practitioners, comprises an annular frame having mounted at one end a rotatable tool holding member having holes for receiving the shanks of various objects. When rotated into an upright position, tools are readily inserted or removed. With tools inserted, the tool holding member is rotated downward until the tools lie flat protected by the frame side walls. It can then be placed into a standard autoclave bag for sterilization by autoclaving or by chemicals.

Abstract: An electrosurgical handpiece for accommodating an assortment of different-sized electrodes having hollow shanks and provided with means for supplying suction adjacent the electrode tip for simultaneous removal of liquids or gasses. The handpiece can be fitted with a removable finger switch activator which can also be attached to other objects for the surgeon's convenience. Means for controlling the suction pressure at the electrode tip is also provided.

Abstract: An electrosurgical handpiece for accommodating an assortment of different-sized electrodes having hollow shanks and provided with means for supplying suction adjacent the electrode tip for simultaneous removal of liquids or gasses. The handpiece can be fitted with a removable finger switch activator which can also be attached to other objects for the surgeon's convenience. Means for controlling the suction pressure at the electrode tip is also provided.

Abstract: A novel stand for demonstrating electrosurgical, laser, and electrocautery treatments with animal tissue. The stand can have a simple C-shape, and be connected via a tube to a conventional vacuum device. Any smoke or noxious vapors generated during the simulated treatment are efficiently and effectively removed by the vacuum device.

Abstract: A novel handpiece for use with electrosurgical equipment and adapted to receive a disposable scalpel blade having an elongated insulated handle having first and second ends with its second end having an opening to the handle interior, an insulated electrical wire coupled to the first end of the handle, an electrically conductive structure mounted within the handle at its second end and electrically connected to the wire, the structure including within the handle an elongated metal part having adjacent the handle second end a collet and having further removed from the second end an externally-threaded portion, the handle at its second end having a separable portion having on its interior an internally-threaded portion and configured such that the latter threadingly engages the externally threaded portion and when so engaged and rotated in one direction engages and tightens up on the collet, and when rotated in the opposite direction loosens up on the collet, the collet being constructed to receive and firmly h

Abstract: A handpiece adapted for use with a plurality of different electrosurgical electrodes. The handpiece comprises a collet in which a central bore for receiving adaptors and electrodes extends axially from an endface, slits for receiving the flat end of a scalpel blade extend radially from the central bore, and a pair of axial bores for receiving the two pins of electrocoaptation forceps are diametrically arranged with respect to the central bore. The bore of an insulating sleeve and the outer surface of the collet cooperate to compress the slitted portion of the collet during relative rotation in a first direction. A forceps adaptor is provided for coupling forceps to a handpiece without diametrically opposed bores. The pin of the adaptor is inserted in the central bore of the collet and a pair of flexible tubes, electrically connected to the adaptor pin, are adapted to receive the pins formed on forceps.