US 12,201,355 B2
Auxiliary electrosurgical return via cutting guard
Brian J. Creston, Madison, CT (US); Jacob C. Baril, Norwalk, CT (US); Scott J. Prior, Branford, CT (US); Saumya Banerjee, Southington, CT (US); Ernest A. Addi, Middletown, CT (US); Amy L. Kung, Hamden, CT (US); Christopher M. Meehan, Milford, CT (US); Thomas A. Zammataro, North Haven, CT (US); and Matthew A. Dinino, Newington, CT (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/080,061.
Application 18/080,061 is a continuation of application No. 16/883,477, filed on May 26, 2020, granted, now 11,529,191.
Prior Publication US 2023/0116872 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 18/16 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/16 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device, comprising:
a tissue guard defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending through the tissue guard to an operating cavity between the open proximal end and the open distal end;
a ground plate disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the lumen and operably coupled to a first end of a ground wire extending from the tissue guard; and
a coupling including a bore defined in the coupling configured to receive a cable from the bipolar electrosurgical device within the bore, the cable including an active lead and a ground lead, the coupling including a flange extending from the coupling, the flange defining a receptacle within the flange configured to operably receive a plug connected to a second end of the ground wire, the receptacle configured to provide electrical continuity between the ground lead disposed within the cable and the plug coupled to the ground wire which, in turn, provides electrical continuity to the ground plate, wherein the operating cavity is accessible by the bipolar electrosurgical device through the lumen such that, during use, the lumen acts as an auxiliary return for the bipolar electrosurgical device.