# US 2014/0194873 A1 · In-line vessel sealer and divider

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- Number: US 2014/0194873 A1
- Document ID: US20140194873A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/204,770
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-30
- Assignees: Covidien LP
- Applicants: Covidien AG
- Inventors: PATRICK L. DUMBAULD; DAVID M. GARRISON; PAUL GUERRA; DYLAN HUSHKA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194873A1

## CPC

- A61B 18/085: {Forceps, scissors}
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing}
- A61B 2018/1253: {monopolar}
- A61B 2018/126: {bipolar}
- A61B 2018/1412: {Blade}
- 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

An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof. The forceps also includes a drive assembly disposed in the housing which moves the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue. A pair of handles is operatively connected to the drive assembly and the handles are movable relative to the housing to actuate the drive assembly to move the jaw members. Each of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy for treating tissue. The forceps also includes a first switch disposed on the housing which is activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to at least one jaw member for treating tissue in a monopolar fashion. A second switch is disposed on the housing and is activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to one jaw member and selectively deliver energy of a second electrical potential to the other jaw member for treating tissue in a bipolar fashion.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-7. (canceled)

### Claim 8

An endoscopic forceps, comprising:
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a housing attached to the proximal end of the shaft;
a pair of jaw members disposed at the distal end of the shaft, each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy for treating tissue;
a drive assembly disposed in the housing, the drive assembly operable to move at least one of the pair of jaw members relative to the other jaw member from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue;
first and second handles operatively connected to the drive assembly, the handles movable relative to the housing to actuate the drive assembly to move the jaw members;
a first toggle link which operatively connects the first handle to the drive assembly; and
a second toggle link which operatively connects the second handle to the drive assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

An endoscopic forceps according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second toggle links includes:
a first anchoring element configured to operatively engage the handle; and
a second anchoring element configured to operatively the drive assembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

An endoscopic forceps according to claim 9 wherein the first and second anchoring elements each include a pair of double tangs which operatively engage the handle and the drive assembly, respectively, in a snap-fit manner.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

An endoscopic forceps according to claim 10 wherein each pair of double tangs is tapered.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

An endoscopic forceps according to claim 10 wherein each pair of double tangs includes a step at a proximal end thereof for seating each pair of double tangs within a respective aperture defined within the handle and the drive assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

An endoscopic forceps according to claim 10 wherein each pair of double tangs includes a slot defined therebetween, the slots oriented such that the greatest cross sectional area of the double tangs offsets an applied load on the forceps.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

An endoscopic forceps according to claim 8, further comprising a switch disposed on the housing, the switch configured to selectively deliver energy to at least one jaw member for treating tissue.