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US 5,527,313 AGranted
Bipolar surgical instruments
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsIan M. Scott, H. Jonathan Tovey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bipolar surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a handle and a tool for applying electrical energy to body tissue. In a preferred embodiment, the tool is forceps having jaws movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of the handle. A pair of electrical connection receptacles in the handle respectively connect to a pair of electrically isolated conducting paths. Each path contacts a forceps jaw for transmitting electrical energy to body tissue. The instrument has particular application to endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures.
Claims31
A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- at least one handle;
- tool means having first and second jaw members;
- movable means extending between said at least one handle and said tool means, said movable means being movable in response to movement of said at least one handle for movement of said tool means between open and closed positions to apply electrical energy to tissue;
- electrical connection means for connecting said tool means to a source of electrical energy, said electrical connection means having means for receiving said electrical energy, an elongated conductor member cooperating therewith for transmitting said electrical energy, said elongated conductor member comprising a printed circuit having first and second conducting paths, said first and second conducting paths being electrically isolated from one another wherein said first jaw member electrically communicates with said first conducting path and said second jaw member electrically communicates with said second conducting path.
1 more element
A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- forceps having first and second legs, each leg constituting an electrode and having means for gripping tissue adjacent its distal end;
- electrical connection means for providing electrical energy to said forceps, said electrical connection means including an elongated conductor strip comprising a printed circuit having first and second conducting paths electrically isolated from one another, said first forceps leg electrically communicating with said first conducting path and said second forceps leg electrically communicating with said second conducting path;
- and means for closing said forceps.
An endoscopic bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal axis and connected to said handle assembly;
- movable means positioned within said elongated tubular member and coupled to said handle assembly;
- a gaseous seal within said elongated tubular member;
- first and second jaw members extending from a distal end of said tubular member and movable by said movable means between an electrically inactive open position and a closed position to apply electrical energy to tissue;
- and
- electrical connection means for connecting said jaw members to a source of electrical energy, said electrical connection means comprising means for receiving said electrical energy, an elongated conductor member cooperating therewith for transmitting said electrical energy, said elongated conductor member extending longitudinally within said tubular member and terminating at a position between said first and second jaw members, said conductor member comprising a printed circuit having first and second conducting paths electrically isolated from one another said first jaw member electrically communicating with said first conducting path and said second jaw member electrically communicating with said second conducting path.
4 more elements
A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- an elongated tubular member;
- at least one handle extending from said tubular member;
- a movable sleeve positioned within said elongated member and operatively connected to said at least one handle;
- first and second jaw members at least partially disposed within said tubular member and extending from a distal end thereof, wherein movement of said at least one handle moves said sleeve to move said first and second jaw members between open and closed positions;
- and
- elongated conductive means extending longitudinally within said elongated tubular member and having a proximal end for receiving electrical energy from an electrical energy source, said conductive means being positioned between said first and second jaw members and forming a first conductive path between said electrical energy source and said first jaw member and forming a second conductive path between said electrical energy source and said second jaw member.
3 more elements
A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- first and second jaw members electrically isolated from each other, each jaw member constituting an electrode;
- electrical connection means for providing electrical connection to said first and second jaw members, said electrical connection means including elongated conductor means having insulating and conducting portions, said elongated conductor means extending at least partially between said first and second jaw members wherein said insulating portion of said elongated conductor means maintains electrical isolation of said first and second jaw members.
A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal axis and connected to said handle assembly;
- a movable sleeve operatively connected to said handle assembly;
- first and second jaw members extending from a distal end of said tubular member, said first and second jaw members being movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of said sleeve by movement of said handle assembly;
- and
- electrical connection means for connecting said jaw members to a source of electrical energy, said electrical connection means comprising means for receiving said electrical energy, an elongated conductor means cooperating therewith for transmitting said electrical energy, said elongated conductor means extending longitudinally within said tubular member, and comprising a printed circuit having first and second conductive paths electrically isolated from one another by at least one insulator member, said at least one insulator member terminating within said elongated tubular member, said first conductive path electrically communicating with said first jaw member and said second conductive path electrically communicating with said second jaw member.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.