Electric stapler device
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorCHRISTOPHER T. RUSIN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a plurality of spaced apart small seal plates on opposing jaw members where each seal plate forms a pair of seal plates with the corresponding seal plate on the opposing jaw member. Each pair of seal plates is individually activatable, and the pair of seal plates are activated in sequence. When the opposing jaw members are in an approximated position, the pairs of seal plates around the periphery of each jaw member define a gap therebetween that is larger than the gap between pairs of seal plates along the center of each jaw member.
Claims19
An end effector assembly of a forceps, comprising:
- first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each jaw member including:
- a plurality of spaced apart seal plates, wherein each seal plate corresponds to a seal plate on the opposite jaw member to form a pair of seal plates, each pair of seal plates is individually activatable;
- and
- a cutting element, wherein when the first and second jaw members are in the approximated position, the pairs of seal plates closer to the cutting element define a gap therebetween that is smaller than the gap between pairs of seal plates further from the cutting element.
An end effector assembly of a forceps, comprising:
- first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each jaw member including:
- a plurality of spaced apart seal plates, wherein each seal plate corresponds to a seal plate on the opposite jaw member to form a pair of seal plates, each pair of seal plates is individually activatable, wherein when the first and second jaw members are in the approximated position, the pairs of seal plates around the periphery of each jaw member define a gap therebetween that is larger than the gap between pairs of seal plates along the center of each jaw member.
A method for sealing tissue, comprising:
- grasping a portion of tissue between a first and second jaw member, wherein each jaw member includes a plurality of spaced apart seal plates, and each seal plate corresponds to a seal plate on the opposite jaw member to form a pair of seal plates with the pairs of seal plates defined along the periphery of the jaw members defining a gap therebetween that is larger than the gap between the pairs of seal plates along the center of each jaw member;
- sending an electrical signal to a first pair of seal plates;
- and
- sending another electrical signal to a second pair of seal plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.