US 10,456,193 B2 · Medical device with a bilateral jaw configuration for nerve stimulation

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first jaw handle and a second jaw handle pivotally coupled about a joint;
the first jaw handle comprising a first jaw at a distal end of the first jaw handle;
the second jaw handle comprising a second jaw at a distal end of the second jaw handle;
the first and second jaws configured to grasp tissue therebetween when the first and second jaw handles are pivotally rotated about the joint into a closed position;
an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of either the first jaw handle or the second jaw handle and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws;
at least one of the first and second jaws configured to deliver therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site;
and
at least one of the first and second jaws configured to deliver nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site.

5 more elements

A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;
and
an end effector communicatively coupled to the handle assembly and comprising:
a first and second jaw;
and
an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of the end effector and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws;
the handle assembly configured to manipulate the first and second jaws to define an open position and a closed position;
and
the end effector configured to:
deliver, through the first and second laws, therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site;
and
deliver, through the electrical stimulation probe, nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site.

9 more elements

A surgical system, comprising:

a handle assembly;
a power generator electrically coupled to the handle assembly;
and
an end effector communicatively coupled to the handle assembly and electrically coupled to the power generator and comprising:
a first and second jaw;
and
an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of the end effector and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws;
the handle assembly configured to manipulate the first and second jaws to define an open position and a closed position;
the end effector configured to:
selectively deliver, through the first and second jaws, therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site;
and
selectively deliver, through the electrical stimulation probe, nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site;
the power generator configured to:
generate the therapeutic energy at the higher energy level to be transmitted to the end effector;
and
generate the nontherapeutic energy at the lower energy level to be transmitted to the end effector.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medical device with a bilateral jaw configuration for nerve stimulation

Life of this patent

Medical device with a bilateral jaw configuration for nerve stimulation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19