An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing having an active electrical connector and a return electrical connector configured to operably engage a distal end of an electrosurgical instrument shaft. The housing encapsulates a pair of elongated ground plates and a pair of insulative tubes configured to house first and second ends of a wire-like active electrode. The wire-like active electrode operably couples at the first end to the active electrical connector. The elongated ground plates each include a tip at a distal end thereof configured to mutually support a donut-style insulator configured to support the wire-like active electrode therearound. A tensioning mechanism is configured to operably engage the second end of the wire-like active electrode. The tensioning mechanism cooperates with a tensioning tool to tension the wire-like active electrode about the donut-like insulator during assembly.

A medical device includes a handpiece, a lever with a grip surface attached to the handpiece, and a pressure sensor associated with the grip surface. When a user of the medical device applies a grip pressure to the lever, the lever moves to provide an input to a first function of the medical device, and concurrently the pressure sensor produces a pressure signal that is read by a control unit to control a second function

An electrosurgical instrument connectivity system providing monopolar and bipolar plugs each having a plurality of conductors which allow for use of combination monopolar/bipolar electrosurgical devices with industry standard electrosurgical generator outlets.

A clip-over disposable assembly includes a switch assembly and a disposable body. The disposable body includes a first disposable member, a second disposable member including first and second wall portions, and a third disposable member. The first wall portion defines a first aperture therethrough and a first cavity configured to receive therein a first portion of the switch assembly. The third disposable member includes a third wall portion, wherein a body of the second disposable member and the third wall portion define an opening configured to allow a shaft of a hemostat-style surgical instrument to pass therethrough. The second wall portion and the third wall portion cooperatively define a chamber in communication with the opening and configured to receive therein at least a portion of the shaft of the hemostat-style surgical instrument, wherein the at least a portion of the shaft is received in the chamber from an off-axis position.

An improved electrosurgical scalpel, with fume evacuation, for generating electrical signals intended for applications to the body of a patient via an electrosurgical electrode is provided that includes a channel to evacuate fumes generated. An electrosurgical scalpel includes a handle with a receptacle portion of a conductive hollow member for mounting and retaining an electrode blade and evacuating fumes, an optional light source with a power source that may be encapsulated within the handle and a vacuum port for applying a vacuum source to draw fumes away from the electrode tip through the chanel. Operation of a slide on the handle serves to retract or extend the electrode blade, and direct fume evacuation.

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator having a radio frequency source configured to operate in a plurality of modes and a controller configured to control the radio frequency source to output a radio frequency waveform corresponding to a mode from the plurality of modes. The system also includes a footswitch assembly coupled to the electrosurgical generator. The footswitch assembly includes a footswitch in communication with the controller. The footswitch is configured to output a footswitch activation signal to activate the radio frequency source. The footswitch assembly also includes a mode select button, which upon activation, is configured to instruct the controller to enter a mapping state during which the controller assigns an activation command for one mode from the plurality of modes to the footswitch.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method for identifying tissue state and energizing the surgical instrument includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade and an RF electrode, a shaft assembly, a body, and a power controller. A first ultrasonic energy input is configured to be actuated from a first unactuated energy input state to a first actuated energy input state. A trigger input is configured to be actuated from an unactuated trigger input state to an actuated trigger input state. The power controller is operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, the RF electrode, the first ultrasonic energy input, and the trigger input and configured to direct at least one of the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode to be selectively driven according to a predetermined drive function based on the tissue impedance, the state of the first energy input, and the state of the trigger input.

A surgical instrument includes a housing, energizable member, first activation switch, cable assembly, and second activation switch. The housing is operatively associated with the energizable member. The first activation switch is coupled to the energizable member and is selectively transitionable from an open condition to a closed condition. The cable assembly is coupled to the housing at a first end and includes a plug at a second, opposite end, the plug housing a second activation switch selectively transitionable from an open condition to a closed condition. The plug is adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, wherein transitioning of the first activation switch from the open condition to the closed condition transitions the second activation switch from the open condition to the closed condition such that the second activation switch communicates with the source of electrosurgical energy to initiate the supply of energy to the energizable member.

Electrosurgical devices and systems having one or more porous electrodes are provided. An electrosurgical apparatus is provided having a shaft, a handle, and at least one porous electrode. The shaft is coupled to the handle and the at least one porous electrode is disposed on a distal tip of the shaft. The at least one porous electrode conducts energy provided to the distal tip and enables fluid provided to the distal tip to pass through the porous structure of the at least one electrode, such that the electrosurgical energy and the fluid are simultaneously applied to patient tissue adjacent to the at least one porous electrode. In one aspect, the electrosurgical apparatus includes a switching means configured to enable a user to select which of at least a first fluid, e.g. saline, or a second fluid, e.g., helium, to be provided to the distal tip.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of limiting an ultrasonic blade temperature includes adjusting at least one power parameter of the ultrasonic energy in response to reaching a predetermined frequency parameter change threshold in the ultrasonic blade limiting the temperature of the ultrasonic blade to an upper temperature limit. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, and a controller. The jaw is movably positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and is configured to measure an ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade. The controller has a memory including a plurality of predetermined data correlations that correlate changes in measured ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade to a blade temperature of the ultrasonic blade.