# US 10,245,099 B2 · Vessel sealing instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,099 B2 - Document ID: US10245099B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/089,778 - Filed: 2016-04-04 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-04 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Ryan C. Artale; Tony Moua; Robert M. Sharp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245099B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps} - A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor} - A61B 34/76: {Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback} - A61B 2018/00404: {Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/00916: {with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device} - A61B 2018/126: {bipolar} - A61B 2018/1412: {Blade} - A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft. An end effector is coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft. A handle assembly includes a movable handle movable relative to a fixed handle for effecting movement of the jaw members from a first position to a second position. Each jaw member is configured to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A switch is disposed on the fixed handle and configured to be depressed between a first position and at least one subsequent position upon biasing engagement with a switch engaging surface disposed on the movable handle. The first position of the switch causes the relay of information to the user corresponding to a desired pressure on tissue grasped between the jaw members and the at least one subsequent position is configured to activate the source of electrosurgical energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising: moving a first handle relative to a second handle of a bipolar forceps to move a pair of jaw members between an open position and a closed position; depressing a button that extends from the first handle toward the second handle to a first threshold upon movement of the jaw members to the closed position, the first threshold corresponding to a grasping of tissue between the jaw members; depressing the button to a second threshold upon movement of the first handle toward the second handle when the jaw members are in the closed position to actuate a switch coupled to the button to control a supply electrosurgical energy to the jaw members; rotating a trigger to advance a knife distally through the jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position; rotating an anti-deployment link into engagement with the trigger to prevent rotation of the trigger when the jaw members are in the open position; and rotating a protrusion extending from the second handle into contact with the anti-deployment link to rotate the anti-deployment link out of engagement with the trigger to permit rotation of the trigger when the jaw members are in the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a first tactile response corresponding to the first threshold of the button. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising generating a second tactile response corresponding to the second threshold of the button. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining a distance between the first and second jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising measuring a grasping force applied on tissue grasped between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein rotating the anti-deployment link into engagement with the trigger includes rotating the protrusion extending from the second handle out of contact with the anti-deployment link. ### Claim 7 A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising: moving a first handle relative to a second handle of a bipolar forceps to move a pair of jaw members between an open position and a closed position; depressing a button that extends from the first handle toward the second handle to a first threshold with the second handle upon movement of the jaw members to the closed position; depressing the button to a second threshold with the second handle when the jaw members are in the closed position to actuate a switch coupled to the button to control a supply of electrosurgical energy to the jaw members; rotating a trigger to advance a knife distally through the jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position; rotating an anti-deployment link into engagement with the trigger to prevent rotation of the trigger when the jaw members are in the open position; and rotating a protrusion extending from the second handle into contact with the anti-deployment link to rotate the anti-deployment link out of engagement with the trigger to permit rotation of the trigger when the jaw members are in the closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, further comprising generating a first tactile response when the button is depressed to the first threshold and generating a second tactile response when the button is depressed to the second threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the first threshold of the button corresponds to a grasping of tissue between the jaw members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein rotating the anti-deployment link into engagement with the trigger includes rotating the protrusion extending from the second handle out of contact with the anti-deployment link. ### Claim 11 A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising: moving a handle relative to a housing of an electrosurgical instrument to move a pair of jaw members between an open position and a closed position; approximating the handle to the housing to engage a button with the handle, the button extending from the housing toward the handle; moving the button to a first position with the handle upon movement of the jaw members to the closed position; moving the button to a second position with the handle when the jaw members are in the closed position to actuate a switch disposed within the housing to control delivery of electrosurgical energy to the jaw members; rotating a trigger to advance a knife distally through the jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position; rotating an anti-deployment link into engagement with the trigger to prevent rotation of the trigger when the jaw members are in the open position; and rotating a protrusion extending from the handle into contact with the anti-deployment link to rotate the anti-deployment link out of engagement with the trigger to permit rotation of the trigger when the jaw members are in the closed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein rotating the anti-deployment link into engagement with the trigger includes rotating the protrusion extending from the handle out of contact with the anti-deployment link.