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US 5,716,366 AGranted
Hemostatic surgical cutting or stapling instrument
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorDavid C. Yates
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hemostatic surgical instrument is provided for coagulation, cauterization and/or welding of tissue especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between interfacing surfaces of first and second elements. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using therapeutic heat energy. Surgical fasteners, for example, staples may be also included in the instrument.
Claims6
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end;
- an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, comprising:
- a distal end;
- a cutting element movable in a cutting path to form a cutting line;
- first and second elements comprising first and second opposed tissue contacting surfaces respectively, said surfaces moveable relative to each other from an open, spaced-apart position for positioning tissue therebetween, to a closed position for approximating the tissue, at least a portion of one of said tissue contacting surfaces comprising a heating element wherein said heating element is adapted to transmit energy to tissue engaged by said end effector, said heating element comprising:
- a first elongated bar of a positive temperature coefficient material arranged on a first side of said cutting line;
- and
- a second elongated bar of a positive temperature coefficient material arranged on a second side of said cutting line.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.