Abstract: A three-port receptacle connects both single-prong and three-prong electrical connectors of electrosurgical accessories to an electrosurgical generator. The receptacle includes two control ports for accepting the two control prongs of the three-prong connector and an energy-delivery port for accepting the energy-conducting prong of the three-prong connector. The energy-delivery port also receives an energy-conducting prong of a single-prong connector. A single contact assembly is located behind the energy-delivery port and delivers electrosurgical power to the energy-conducting prongs of both types of accessory connectors.

Abstract: Male and female mating pieces of a gas-assisted electrosurgical accessory connector are connectable together by radially contacting a sealing surface formed on one mating piece with a resilient radially-compressible sealing member carried on the other mating piece. A gas-tight seal exists along a length of the sealing surface as the two mating pieces connect with relative connection movement. The existence of the gas-tight seal over a range of relative connection movement maintains the seal if the mating pieces should become slightly disconnected. The mating pieces are also restrained against separation from one another. A recess is formed in one of the mating pieces and a retention member carried on the other one of the mating pieces is biased into contact with the recess. Separation of the two connected members requires manual force to extract the retention member from the recess.