Electrosurgical Instrument
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorsKristin D. Johnson, Scott F. Alexander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An end effector assembly is provided. The end effector assembly includes a pair of first and second jaw members including respective seal plates adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. The first and second jaw members operable in a first bipolar mode of operation for treating tissue and a second bipolar mode of operation for separating tissue. A dissector translatable through one of the first and second jaw members is in electrical communication with one of the seal plates of the first and second jaw members and activatable in the second bipolar mode of operation for separating tissue when the first and second jaw members are in one of the open and clamping position and tissue is adjacent thereto.
Claims27
An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a pair of first and second jaw members including respective 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 at least two bipolar modes of operation, a first bipolar mode of operation for treating tissue and a second bipolar mode of operation for separating tissue;
- and
- an electrical dissecting member translatable through at least one of the first and second jaw members, the electrical dissecting member in electrical communication with at least one of the seal plates of the first and second jaw members and activatable in the second bipolar mode of operation for separating tissue when the first and second jaw members are in one of the open and clamping position and tissue is adjacent thereto.
A system for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:
- a source of electrosurgical energy configured to operate in at least two bipolar modes of operation, a first bipolar mode of operation for treating tissue and a second bipolar mode of operation for separating tissue;
- a handle having at least one shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough;
- 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 adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, 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 the at least two bipolar modes of operation;
- and
- a dissector translatable through at least one of the first and second jaw members, the dissector in electrical communication with at least one of the seal plates of the first and second jaw members and activatable in the second bipolar mode of operation for separating tissue when the first and second jaw members are in one of the open and clamping position and tissue is adjacent thereto.
A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:
- positioning tissue between first and second jaw members of an electrosurgical instrument, the first and second jaw members including respective seal plates in operative communication with an electrosurgical generator configured to function in at least two bipolar modes of operation, the first and second jaw members operable in two modes of operation, a dissector translatable through at least one of the first and second jaw members, the dissector in electrical communication with at least one of the seal plates of the first and second jaw members;
- closing the first and second jaw members such that the tissue is clamped therebetween;
- transmitting electrosurgical energy in the first bipolar mode of operation to the first and second jaw members for electrosurgically treating tissue;
- translating the dissector through a channel that is operably disposed on at least one of the first and second jaw members;
- and
- transmitting electrosurgical energy in the second bipolar mode of operation to the jaw member with the dissector for dissecting the electrosurgically treated tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.