# US 10,945,782 B2 · Bipolar electrosurgical hand shears > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,782 B2 - Document ID: US10945782B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/437,638 - Filed: 2017-02-21 - Published: 2017-08-10 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-29 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III; David C. Yates; Katherine J. Schmid; Taylor W. Aronhalt; Jeffrey S. Swayze; Jeffrey D. Messerly; Michael S. Cropper; Jerome R. Morgan; Richard W. Timm; Frederick E. Shelton, IV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945782B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps} - A61B 17/3201: Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02) - A61B 2017/2825: {Inserts of different material in jaws} - A61B 2018/00071: {Electrical conductivity} - A61B 2018/0016: {Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array} - A61B 2018/00678: {upper} - A61B 2018/00916: {with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device} - A61B 2018/00958: {for switching between different working modes of the main function} - A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws} - A61B 2018/1457: {having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a first handle, and a second handle. The second jaw is pivotally coupled with the first jaw. The first jaw and the second jaw are configured to grasp tissue. The jaws provide offset electrode surfaces that are operable to deliver bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the jaws. The apparatus is further operable to sever tissue. A lockout feature selectively prevents tissue severing, based on an energization state of the jaws. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: (a) a body; and (b) an end effector positioned distal to the body, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw having a first grasping surface, the first grasping surface comprising a first electrode surface and a downwardly facing protrusion, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion comprises a first PTC thermistor material, and (ii) a second jaw having a second grasping surface, the second grasping surface comprising a second electrode surface and an upwardly facing protrusion laterally offset from the downwardly facing protrusion of the first grasping surface, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion comprises a second PTC thermistor material, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to transition between an open position, a first closed position, a second closed position, and a third closed position, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are closer together in the second closed position as compared to the first closed position, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are closer together in the third closed position as compared to the second closed position, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operable to grasp tissue in the first closed position, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface are operable to transmit bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the first jaw and the second jaw in the second closed position, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion and the upwardly facing protrusion are configured to cooperatively sever tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the third closed position, wherein at least one of the downwardly facing protrusion or the upwardly facing protrusion is configured to contact only a portion of the second electrode surface or the first electrode surface, respectively, in the third closed position, wherein the first PTC thermistor material is configured to contact the portion of the second electrode surface in the third closed position, wherein the second PTC thermistor material is configured to contact the portion of the first electrode surface in the third closed position, wherein the first PTC thermistor material and the second PTC thermistor material define a lateral gap in the third closed position, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface extend along the lateral gap in the third closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion comprises a hump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion comprises a ridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ridge comprises a rounded profile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ridge comprises a square profile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ridge comprises a triangular profile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first and second handles are pivotally coupled together, wherein the first and second handles are operable to drive the first and second jaws to transition between the open position, the first closed position, the second closed position, and the third closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion is in direct contact with the first grasping surface in the third closed position, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion is not in direct contact with the first grasping surface in the second closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode surface extends laterally away from the downwardly presented protrusion toward the upwardly presented protrusion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second electrode surface extends laterally away from the upwardly presented protrusion toward the downwardly presented protrusion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface are operable to transmit bipolar RF energy to tissue in the third closed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an activation button configured to activate the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface to provide bipolar RF energy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion comprises an insert configured to be coupled with a remaining portion of the first jaw. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion comprises an insert configured to be coupled with a remaining portion of the second jaw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion and the downwardly facing protrusion each comprise electrically insulative material. ### Claim 16 An apparatus comprising: (a) a body; and (b) an end effector positioned distal to the body, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw comprising a first electrode surface configured to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue and a downwardly facing protrusion, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion comprises a first PTC thermistor material, and (ii) a second jaw comprising a second electrode surface configured to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue and an upwardly facing protrusion comprising a second PTC thermistor material, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion is laterally offset from the downwardly facing protrusion of the first jaw to define a lateral gap, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface laterally extend along the lateral gap, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to transition between an open position, a first closed position, a second closed position, and third closed position, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operable to grasp tissue in the first closed position, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface are operable to transmit bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the first jaw and the second jaw in the second closed position, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion and the upwardly facing protrusion are configured to cooperatively sever tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the third closed position, and wherein the first PTC thermistor material is configured to contact a portion of the second electrode surface and the second PTC thermistor material is configured to contact a portion of the first electrode surface in the third closed position to define the lateral gap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion is configured to abut against the second jaw in the third closed position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion is configured to abut against the first jaw in the third closed position. ### Claim 19 An apparatus comprising: (a) a body; and (b) an end effector positioned distal to the body, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw comprising a first electrode surface configured to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue and a downwardly facing protrusion, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion comprises a first PTC thermistor material, and (ii) a second jaw comprising a second electrode surface configured to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue and an upwardly facing protrusion, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion comprises a second PTC thermistor material, wherein the upwardly facing protrusion is laterally offset from the downwardly facing protrusion of the first jaw, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to transition between an open position, a first closed position, a second closed position, and third closed position, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operable to grasp tissue in the first closed position, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface are operable to transmit bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the first jaw and the second jaw in the second closed position, wherein the downwardly facing protrusion and the upwardly facing protrusion are configured to cooperatively sever tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the third closed position, wherein the first PTC thermistor material of the downwardly facing protrusion is configured to contact a portion of the second electrode surface in the third closed position, and wherein the second PTC thermistor material of the upwardly facing protrusion is configured to contact a portion of the first electrode surface in the third closed position, wherein the first PTC thermistor material and the second PTC thermistor material define a lateral gap in the third closed position, wherein the first electrode surface and the second electrode surface extend along the lateral gap in the third closed position.