Surgical instrument for transmitting energy to tissue comprising steam control paths
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsChad P. Boudreaux, Terry A. McFarland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue can comprise an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable relative to the other to clamp tissue intermediate the first jaw member and the second jaw member. The instrument can further include an electrode configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to the electrode and, in addition, at least one steam path within the electrode, wherein the at least one steam path is configured to vent steam generated when the tissue is heated by the electrode.
Claims17
A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:
- a handle, comprising:
- a trigger;
- and
- an electrical input;
- a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor;
- and
- an end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw member;
- a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member;
- an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode;
- and
- at least one steam path within said electrode, wherein said at least one steam path is configured to vent steam generated when the tissue is heated by the electrode.
A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:
- a handle, comprising:
- a trigger;
- and
- an electrical input;
- a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a conductor and a return conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor;
- and
- an end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw member;
- a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member;
- an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode;
- a return electrode electrically coupled with said return conductor;
- and
- at least one steam path within said return electrode, wherein said at least one steam path is configured to vent steam generated when the tissue is heated by the electrode.
A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:
- a handle, comprising:
- a trigger;
- and
- an electrical input;
- a conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor;
- and
- an end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw member;
- a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member;
- an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode;
- and
- steam conduction means for conducting steam generated when the tissue is heated by the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.