# US 2014/0155893 A1 · Surgical forceps for sealing and dividing tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155893 A1 - Document ID: US20140155893A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,684 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-23 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: EDWARD M. CHOJIN; DAVID M. GARRISON; JENNIFER S. HARPER; GLENN A. HORNER; DUANE E. KERR; JESSICA E.C. OLSON; KATHY E. ROOKS; GENEVA LADTKOW - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155893A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/1452: {including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A forceps includes an end effector assembly including a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable relative to the other between a spaced apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position. The jaw members are configured to apply a pre-determined pressure to tissue disposed therebetween in each of the first and second approximated positions. A sealing pressure is applied to tissue disposed between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the first approximated position. A cutting pressure is applied to tissue disposed between the jaw members when the jaw members are in the second approximated position. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 An end effector assembly for a surgical instrument, comprising: first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position, the first jaw member including: a jaw body; a blade engaged to the jaw body; and a pair of plate sections operably coupled to the jaw body and positioned to define an interior area between the plate sections and the jaw body, the plate sections spaced-apart from one another to define a first channel therebetween in communication with the interior area, wherein, with the first and second jaw members disposed in the first approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in an extended position relative to the jaw body such that the blade is retained within the interior area, and wherein, with the first and second jaw members disposed in the second approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in a retracted position relative to the jaw body such that the blade extends from the interior area and through the first channel to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The end effector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the second jaw member includes: a jaw body; and a plate disposed on the jaw body, wherein the plate sections of the first jaw member and the plate of the second jaw member are configured to grasp tissue therebetween in the first and second approximated positions of the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The end effector assembly according to claim 17, wherein the plate of the second jaw member includes a pair of plate sections spaced-apart from one another to define a second channel therebetween positioned opposite of the first channel, the second channel configured to at least partially receive the blade in the second approximated position of the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The end effector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to apply a first pre-determined pressure to tissue grasped therebetween in the first approximated position, and wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to apply a second pre-determined pressure to tissue grasped therebetween in the second approximated position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The end effector assembly according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The end effector assembly according to claim 16, further including a pair of actuators coupling the plate sections of the first jaw member to the jaw body of the first jaw member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The end effector assembly according to claim 21, wherein the pair of actuators are selected from the group consisting of: coil springs, cantilever beams, shape memory actuators, hydraulic actuators, cam members, and elastomers. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The end effector assembly according to claim 21, wherein the actuators bias the plate sections towards the extended position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The end effector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the blade is integrally formed with the jaw body. ### Claim 25 A forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly including: first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position, the first jaw member including: a jaw body; a blade engaged to the jaw body; and a pair of plate sections operably coupled to the jaw body and positioned to define an interior area between the plate sections and the jaw body, the plate sections spaced-apart from one another to define a first channel therebetween in communication with the interior area; and a handle assembly including a fixed handle and a movable handle operably coupled to the end effector assembly, the movable handle movable relative to the fixed handle between a first position, a second position, and a third position for moving the first and second jaw members between the spaced-apart position, the first approximated position, and the second approximated position, wherein, with the movable handle disposed in the second position and the first and second jaw members disposed in the first approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in an extended position relative to the jaw body such that the blade is retained within the interior area, and wherein, with the movable handle disposed in the third position and the first and second jaw members disposed in the second approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in a retracted position relative to the jaw body such that the blade extends from the interior area and through the first channel to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The forceps according to claim 25, wherein the second jaw member includes: a jaw body; and a plate disposed on the jaw body, wherein the plate sections of the first jaw member and the plate of the second jaw member are configured to grasp tissue therebetween in the first and second approximated positions of the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The forceps according to claim 26, wherein the plate of the second jaw member includes a pair of plate sections spaced-apart from one another to define a second channel therebetween positioned opposite of the first channel, the second channel configured to at least partially receive the blade in the second approximated position of the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The forceps according to claim 25, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to apply a first pre-determined pressure to tissue grasped therebetween in the first approximated position, and wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to apply a second pre-determined pressure to tissue grasped therebetween in the second approximated position. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The forceps according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The forceps according to claim 25, further including a pair of actuators coupling the plate sections of the first jaw member to the jaw body of the first jaw member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The forceps according to claim 30, wherein the pair of actuators are selected from the group consisting of: coil springs, cantilever beams, shape memory actuators, hydraulic actuators, cam members, and elastomers. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The forceps according to claim 30, wherein the actuators bias the plate sections towards the extended position. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) The forceps according to claim 25, wherein the blade is integrally formed with the jaw body.