Scissorlike electrosurgical cutting instrument

A scissorlike electrosurgical cutting instrument comprising:

• a first member having at least one cutting edge;
• a second member having an anvil surface opposing the cutting edge;
• means for maintaining the cutting edge substantially parallel to the anvil surface in which at least one of the first and second members moves relative to the other member between an open and closed position such that the cutting edge comes into substantial contact with the anvil surface when the members are in their closed position;
• at least two electrodes of opposite polarity for providing electrical energy for cauterization of tissue;
• isolating means for electrically isolating the first member from the second member;
• and
• scissorlike actuation means for moving the first and second members between the open and closed positions;
• wherein the instrument is shaped, sized, and configured to be suitable for open surgical procedures and the means for maintaining the cutting edge parallel to the anvil surface comprises a mechanical linkage, and wherein the anvil surface is non-conductive and the first member having two cutting edges, each cutting edge comprises an electrode, one electrode being of opposite polarity to the other, the first member further having a non-conductive insulating layer disposed between the two cutting edges for electrically isolating one cutting edge from the other, the mechanical linkage comprises:
• a first rigid member extending from the first member, the first rigid member having a cantilevered end;
• a second rigid member extending from the second member, equal in length to the first rigid member and parallel to the first rigid member, the second rigid member having a cantilevered end opposing the cantilevered end of the first rigid member;
• a first linkage comprising two link elements of equal length, each link element having a first and second pivot point, the link elements being pivotally connected at their first pivot points and pivotally connected to the cantilevered ends of the first and second rigid members at their second pivot points;
• a second linkage comprising two link elements of equal length and of the same length as the link elements of the first linkage, each link element having a first and second pivot point, the link elements being pivotally connected at their first pivot points and pivotally connected to the cantilevered ends of the first and second rigid members at their second pivot points;
• a third linkage comprising two link elements of equal length and of the same length as the link elements of the first and second linkages, each link element having a first and second pivot point, the link elements being pivotally connected at their first pivot points and pivotally connected to opposite points on the first and second rigid members at their second pivot points;
• and
• a fixed member pivotally connected to the first pivot point of the first linkage and slidably connected to the first pivot points of the second and third linkages such that rotation of the link elements of the first linkage causes the cutting edges and anvil surface of the first and second members to move parallel relative to each other.

A scissorlike electrosurgical cutting instrument which is shaped, sized, and configured to be suitable for open surgical procedures, the instrument comprising:

• a first member having at least one cutting edge;
• a second member having an anvil surface opposing the cutting edge;
• means for maintaining the cutting edge substantially parallel to the anvil surface in which at least one of the first and second members moves relative to the other member between an open and closed position such that the cutting edge comes into substantial contact with the anvil surface when the members are in their closed position;
• at least two electrodes of opposite polarity for providing electrical energy for cauterization of tissue;
• isolating means for electrically isolating the first member from the second member;
• and
• scissorlike actuation means for moving the first and second members between the open and closed positions;
• wherein the anvil surface is non-conductive and the first member having two cutting edges, each cutting edge comprises an electrode, one electrode being of opposite polarity to the other, the first member further having a non-conductive insulating layer disposed between the two cutting edges for electrically isolating one cutting edge from the other and wherein the means for maintaining the cutting edge parallel to the anvil surface comprises a mechanical linkage, the mechanical linkage comprises:
• a first parallel linkage comprising first and second link members, each link member being of equal length to each other and having a distal and proximal end, the distal ends of the link members being pivotally connected to the first member;
• a second parallel linkage comprising first and second link members, each link member being of equal length to each other and to the link members of the first parallel linkage, the first and second link members of the second parallel linkage further having a distal and proximal end, the distal ends of the link members being pivotally connected to the second member;
• a perpendicular link member pivotally connected at one end to the proximal ends of the first link member of the first parallel linkage and the second link member of the second parallel linkage, the perpendicular link member being pivotally connected at its other end to the proximal ends of the first link member of the second parallel linkage and the second link member of the first parallel linkage, such that the link members of the first parallel linkage and the link members of the second parallel linkage are in a parallel relationship to one another and wherein pivoting of the parallel linkages toward each other about the perpendicular link member causes the cutting edges and anvil surface to move parallel relative to each other.

A scissorlike electrosurgical cutting instrument which is shaped, sized, and configured to be suitable for open surgical procedures, the instrument comprising:

• a first member having at least one cutting edge;
• a second member having an anvil surface opposing the cutting edge;
• means for maintaining the cutting edge substantially parallel to the anvil surface in which at least one of the first and second members moves relative to the other member between an open and closed position such that the cutting edge comes into substantial contact with the anvil surface when the members are in their closed position;
• at least two electrodes of opposite polarity for providing electrical energy for cauterization of tissue;
• isolating means for electrically isolating the first member from the second member;
• and
• scissorlike actuation means for moving the first and second members between the open and closed positions;
• wherein the anvil surface is non-conductive and the first member having two cutting edges, each cutting edge comprises an electrode, one electrode being of opposite polarity to the other, the first member further having a non-conductive insulating layer disposed between the two cutting edges for electrically isolating one cutting edge from the other and wherein the means for maintaining the cutting edge parallel to the anvil surface comprises a mechanical linkage, the mechanical linkage comprises:
• a parallel linkage comprising first and second link members, each link member being of equal length to each other and having a distal and a proximal end, the distal ends of the first and second link members being pivotally connected to the first member about first and second pivot pins respectively;
• and
• a rigid link member having a distal end, a proximal end, and an upturned portion disposed between the distal and proximal ends, the distal end of the rigid link member being connected to the second member, the proximal ends of the first and second link members being pivotally connected to the rigid link member at the upturned portion about third and fourth pivot pins, wherein the third pivot pin pivotally connects the first link member to the rigid link member and the fourth pivot pin pivotally connects the second link member to the rigid link member, such that the first and second link members are in a parallel relationship to each other and whereby pivoting of the parallel linkage towards the rigid link member about the fourth pivot pin causes the cutting edges to move parallel relative to the anvil surface.