Multi-feature electrosurgical instrument

Abstract

An improved hand-held electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an electrosurgical electrode, supportably interconnected to and extending from a distal end of the housing in a first direction, at least one light source supportably interconnected to the housing for emitting light in the first direction, and a light tunnel member extending away from the distal end of the housing in the first direction and defining a light tunnel therethrough for receiving and directing light emitted by the light source(s) through the light tunnel and out of a distal end of the light tunnel member. The light tunnel member yields improved tissue site illumination. The electrosurgical electrode may extend through and beyond the distal end of the light tunnel member, wherein the light tunnel extends along at least a majority of a length of the electrosurgical electrode that extends distally from the housing. The light tunnel may include an open passageway that extends proximally from the distal end of the light tunnel member for use in evacuating smoke from a tissue site. The hand-held electrosurgical instrument may include a smoke evacuation passageway fluidly interconnected to and extending proximally from the open passageway of the light tunnel, wherein smoke may be drawn in to a distal end of the open passageway, and through the open passageway and smoke evacuation passageway, to yield improved tissue site visibility and an improved working environment. The smoke evacuation passageway may be defined by a tubular member adjoined to the light tunnel member for handling as a single unit.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus interconnected or interconnectable to a hand-held electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a light tunnel member, interconnected or interconnectable to a housing of a hand-held electrosurgical instrument so as to extend away from a distal end of the housing in a first direction and define a light tunnel therethrough for receiving and directing light emitted by at least one light source of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument through the light tunnel and out of a distal end of the light tunnel member; and   an open passageway that extends proximally from the distal end of the light tunnel member about and along at least a portion of an electrosurgical electrode of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument, wherein a proximal end of the open passageway is fluidly interconnectable to a vacuum generator to draw gas through the distal end of the open passageway.   
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the light tunnel of the light tunnel member extends along at least a majority of a length of the electrosurgical electrode that extends distally from the housing of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a tubular member adjoined to the light tunnel member and defining a smoke evacuation passageway fluidly interconnected to and extending proximally from the proximal end of the open passageway.   
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the tubular member includes a concave outer surface portion configured to conformally engage and extend along an outer surface portion of the housing of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the light tunnel member further comprises:
 at least one clip member for selective interconnection of the light tunnel member to the housing of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument.   
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a first clip member, adjoined to and extending proximally from the light tunnel member, for selective interconnection of the light tunnel member to the housing of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument; and   a second clip member, adjoined to and extending laterally away from a proximal end of tubular member, for selective interconnection of the tubular member to the housing of the hand-held electrosurgical instrument.   
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , further comprising a port located at a proximal end of said smoke evacuation passageway. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising:
 a gas conduit having a distal end interconnected or interconnectable to said port, and having a proximal end interconnectable to a vacuum generator.   
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , wherein a proximal end portion of the light tunnel member extends over at least a portion of said at least one light source. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 43 , wherein at least said proximal end portion of said light tunnel member is light transmissive and is configured so that a portion thereof abuts said at least a portion of at least one light source.