# US 11,304,743 B2 · Electrosurgical forceps > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,743 B2 - Document ID: US11304743B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/261,759 - Filed: 2019-01-30 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-30 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Grant T. Sims; Kelley D. Goodman; Craig V. Krastins; Robert F. Mccullough, Jr.; Jennifer L. Rich; Daniel W. Mercier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304743B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps} - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 2018/00172: {Connectors and adapters therefor} - A61B 2018/00916: {with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device} - A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An electrosurgical forceps includes a pair of first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another, an end effector assembly coupled to the pair of first and second shaft members, a knife, and a biasing member. The biasing member is disposed about the knife and configured to resiliently bias the knife toward a retracted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a pair of first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another; an end effector assembly coupled to the pair of first and second shaft members and configured to pivot about a pivot member between an open configuration and a closed configuration in response to pivoting of the first and second shaft members; a knife selectively translatable through the first shaft member from a retracted position to an extended position in which the knife extends at least partially through the end effector assembly, the knife having a wall projecting outwardly therefrom; and a biasing member disposed about the knife and configured to resiliently bias the knife toward the retracted position, the biasing member being positioned between the pivot member and the wall of the knife. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is an elongated spring wrapped around the knife. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is compressed between the wall of the knife and the pivot member during distal translation of the knife toward the extended position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 3, wherein the wall is a stop engaged to a proximal end portion of the biasing member and configured to resist distal translation of the knife beyond the extended position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member has a proximal end portion engaged to the wall of the knife, and a distal end portion engaged to the pivot member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a knife deployment mechanism including: a linkage having a proximal end portion operably coupled to a trigger; and a pivot pin rotatably supported by a distal end portion of the linkage and coupled to the knife, wherein the knife is configured to move between the retracted and extended positions in response to an actuation of the trigger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 6, wherein the knife deployment mechanism includes a crank having a first end portion coupled to the trigger and a second end portion rotatably coupled to the proximal end portion of the linkage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 7, wherein the crank rotates in response to an actuation of the trigger to rotate and translate the linkage. ### Claim 9 An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a pair of first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another; a trigger rotatably supported by at least one of the first or second shaft members and configured to move relative to the at least one of the first or second shaft members between an unactuated position and an actuated position; an end effector assembly coupled to the pair of first and second shaft members and configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration in response to pivoting of the first and second shaft members; a knife selectively translatable through the first shaft member from a retracted position to an extended position in which the knife extends at least partially through the end effector assembly; a knife deployment mechanism including a crank having a first end portion coupled to the trigger and a second end portion operably coupled to the knife; a first biasing member coupled to the trigger and configured to resiliently bias the trigger toward the unactuated position; and a second biasing member disposed about the knife and configured to resiliently bias the knife toward the retracted position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the first biasing member has a first end portion attached to the trigger and a second end portion fixed to a portion of at least one of the first or second shaft members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 10, wherein the first shaft member has an outer housing and an inner frame disposed within and axially fixed relative to the outer housing, the trigger rotatably supported by the inner frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 11, wherein the second end portion of the first biasing member is fixed to the inner frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the first biasing member is a torsion spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the knife deployment mechanism includes a linkage having a proximal end portion operably coupled to the trigger, and the knife is configured to move between the retracted and extended positions in response to an actuation of the trigger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 14, wherein the knife deployment mechanism includes a pivot pin rotatably supported by a distal end portion of the linkage and coupled to the knife. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 14, wherein the crank rotates from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to an actuation of the trigger to rotate the linkage and move the knife between the retracted and extended positions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electrosurgical forceps according to claim 16, further comprising a third biasing member coupled to the crank and configured to resiliently bias the crank to the unactuated position.