# US 2014/0194870 A1 · Dual irrigating bipolar forceps > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194870 A1 - Document ID: US20140194870A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,686 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Synergetics, Inc. - Applicants: Synergetics, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew A. Hanlon; Matthew P. LaConte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194870A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps} - A61B 2018/00029: {open} - A61B 2018/1462: {Tweezers} - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Bipolar electrosurgical forceps are provided with dual irrigating tubes that deliver irrigating liquid to the opposed surfaces of the tips of the forceps to prevent the sticking of body tissue to the tips. To reduce the manufacturing costs of the forceps and enable the forceps to be single use, disposable forceps, each tube of the dual irrigating tools is a plastic tube adhered along one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of forceps arms. Each tube also has a flat nozzle at the distal end of the tube that disburses irrigating liquid across the opposed surfaces of the forceps arm distal and tips. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A single use, tissue sticking resistant forceps comprising: first and second arms, each arm having an elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends and having opposite inner and outer surfaces that extend the length of each arm, the proximal ends of the first and second arms being connected together with the inner surfaces of the first and second arms opposing each other, and the distal ends of the first and second arms being constructed as tissue cauterizing tips; first and second irrigation tubes, each irrigation tube having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the first irrigation tube length being secured to the first arm by an adhesive with the first irrigation tube length extending from the first irrigation tube proximal end adjacent the first arm proximal end, across the length of the first arm to the first irrigation tube distal end adjacent the first arm distal end, and the second irrigation tube length being secured to the second arm by an adhesive with the second irrigation tube length extending from the second irrigation tube proximal end adjacent the second arm proximal end, across the length of the second arm to the second irrigation tube distal end adjacent the second arm distal end, whereby securing the first and second irrigation tubes to the respective first and second arms with the adhesive reduces manufacturing costs for the forceps and enables the forceps single use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The forceps of claim 1, further comprising: an irrigation fluid supply tube having a length with opposite first and second ends, the supply tube first end being connected in communication with both of the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends and the supply tube second end being connectable to a source of irrigation fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The forceps of claim 2, further comprising: a base enclosing the first and second arm proximal ends and enclosing the connection of the supply tube first end to both of the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The forceps claim 3, further comprising: the base having a primary portion with an exterior surface that extends around the proximal ends of the first and second arms and the base having a secondary portion having an exterior surface that projects at an angle from the primary portion exterior surface and extends around the supply tube adjacent the connection of the supply tube first end to the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The forceps of claim 1, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes are secured by the adhesive to the inner surfaces of the respective first and second arms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The forceps of claim 1, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes extend across only the inner surfaces of the respective first and second arms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The forceps of claim 1, further comprising: first and second electrical conductors, each electrical conductor having a flexible elongate length, the first electrical conductor being electrically connected to the first arm and the second electrical conductor being electrically connected to the second arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The forceps of claim 1, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes being plastic tubes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The forceps of claim 1, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes being constructed of an electrically insulating material. ### Claim 10 A single use, tissue sticking resistant forceps comprising: first and second arms, each arm having an elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends and having opposite inner and outer surfaces that extend the length of each arm, the proximal ends of the first and second arms being connected together with the inner surfaces of the first and second arms opposing each other, and the distal ends of the first and second arms being constructed as tissue cauterizing tips; first and second plastic irrigation tubes, each irrigation tube having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the first irrigation tube length being secured to the first arm with the first irrigation tube length extending from the first irrigation tube proximal end adjacent the first arm proximal end, across the length of the first arm to the first irrigation tube distal end adjacent the first arm distal end, and the second irrigation tube length being secured to the second arm with the second irrigation tube length extending from the second irrigation tube proximal end adjacent the second arm proximal end, across the length of the second arm to the second irrigation tube distal end adjacent the second arm distal end; whereby the first and second plastic irrigation tubes reduce manufacturing costs for the forceps and enable the forceps single use. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The forceps of claim 10, further comprising: an irrigation fluid supply tube having a length with opposite first and second ends, the supply tube second end being connectable to a source of irrigation fluid and the supply tube first end being connected in communication with both of the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The forceps of claim 11, further comprising: a base enclosing the first and second arm proximal ends and the connection of the supply tube first end to both of the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The forceps of claim 12, further comprising: the base having a primary portion with an exterior surface that extends around the proximal ends of the first and second arms and the base having a secondary portion with an exterior surface that projects at an angle from the primary portion exterior surface and extends around the connection of the supply tube first end to the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The forceps of claim 10, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes are secured to the inner surfaces of the respective first and second arms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The forceps of claim 10, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes extend across only the inner surfaces of the respective first and second arms. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The forceps of claim 10, further comprising: first and second electrical conductors, each electrical conductor having a flexible elongate length, the first electrical conductor being electrically connected to the first arm and the second electrical conductor being electrically connected to the second arm. ### Claim 17 A single use, tissue sticking resistant forceps comprising: first and second arms, each arm having an elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends and having opposite inner and outer surfaces that extend the length of each arm, the proximal ends of the first and second arms being connected together with the inner surfaces of the first and second arms opposing each other, and the distal ends of the first and second arms being constructed as tissue cauterizing tips; first and second irrigation tubes, each irrigation tube having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, at least a part of the first irrigation tube length being secured to the first arm with the first irrigation tube length extending from the first irrigation tube proximal end adjacent the first arm proximal end, across the length of the first arm to the first irrigation tube distal end adjacent the first arm distal end, at least a part of the second irrigation tube length being secured to the second arm with the second irrigation tube length extending from the second irrigation tube proximal end adjacent the second arm proximal end, across the length of the second arm to the second irrigation tube distal end adjacent the second arm distal end, the first irrigation tube having a substantially circular cross section configuration as the first irrigation tube extends from the first irrigation tube proximal end toward the first irrigation tube distal end, and at a portion of the first irrigation tube length adjacent the first irrigation tube distal end the cross section configuration of the first irrigation tube changing from the substantially circular configuration to an oblong configuration with the cross section configuration of the first irrigation tube distal end being oblong, and the second irrigation tube having a substantially circular cross section configuration as the second irrigation tube extends from the second irrigation tube proximal end toward the second irrigation tube distal end, and at a portion of the second irrigation tube length adjacent the second irrigation tube distal end the cross section configuration of the second irrigation tube changing from the substantially circular configuration to an oblong configuration with the cross section configuration of the second irrigation tube distal end being oblong. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The forceps of claim 17, further comprising: an irrigation fluid supply tube having a length with opposite first and second ends, the supply tube second end being connectable to a source of irrigation fluid and the supply tube first end being connected in communication with both of the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The forceps of claim 18, further comprising: a base enclosing the first and second arm proximal ends and enclosing the connection of the fluid supply tube first end to both of the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The forceps of claim 19 further comprising: the base having a primary portion with an exterior surface that extends around the proximal ends of the first and second arms and the base having a secondary portion having an exterior surface that projects at an angle from the primary portion exterior surface and extends around the connection of the supply tube first end to the first and second irrigation tube proximal ends. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The forceps of claim 17, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes being secured to the inner surfaces of the respective first and second arms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The forceps of claim 17, further comprising: first and second electrical conductors, each electrical conductor having a flexible elongate length, the first electrical conductor being electrically connected to the first arm and the second electrical conductor being electrically connected to the second arm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The forceps of claim 17, further comprising: the first and second irrigation tubes being plastic tubes.