Apparatus for performing an electrosurgical procedure
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsDavid M. Garrison, Jeffrey M. Roy, Duane E. Kerr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A forceps includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.
Claims20
An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
- a housing including a movable switch;
- a shaft extending from the housing;
- an end effector assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue, the end effector assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is pivotable relative to the other jaw member and is configured to move between an open position and a closed position;
- a cam slot defined in at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member;
- a cam member disposed within the cam slot, the cam member configured to move along a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft;
- a drive rod operably coupled to the movable switch and configured to move within the shaft along the longitudinal axis to move the cam member within the cam slot, thereby moving at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member relative to the other jaw member;
- a resilient member operably coupled to the drive rod, the resilient member configured to cooperate with the drive rod to bias the first jaw member and/or the second jaw member toward the closed position.
A method for operating an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- providing an electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
- a housing including a movable switch;
- a shaft extending from the housing;
- an end effector assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue, the end effector assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is pivotable relative to the other jaw member and is configured to move between an open position and a closed position;
- a cam slot defined in at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member;
- a cam member disposed within the cam slot, the cam member configured to move along a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft;
- a drive rod configured to move within the shaft along the longitudinal axis to move the cam member within the cam slot, thereby moving at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member relative to the other jaw member;
- and
- a resilient member operably coupled to the drive rod, the resilient member configured to cooperate with the drive rod to bias the first jaw member and/or the second jaw member toward the closed position;
- moving the first jaw member and/or the second jaw member to the open position;
- and
- locking the first jaw member and/or the second jaw member in the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.