# US 2014/0155892 A1 · Electrosurgical Instrument and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155892 A1 - Document ID: US20140155892A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/904,404 - Filed: 2013-05-29 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-12 - Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Inventors: Csaba Truckai; John H. Shadduck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155892A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 18/085: {Forceps, scissors} - A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps} - A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)} - A61B 17/3201: Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02) - A61B 18/08: by means of electrically-heated probes - A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves} - A61B 2017/00084: {Temperature} - A61B 2017/2933: {camming or guiding means} - A61B 2017/2934: {arcuate shaped guiding means} - A61B 2017/2945: {Curved jaws} - A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means} - A61B 2018/00107: {Coatings on the energy applicator} - A61B 2018/00619: {Welding} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy} - A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature} - A61B 2018/1432: {curved} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An electrosurgical working end and method for sealing and transecting tissue. An exemplary working end provides curved jaw members that are positioned on opposing sides of the targeted anatomic structure. The working end carries a slidable extension member having flange portions with inner surfaces that slide over the jaw members to clamp tissue therebetween. The working end carries an independent slidable cutting member that is flexible to follow the curved axis of the jaws. The electrosurgical surfaces of the jaws include partially-resistive bodies for carrying a current or load which modulates ohmic heating in the engaged tissue to prevent charring and desiccation of tissue to create a high strength thermal seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongate introducer having a working end including openable-closeable first and second jaw members having curved distal portions that define a curved tissue-engaging axis; a flanged member that is slidably carried by the introducer, the flanged member moveable between a first non-extended position and second extended position wherein flanges slidably engage the jaw members to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position; and a flexible tissue-cutting member slidably carried by the introducer, the tissue-cutting member moveable between a first non-extended position and a second extended position that extends distally beyond the translatable member and flexes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the translatable member in configured with laterally-extending flanges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the flanges slidably engage outward-facing surfaces of the jaws. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the tissue-cutting element includes a blade edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the tissue-cutting element includes an electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein at least one jaw member includes an electrosurgical energy-delivery surface for delivering energy to tissue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface includes first and second polarity electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface includes a body having a positively or negatively sloped temperature-resistance profile. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface includes a body that exhibits a pressure-resistance profile wherein resistance decreases with pressure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface includes a body having a fixed resistance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface of the first jaw includes a first body comprising an electrode and a second body comprising a load-carrying material that is partially resistive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein the first body and the second body are in contact in the energy-delivery surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface of the first jaw includes a first body comprising spaced apart opposing polarity electrodes and a second body comprising a load-carrying material that is partially resistive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein the first body and the second body are in contact in the energy-delivery surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the translatable member comprises a plurality of axially-extending elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the plurality of axially-extending elements are coupled by a flexible hinge joint. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the plurality of axially-extending elements are coupled by at least one flexible cable. ### Claim 18 An electrosurgical working end, comprising: openable-closeable first and second jaw members having curved distal portions that close about a curved axis; a reciprocatable member having an I-beam cross-section configuration that is axially moveable in a channel in the jaw members between a first non-extended position and second extended position wherein flanges of the I-beam slidably engage outward-facing surfaces of the jaw members to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position; and a flexible tissue-cutting member that is axially moveable relative to the jaw members between a first non-extended position and a second extended position that extends distally beyond the second position of the I-beam member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrosurgical working end of claim 18 wherein at least one jaw member includes an electrosurgical energy-delivery surface for delivering energy to tissue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein the electrosurgical energy-delivery surface includes a first body comprising at least one electrode and a second body comprising a load-carrying material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein the load-carrying material has a positively or negatively sloped temperature-resistance profile. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein the load-carrying material has exhibits a pressure-resistance profile wherein resistance decreases with pressure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein the load-carrying material has a fixed resistance. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein the first body and the second body are in contact in the energy-delivery surface. ### Claim 25 An electrosurgical instrument, comprising: an instrument having an openable-closeable jaw assembly with first and second jaw members; the first and second jaws having electrosurgical energy-delivery surfaces, wherein each jaw includes an opposing polarity conductive body coupled to an electrical source and wherein at least one jaw surface includes a partially resistive body selected from the class consisting of a body having a fixed resistance, a body having resistance that changes in response to pressure and a body having resistance that changes in response to temperature, the partially resistive body capable of load-carrying to prevent arcing in tissue about the energy-delivery surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein the at least one jaw surface includes a first polarity conductive body coupled to an electrical source in contact with body having resistance that changes in response to pressure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein the at least one jaw surface includes a first polarity conductive body coupled to an electrical source in contact with body having a fixed resistance. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein the at least one jaw surface includes a first polarity conductive body coupled to an electrical source in contact with a body having resistance that changes in to temperature. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein the at least one jaw surface includes a first body having resistance that changes in to temperature and a second body having resistance that changes in response to pressure. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein a jaw surface includes first and second opposing polarity conductive bodies coupled to an electrical source, said first and second bodies in contact with an intermediate body having a resistance that changes in response to temperature, the intermediate body capable of load-carrying to prevent arcing in tissue about the energy-delivery surface. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein a jaw surface includes first and second opposing polarity conductive bodies coupled to an electrical source, said first and second bodies in contact with an intermediate body having resistance that changes in response to pressure, the intermediate body capable of load-carrying to prevent arcing in tissue about the energy-delivery surface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The electrosurgical instrument of claim 25 wherein a jaw surface includes first and second opposing polarity conductive bodies coupled to an electrical source, said first and second bodies in contact with an intermediate body having fixed resistance, the intermediate body capable of load-carrying to prevent arcing in tissue about the energy-delivery surface.