Multi-part neutral electrode for an hf surgical instrument

Claim 2

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, in combination with a connecting clamp including two facing elements having respective inner surfaces urged together by spring force, one of said elements including electrical contacts therein and said two elements releasably clamping said neutral electrode for making electrical connection thereto, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having parallel electrical connections thereon leading from said partial electrodes; said carrier extension including first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and offset from the center of said carrier extension; and one of the two facing elements of said connecting clamp is provided on its inner surface with first and second projections located for alignment with said first and second openings of said carrier extension.

Claim 3

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said openings are reinforced on their margins.

Claim 4

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said projections are arranged next to said electrical contacts of said connecting clamp for electrical connection of said electrode to said clamp.

Claim 5

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said projections are the shape of a cone and the other of said two clamping elements is provided with retaining openings for receiving the projections when said clamp is in a closed position.

Claim 6

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said two openings are arranged on a line which lies parallel to a main longitudinal direction of said carrier.

Claim 7

An electrode combination according to claim 5, wherein:

Claim 8

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said electrical connections of said carrier extension extend parallel to a line which lies parallel to a main longitudinal direction of said carrier.

Claim 9

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said two openings are of unequal size.

Claim 10

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: said carrier extension includes a third opening therein; and said one of said two facing elements of said connecting clamp is provided on its inner surface with a further projection which is also arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and is aligned with said third opening of said carrier extension.

Claim 11

An electrode combination according to claim 1, wherein: the other of said two facing elements of said connecting clamp is provided with retaining openings which the first-mentioned projections project into when said clamp is in a closed position, and that for said further projection an additional retaining opening is provided.

Claim 12

An electrode combination according to claim 9, wherein: said two first mentioned projections are arranged on the same one of said two elements.

Claim 13

An electrode combination according to claim 9, wherein: said electrical contacts have a longitudinal shape and extend parallel to each other, and said two first mentioned projections are arranged on a line which in the closed position of said clamp extends parallel to said electrical contacts.

Claim 14

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having a plurality of partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having a corresponding plurality of parallel electrical connections thereon leading from respective ones of said plurality of partial electrodes; and said carrier extension includes first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and offset from the center of said carrier extension.

Claim 15

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having a plurality of partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having a corresponding plurality of parallel electrical connections thereon leading from respective ones of said plurality of partial electrodes; and said carrier extension includes first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and offset from the center of said carrier extension.

Claim 16

An electrode according to claim 13, wherein: said openings are reinforced on their margins.

Claim 17

An electrode according to claim 13, wherein: said two openings are arranged on a line which lies parallel to a main longitudinal direction of said carrier.

Claim 18

An electrode according to claim 15, wherein: said electrical connections of said carrier extension extend parallel to each other and parallel to said line.

Claim 19

An electrode according to claim 15, wherein: said two openings are of unequal size.

Claim 20

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having a plurality of partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having a corresponding plurality of parallel electrical connections thereon leading from respective ones of said plurality of partial electrodes; and said carrier extension includes first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and on a line which lies parallel to a main longitudinal direction of said carrier, said line being offset from the center of said carrier extension.

Claim 21

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having a plurality of partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having a corresponding plurality of parallel electrical connections thereon leading from respective ones of said plurality of partial electrodes; and said carrier extension includes first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and on a line which lies parallel to a main longitudinal direction of said carrier, said line being offset from the center of said carrier extension.

Claim 22

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having a plurality of partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, in combination with a connecting clamp, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having a corresponding plurality of parallel electrical connections thereon leading from respective ones of said plurality of partial electrodes; said carrier extension includes first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and offset from the center of said carrier extension; and said connecting clamp includes a pair of opposed clamping elements urged against one another by spring force, said clamping elements including a plurality of electrical contacts therein for providing electrical connection to said electrical connections of said neutral electrode when said carrier extension of said neutral electrode is positioned between said opposed clamping elements, one of said two clamping elements being provided, on its surface which opposes said other clamping element, with first and second projections which are located so as to be aligned with said first and second openings of said carrier extension when said carrier extension is positioned between said opposing clamping elements.

Claim 23

A multi-part neutral electrode for an HF surgical instrument having a plurality of partial electrodes arranged on a common carrier, in combination with a connecting clamp, wherein: an edge portion of said carrier is provided with an extension, said carrier extension having a corresponding plurality of parallel electrical connections thereon leading from respective ones of said plurality of partial electrodes; said carrier extension includes first and second openings arranged asymmetrically with respect to said parallel electrical connections and offset from the center of said carrier extension; and said connecting clamp includes a pair of opposed clamping elements urged against one another by spring force, said clamping elements including a plurality of electrical contacts therein for providing electrical connection to said electrical connections of said neutral electrode when said carrier extension of said neutral electrode is positioned between said opposed clamping elements, one of said two clamping elements being provided, on its surface which opposes said other clamping element, with first and second projections which are located so as to be aligned with said first and second openings of said carrier extension when said carrier extension is positioned between said opposing clamping elements.

Claim 24

An electrode combination according to claim 19, wherein: said projections are arranged next to said electrical contacts of said connecting clamp for electrical connection of said neutral electrode to said connecting clamp.