Electrosurgical Instrument
OwnerKristin D. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of first and second jaw members including respective seal having a width. Each of the seal plates adapted to connect to an energy source. The first and second jaw members are operable in a first mode of operation for treating tissue and a second mode of operation for separating tissue. The width of the seal plate of the first jaw member is smaller than the width of the seal plate of the second jaw member. In the second mode of operation the seal plate of the first jaw member is independently activatable from the seal plate of the second jaw member to facilitate the separation of tissue when the first and second jaw members are in one of the open and clamping positions.
Claims20
An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a pair of first and second jaw members including respective seal plates having a width, the seal plates adapted to connect to an energy source, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable relative to the other jaw member from an open position, wherein the first and the second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position, wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the first and second jaw members operable in two modes of operation, a first mode of operation for treating tissue and a second mode of operation for separating tissue,
- wherein the width of the seal plate of the first jaw member is smaller than the width of the seal plate of the second jaw member such that in the second mode of operation the seal plate of the first jaw member is independently activatable from the seal plate of the second jaw member to facilitate the separation of tissue when the first and second jaw members are in one of the open and clamping positions.
A system for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:
- an energy source configured to function in at least two modes of operation, a first mode of operation for treating tissue and a second mode of operation for dissecting tissue;
- an electrosurgical instrument comprising:
- a handle having at least one shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough;
- and
- an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the at least one shaft and having a pair of first and second jaw members including respective seal plates having a width, the seal plates adapted to connect to an energy source, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable relative to the other jaw member from an open position, wherein the first and the second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position, wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the first and second jaw members operable in two modes of operation, a first mode of operation for treating tissue and a second mode of operation for separating tissue,
- wherein the width of the seal plate of the first jaw member is smaller than the width of the seal plate of the second jaw member such that in the second mode of operation the seal plate of the first jaw member is independently activatable from the seal plate of the second jaw member to facilitate the separation of tissue when the first and second jaw members are in one of the open and clamping positions.
A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:
- positioning tissue between first and second jaw members of an electrosurgical instrument, each of the first and second jaw members including respective seal plates having a width, the respective seal plates adapted to connect to an energy source, the first and second jaw members operable in first and second modes of operation, wherein the width of the seal plate of the first jaw member is smaller than the width of the seal plate of the second jaw member;
- closing the first and second jaw members such that the tissue is clamped therebetween;
- transmitting electrosurgical energy in the first mode of operation to the first and second jaw members for electrosurgically treating tissue;
- and
- transmitting electrosurgical energy in a second mode of operation to the jaw member with the seal plate with the smaller width for dissecting the electrosurgically treated tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.