Safety mechanism for medical treatment device and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9685281-B2
Application number	US-201414498491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2014
Priority date	Sep 29, 2013
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A safety mechanism for medical treatment devices includes a switch actuator that depresses a power activation switch after movement in a first direction followed movement in a second direction. The safety mechanism thus prevents accidental or unintentional delivery of power to a heating segment of the medical treatment device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for medical treatment, comprising:
an elongate power cable having a proximal end configured for coupling to a power source, and a distal end;
a handle adjacent the distal end of the power cable, the handle including a distal end configured for coupling to a treatment apparatus;
a switch within the handle; and
a switch actuator disposed on the handle and engageable with the switch, the switch actuator including a body portion and a resilient member, wherein the switch actuator further comprises a proximal member extending proximally from the body portion, and a hinge connecting the proximal member and the body portion, wherein the hinge is configured to enable the body portion to pivot with respect to the proximal member,
wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a retaining force to the body portion to retain the switch actuator in a ready position, and wherein, when a first force is applied to the body portion in a direction opposite the retaining force, the switch actuator is configured to move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle, and wherein, when a second force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the retaining force, the body portion is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle and depress the switch.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the power cable proximal end is coupled to the power source, and the handle distal end is coupled to the treatment apparatus, and the switch is depressed, the power cable is configured to deliver power from the power source to the treatment apparatus.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein after the first and second forces are removed, the power cable is configured to continue to deliver the power from the power source to the treatment apparatus for a preset interval.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a light-emitting indicator that is configured to illuminate when the switch is depressed.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the indicator is configured to remain illuminated while power is being delivered during the preset interval.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein after the second force is removed, the resilient member is configured to apply the retaining force to return the switch actuator to the ready position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch actuator further comprises a distal member positioned between the body portion and the resilient member, wherein the body portion and the distal member are separate pieces that are configured to bear against one another due to the retaining force.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a channel that receives the switch actuator.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the body portion is disposed partially within the channel and partially outside of the channel.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the switch is disposed in a recess adjacent the channel.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch is configured to provide tactile feedback when the switch is depressed.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is a coil spring.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge directly connects the proximal member and the body portion.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second force is applied subsequent to the first force.

16. A system for medical treatment, comprising:
an elongate power cable having a proximal end configured for coupling to a power source, and a distal end;
a handle adjacent the distal end of the power cable, the handle including a longitudinal axis and a distal end coupled to a treatment apparatus;
a switch within the handle; and
a switch actuator disposed on the handle and engageable with the switch, the switch actuator being capable of movement along the longitudinal axis of the handle between a ready position and a firing position, wherein the switch actuator comprises a body portion a proximal member extending proximally of the body portion, and a hinge connecting the proximal member and the body portion, wherein the hinge is configured to enable the body portion to pivot with respect to the proximal member,
wherein when the switch actuator is in the ready position it is constrained against movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and when the switch actuator is in the firing position it is capable of moving in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle to depress the switch.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the power cable proximal end is coupled to the power source, and the switch is depressed, the power cable is configured to deliver power from the power source to the treatment apparatus.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the switch is depressed and released, the power cable is configured to continue to deliver the power continues to be delivered from the power source to the treatment apparatus for a preset interval, and cease power deliver after the preset interval.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a light-emitting indicator that is configured to illuminate when the switch is depressed.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the indicator is configured to remain illuminated while power is being delivered during the preset interval.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the switch actuator further comprises a resilient member that biases the switch actuator toward the ready position.

22. The system of claim 16 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

23. The system of claim 16 , wherein the handle includes a channel that receives the switch actuator.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the switch is disposed in a recess adjacent the channel.

25. The system of claim 16 , wherein the switch is configured to provide tactile feedback when the switch is depressed.

26. The system of claim 16 , wherein the hinge directly connects the proximal member and the body portion.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Wang Li
• Hong Chunlang
• Yuan Zhen

Classifications

• A61B2090/08021

  of the patient or his organs · CPC title

• A61B34/76

  Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback · CPC title

• A61B46/10

  specially adapted for instruments{, e.g. microscopes} · CPC title

• H01H2221/03

  Stoppers for on or off position · CPC title

• H01H2300/014

  Application surgical instrument · CPC title