Micro-bipolar endoscopic endonasal cautery device

An endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus, comprising:

• a proximal handle assembly comprising at least one actuating handle;
• an outer tube having a longitudinal axis and a proximal end coupled to and extending from said proximal handle assembly;
• an inner shaft slidably disposed in said outer tube, said inner shaft having a proximal end coupled to the proximal handle assembly;
• wherein the inner shaft and outer tube are coupled to the proximal handle assembly such that actuation of the at least one actuating handle drives the inner shaft to translate axially within the outer tube along the longitudinal axis;
• a pair of moveable tips each having a free distal end and a proximal end coupled to the inner shaft via an actuating member;
• wherein the moveable tips comprise bipolar electrosurgical electrodes configured to cauterize tissue in contact with the moveable tips;
• and
• a coupling member coupled to the actuating member and moveable tips;
• said moveable tips being slidably coupled to said coupling member such that axial motion of the inner shaft within the outer tube as a result of operation of said proximal handle assembly drives the moveable tips to open and close with respect to each other;
• wherein motion of the moveable tips from an open orientation to a closed orientation is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis such that the distal ends of the moveable tips are constrained at the same axial location along the longitudinal axis.

An endoscopic electrosurgical forceps apparatus, comprising:

• a proximal handle assembly comprising at least one actuating handle;
• an outer tube having a longitudinal axis and a proximal end coupled to and extending from said proximal handle assembly;
• an inner shaft slidably disposed in said outer tube, said inner shaft having a proximal end coupled to the proximal handle assembly;
• wherein the inner shaft and outer tube are coupled to the proximal handle assembly such that actuation of the at least one actuating handle drives the inner shaft to translate axially within the outer tube along the longitudinal axis;
• a pair of forceps tips each having a free distal end and a proximal end coupled to the inner shaft via an actuating member;
• wherein the forceps tips comprise bipolar electrosurgical electrodes configured to cauterize tissue in contact with the forceps tips;
• and
• a coupling member coupled to the actuating member and forceps tips;
• said forceps tips forming at least one dovetail joint with said coupling member such that axial motion of the inner shaft within the outer tube as a result of operation of said proximal handle assembly drives the forceps tips to open and close with respect to each other;
• wherein the at least one dovetail joint allows sliding motion of the forceps with respect to the dovetail coupling member such that the motion of the forceps tips from an open orientation to a closed orientation is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis such that the distal ends of the forceps tips are constrained at the same axial location along the longitudinal axis.