US 5,688,270 A · Electrosurgical hemostatic device with recessed and/or offset electrodes

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedances, thicknesses and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between an electrode associated with a first pole of a bipolar energy source located on one interfacing surface off a first element, and a second interfacing surface of a second element. The first and second elements are used to engage and compress tissue between the first and second interfacing surfaces. A second electrode associated with a second pole is located one of the two interfacing surfaces. The first electrode is either recessed into the first tissue contacting surface and/or offset from the second electrode on the same or opposing surfaces. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using RF energy.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An electrosurgical device having an end effector capable of receiving electrosurgical energy therein, said end effector comprising:

first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween, at least one of said first and second interfacing surfaces being electrically insulating and including a recessed portion;
electrically isolated first and second poles comprised of electrically different electrodes capable of conducting electrosurgical energy therethrough, said first pole comprised of a first electrode of a first electrical potential and said second pole comprised of a second electrode of a second electrical potential different from said first potential;
and
wherein said first electrode is located on one of said interfacing surfaces and said second electrode is located on at least one of said interfacing surfaces, and a tissue contacting portion of at least one of said electrodes is located below said interfacing surface on a said recessed portion, said electrodes being arranged so that electrosurgical energy may be communicated between said poles through the tissue.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrosurgical hemostatic device with recessed and/or offset electrodes

Life of this patent

Electrosurgical hemostatic device with recessed and/or offset electrodes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32