Electrosurgical instrument end effector with preheating element
OwnerGary L. Longinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a handpiece, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handpiece, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, and a firing beam. The end effector has a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture tissue. The end effector further comprises a preheating element and an electrode. The preheating element is configured to provide heat to the captured tissue, thereby increasing electrical conductivity of the tissue. The electrode is configured to seal the captured-preheated tissue by providing RF energy to the tissue. The firing beam is configured to sever the sealed tissue.
Claims20
An apparatus for operating on tissue, wherein the apparatus comprises an end effector, the end effector comprising:
- (a) a first jaw;
- (b) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture tissue;
- (c) at least one preheating element, wherein the at least one preheating element is disposed within one or both of the first jaw or the second jaw, wherein the at least one preheating element is operable to heat up and thereby transfer heat to tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw through;
- and
- (d) at least one electrode, wherein the at least one electrode is operable to apply RF energy to tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw.
An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a handpiece, wherein the handpiece comprises a trigger and at least one activation button;
- (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the handpiece, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end;
- and
- (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, and wherein the end effector comprises:
- (i) a first jaw,
- (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture tissue, and wherein the trigger is configured to move the first jaw toward and away from the second jaw,
- (iii) a first preheating element, wherein the first preheating element is disposed within the first jaw, wherein the first preheating element is configured to provide heat to tissue captured between the first and second jaws, and
- (iv) a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is operable to apply RF energy to tissue captured between the first and second jaws.
A method of severing tissue using a surgical apparatus, wherein the surgical apparatus comprises a handpiece, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handpiece, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, at least one preheating element, at least one electrode, and a firing beam, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) capturing tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw of the end effector;
- (b) preheating the captured tissue by activating the at least one preheating element;
- (c) energizing the captured tissue with RF energy by activating the at least one electrode;
- and
- (d) severing the captured tissue by moving the firing beam through the cauterized tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.