US 11,684,409 B2Granted

Electrosurgical instrument with joint seal

AssigneeErbe Elektromedizin GmbH

InventorRolf Weiler

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument (10) with two branches (11, 12) that are pivotably supported at each other by means of a pivot joint (13) is disclosed. The pivot joint (13) has a support pin (34) and a support cavity (37). The support pin (34) is particularly torque-proof connected with one of the branches (11) or (12) and rotatably supported in the support cavity (37) of the respective other branch (12) or (11). Between the branches (11, 12) a seal (45) is provided that sealingly abuts at the two branches (11, 12) and that surrounds the support pin (34) completely in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the support pin (34) is sealingly connected with the respective branch (11, 12) at its axial ends. In doing so, entering of contaminants in the area between the support pin (34) and the support cavity (37) from all sides or access possibilities is inhibited.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical instrument (10), comprising:

a first branch (11) and a second branch (12) that are pivotably arranged about a pivot axis (S) at a pivot joint (13), wherein the pivot joint (13) comprises a support pin (34) and a support cavity (37) formed in at least one of the first and second branches in which the support pin is received, and
An elastically deformable seal (45) that completely surrounds the support pin (34) in a circumferential direction about the pivot axis (S) and sealingly abuts against a first abutment surface (46) of the first branch (11) and an opposing second abutment surface (47) of the second branch (12) so as to inhibit entry of contaminants into a space between the support pin (34) and the support cavity (37),
wherein the elastically deformable seal (45) is compressed between the first abutment surface and the opposing second abutment surface (46, 47) of the first and second branches (11, 12) such that the elastically deformable seal (45) is elastically deformed therebetween in an axial direction (A) parallel to the pivot axis (S).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/849,481Filed 15 Apr 2020
Priority: EP 1916986517 Apr 2019
Published: US 2020/0330148 A122 Oct 2020
Granted: 27 Jun 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A61B 18/1442
Probes or electrodes therefor: probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
A61B 2017/2947
Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery: pivots
A61B 2017/2948
Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery: sealing means, e.g. for sealing the interior from fluid entry
A61B 2018/00184
Mechanical features of the instrument of device: moving parts