# US 2015/0148801 A1 · Micro-bipolar endoscopic endonasal cautery device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0148801 A1 - Document ID: US20150148801A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/549,816 - Filed: 2014-11-21 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-07 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents of the University of California - Inventors: Kiarash Shahlaie; Elizabeth Lim; Jonathan Oakden; Paul Riemenschneider; Travis Schraeder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150148801A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 2017/2936: {Pins in guiding slots} - A61B 2017/2944: {Translation of jaw members} - A61B 2017/2945: {Curved jaws} - A61B 2017/320044: {Blunt dissectors} - A61B 2018/00327: {Ear, nose or throat} - A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bipolar electrosurgical forceps device having a handle at the proximal end and forceps jaws at the distal end is described. These two ends are connected via an elongated tubular section that houses the actuating member for controlling the motion of the forceps at the distal end relative to the motion of the proximal handle. A dovetail member connects the forceps to a shaft that is slidably disposed in the tubular section at the distal end of the device, where the tubular section constrains the motion of the two jaws perpendicular relative to the axial direction. A coupling member is attached to the actuating member where drive slots interact with the drive pins on the forceps, whereby squeezing the handle causes the desired relative parallel opening or closing motion of the forceps jaws. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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; and a coupling member coupled to the actuating member and forceps tips; said forceps 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 forceps tips to open and close with respect to each other; wherein 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus as recited in claim 1: wherein the forceps tips each have a gripping surface extending toward the distal end of the forceps tips; and wherein gripping surfaces of respective forceps tips are configured to be substantially parallel to each other throughout translation of the forceps from the closed orientation to the open orientation and from the open orientation to the closed orientation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the forceps tips comprise bipolar electrosurgical electrodes configured to cauterize tissue in contact with the forceps tips. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An apparatus as recited in claim 3: wherein the forceps tips each form individual bipolar electrodes; and wherein the coupling member is constructed of an insulating material to electrically isolate the forceps tips from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An apparatus as recited in claim 3: wherein each of the forceps tips form a dovetail joint with respect to the coupling member; and wherein the dovetail joint constrains motion of the forceps tips orthogonally to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An apparatus as recited in claim 5: wherein the actuating member is fixed to the distal end of the inner shaft; wherein the coupling member is fixed to the outer shaft; and wherein the actuating member is configured to slideably reciprocate within an axial channel of the coupling member to drive actuation of the forceps tips. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An apparatus as recited in claim 6: wherein the actuating member comprises one or more drive slots; wherein each of the forceps tips comprise a drive pin configured to be received in the one or more drive slots; and wherein axial motion of the inner shaft drives motion of the pins within said slots to affect translation of the forceps tips along the dovetail joint in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more drive slots are oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus as recited in claim 1: wherein said handle assembly comprises a main handle body and a secondary handle body; wherein the inner shaft is fixed to the secondary handle body and the outer tube is fixed to the main handle body; and wherein actuation of said handle affect motion with respect to the main handle body and the secondary handle body to drive the inner shaft to translate axially within the outer tube along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus as recited in claim 9: wherein the at least one actuating handle comprises first and second actuating handles; and wherein the first and second actuating handles are pivotably connected to main handle body and the secondary handle body to allow a tweezers-like motion of the first and second actuating handles to affect motion with respect to the main handle body and the secondary handle body. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus as recited in claim 11: wherein the moveable tips each have a gripping surface extending toward the distal end of the moveable tips; and wherein gripping surfaces of respective moveable tips are configured to be substantially parallel to each other throughout translation of the moveable from the closed orientation to the open orientation and from the open orientation to the closed orientation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the moveable tips comprise forceps tips. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) An apparatus as recited in claim 11: wherein the moveable tips each form individual bipolar electrodes; and wherein the coupling member is constructed of an insulating material to electrically isolate the moveable tips from each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An apparatus as recited in claim 11: wherein each of the moveable tips form a dovetail joint with respect to the coupling member; wherein the dovetail joint constrains motion of the moveable tips orthogonally to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus as recited in claim 15: wherein the actuating member is fixed to the distal end of the inner shaft; wherein the coupling member is fixed to the outer shaft; and wherein the actuating member is configured to slideably reciprocate within an axial channel of the coupling member to drive actuation of the moveable tips. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An apparatus as recited in claim 16: wherein the actuating member comprises one or more drive slots; wherein each of the moveable tips comprise a drive pin configured to be received in the one or more drive slots; and wherein axial motion of the inner shaft drives motion of the pins within said slots to affect translation of the moveable tips along the dovetail joint in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the one or more drive slots are oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) An apparatus as recited in claim 11: wherein said handle assembly comprises a main handle body and a secondary handle body; wherein the inner shaft is fixed to the secondary handle body and the outer tube is fixed to the main handle body; and wherein actuation of said handle affect motion with respect to the main handle body and the secondary handle body to drive the inner shaft to translate axially within the outer tube along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An apparatus as recited in claim 19: wherein the at least one actuating handle comprises first and second actuating handles; and wherein the first and second actuating handles are pivotably connected to main handle body and the secondary handle body the to allow a tweezers-like motion of the first and second actuating handles to affect motion with respect to the main handle body and the secondary handle body. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An apparatus as recited in claim 21: wherein the forceps tips each have a gripping surface extending toward the distal end of the forceps tips; and wherein gripping surfaces of respective forceps tips are configured to be substantially parallel to each other throughout translation of the forceps from the closed orientation to the open orientation and from the open orientation to the closed orientation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) An apparatus as recited in claim 21: wherein the forceps tips each form individual bipolar electrodes; and wherein the coupling member is constructed of an insulating material to electrically isolate the forceps tips from each other. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) An apparatus as recited in claim 21: wherein the actuating member is fixed to the distal end of the inner shaft; wherein the coupling member is fixed to the outer shaft; and wherein the actuating member is configured to slideably reciprocate within an axial channel of the coupling member to drive actuation of the forceps tips. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An apparatus as recited in claim 24: wherein the actuating member comprises one or more drive slots; wherein each of the forceps tips comprise a drive pin configured to be received in the one or more drive slots; and wherein axial motion of the inner shaft drives motion of the pins within said slots to affect translation of the forceps tips along the dovetail joint in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the one or more drive slots are oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.