Handheld Electrosurgical Apparatus for Controlling Operating Room Equipment

Abstract

A system and apparatus for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator, a controller in electrical communication with and configured to control the electrosurgical generator and at least one operating room device, and a handpiece having a housing and a cable extending proximally from the housing providing electrical connection to the controller, the handpiece further includes first controls for controlling the generator and second controls for controlling at least one operating room device.

1 . A system for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure, the system comprising:
 an electrosurgical generator;   at least one operating room device;   a controller in electrical communication with and configured to control the electrosurgical generator and to control the at least one operating room device; and   a handpiece being in communication with the controller, the handpiece including a first control for controlling the electrosurgical generator and a second control for controlling the at least one operating room device, wherein the handpiece is maintained in a sterile field during operation thereof   wherein at least one of the first and second controls includes at least one sliding controller for activating and adjusting at least one of the generator and the at least one operating room device.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating room device is selected from the group consisting of an operating room light source, an operating room bed, and an insufflation device. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second controls is disposed within a sterile field. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the electrosurgical generator is configured to deliver energy to the handpiece disposed within the sterile field, and wherein the electrosurgical generator includes the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating room device is disposed outside the sterile field. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating room device produces an effect outside the sterile field. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece includes a housing and a cable extending from the housing providing electrical connection to the controller, and wherein each of the first and second controls is in direct electrical communication with the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first control includes at least one first activation switch supported on the housing, the at least one first activation switch is configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the controller upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the second control includes at least one second activation switch supported on the housing, the at least one second switch is configured and adapted to selectively complete a control loop extending from the controller upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first control includes at least one first voltage divider network supported on the housing, and wherein the at least one first voltage divider network is electrically connected to the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one first voltage divider network is a potentiometer. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the potentiometer has discrete values. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second control includes at least one second voltage divider network supported on the housing, the at least one second voltage divider network is electrically connected to the controller. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a cable extending proximally from the housing providing electrical connection to a controller, the controller being in electrical communication with and configured to control an electrosurgical generator and at least one operating room device, wherein the apparatus is maintained in the sterile field during operation thereof;   a first control supported on the housing for controlling the generator; and   a second control supported on the housing for controlling at least one operating room device,   wherein at least one of the first and second controls includes at least one sliding controller for activating and adjusting at least one of the generator and the at least one operating room device.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one operating room device is selected from the group consisting of an operating room light source, an operating room bed, and an insufflation device. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second controls is disposed within a sterile field. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the electrosurgical generator is configured to deliver energy to the handpiece disposed within the sterile field, and wherein the electrosurgical generator includes the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one operating room device is disposed outside the sterile field. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one operating room device produces an effect outside the sterile field. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second controls is in direct electrical communication with the controller.