Bi-polar electrosurgical endoscopic instruments and methods of use
AssigneeHemostatic Surgery Corporation
InventorPhilip E. Eggers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Endoscopic surgical instruments are provided that have bipolar electrodes on opposing movable members for passing a high frequency current through tissue for simulataneously severing or manipulating the tissue and causing hemostasis of the tissue. An electrically insulating material is interposed between the movable members so that the electrodes are spaced apart from 0.002 to 0.050 inches and the current passes between the opposing electrodes through the tissue. Methods of endoscopically achieving hemostasis while simultaneously, manipulating and cutting tissue are also provided. Use of a constant voltage high frequency power supply to deliver current to the tissue to cause hemostasis is described in conjunction with those methods.
Claims27
An instrument for performing endoscopic electrosurgery on a tissue by passing a current through the tissue to cause hemostasis thereof, the instrument comprising:
- an elongated barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;
- first and second shearing members disposed on the distal end of the elongated barrel,
- the first shearing member having a first shearing surface, a first cutting edge having a length and a first exterior surface, a portion of the first exterior surface adjacent the first cutting edge defining a first electrode;
- the second shearing member having a second shearing surface, a second cutting edge, and a second exterior surface, a portion of the second shearing member adjacent the second cutting edge defining a second electrode;
- means for connecting the first and second shearing members so that the first shearing surface moves relative to the second shearing surface through a range of motion in a scissors-like cutting action, wherein the first and second cutting edges close together for shearing tissue located therebetween the scissor-like cutting action defining a cutting point located just distally of where the first and second cutting edges come together, the cutting point moving distally along the cutting edges where the first and second cutting edges come together through the range of motion;
- and
- an electrically insulative material interposed between the first and second electrodes so that the first and second electrodes do not contact each other in the range of motion, and so that the current passes between the first and second electrodes distal to the cutting point and not between the first and second shearing surfaces, the first and second cutting edges cutting the tissue at the cutting point;
- and
- actuating means connected to the proximal end of the elongated barrel to move the first and second shearing members through the range of motion,
- wherein the first and second shearing members comprise an electrically conductive material, the means for connecting the first and second shearing members comprises a material that does not conduct electricity between the first and second shearing members and the electrically insulative material comprises a first layer of material disposed on the first shearing member to form substantially the entire length of the first cutting edge and the first shearing surface.
An instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein the actuating means comprises first and second handle members and means for fastening the first and second handle members together for relative movement.
The instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein the elongated barrel has a longitudinal axis, the first and second shearing members have first and second tips, and the first and second shearing members are curved so that the first and second tips lie in a plane parallel to and separated from the longitudinal axis of the elongated barrel.
An instrument for performing endoscopic electrosurgery on a tissue by passing a current through the tissue to cause hemostasis thereof, the instrument comprising:
- an elongated barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;
- first and second grasping members disposed on the distal end of the elongated barrel, the first and second grasping members including shank portions having opposing mating surfaces, each of the shank portions having a longitudinally directed slot,
- the first grasping member having a first grasping surface, and a first exterior surface, a portion of the first exterior surface adjacent the first grasping surface defining a first electrode;
- the second grasping member having a second grasping surface, and a second exterior surface, a portion of the second grasping member adjacent the second grasping surface defining a second electrode;
- means for connecting the first and second grasping members so that the first and second grasping surfaces move through a range of motion in a graspers-like action to grasp tissue disposed therebetween, the shank portions moving across each other as the first and second grasping surfaces move through the range of motion;
- a pin extending through the slots in the shank portions, the pin adapted for reciprocation in proximal and distal directions;
- an electrically insulative material disposed on at least one of the first and second grasping members to form the grasping surface of that grasping member, so that the first and second electrodes do not contact each other in the range of motion, and so that the current passes between the first and second electrodes through the tissue and not between the first and second grasping surfaces, the electrically insulative material interposed between the shank portions so that a leakage current does not pass between the shank portions;
- and
- actuating means connected to the pin to move the first and second grasping members through the range of motion.
An instrument for performing endoscopic electrosurgery on a tissue by passing a current through the tissue to cause hemostasis thereof, the instrument comprising:
- an elongated barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;
- first and second shearing members disposed on the distal end of the elongated barrel,
- the first shearing member comprising an electrically non-conductive material, the first shearing member having a first shearing surface, a first cutting edge having a length and a first exterior surface, the non-conductive material extending along substantially the entire length of the first cutting edge;
- the second shearing member comprising an electrically non-conductive material, the second shearing member having a second shearing surface, a second cutting edge, and a second exterior surface;
- means for connecting the first and second shearing members so that the first shearing surface moves relative to the second shearing surface through a range of motion in a scissors-like cutting action, wherein the first and second cutting edges close together for shearing tissue located therebetween, the scissor-like cutting action defining a cutting point located just distally of where the first and second cutting edges come together, the cutting point moving distally along the cutting edges where the first and second cutting edges come together through the range of motion;
- and
- first and second electrodes disposed on the first and second shearing members, respectively, the first electrode comprising a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed on the first exterior surface and the second electrode comprising a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed on the second exterior surface so that the first and second electrodes do not contact each other in the range of motion, and so that the current passes between the first and second electrodes distal to the cutting point and not between the first and second shearing surfaces, the first and second cutting edges cutting the tissue at the cutting point;
- and
- actuating means connected to the proximal end of the elongated barrel to move the first and second shearing members through the range of motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.