Laparoscopic device with three jaws
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsWilliam B. Weisenburgh, II, Gregory J. Bakos, Omar J. Vakharia, David Stefanchik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided utilizing an end effector having three jaws movably coupled thereto for grasping and/or dissecting tissue. In one embodiment, each of the three jaws are movable between an open position in which the distal ends of the three jaws are spaced apart from one another, and a closed position in which the distal ends directly contact one another. The jaws can define an opening therebetween when the jaws are in the closed position.
Claims25
A surgical device, comprising:
- an end effector having first, second, and third atraumatic jaws movably coupled thereto, each jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, and each jaw being movable between an open position in which the distal ends of the three jaws are spaced apart from one another, and a closed position in which the distal ends directly contact one another.
A surgical device, comprising:
- an end effector having first, second, and third jaws coupled thereto and movable between open and closed positions, the first, second, and third jaws having distal tips that directly contact one another in the closed position, and the first, second, and third jaws defining an opening therebetween in the closed position.
A method for grasping tissue, comprising:
- positioning an end effector having first, second, and third jaws at a first location within a body cavity;
- pivoting the first and second jaws of the end effector to grasp tissue at a first location between the first and second jaws;
- moving the end effector with the tissue grasped between the first and second jaws to a second location within the body cavity;
- and
- pivoting the third jaw to grasp tissue at the second location between the third jaw and the first and second jaws.
A method for locating a puncture in tissue, comprising:
- positioning first, second, and third jaws of an end effector around a puncture site in tissue;
- and
- closing the first, second, and third jaws to grasp the tissue and occlude blood flow to the puncture, the puncture being exposed through a window formed between the jaws.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.