US 6,514,252 B2 · Bipolar surgical instruments having focused electrical fields

Abstract

A bipolar surgical device comprises a pair of actuable jaws. A first electrode member which optionally includes a line of electrically coupled tissue-penetrating elements is formed on one of the jaws, and a second electrode member which optionally includes a line of electrically coupled tissue-penetrating elements is formed on the same or the other jaw. The electrode members are laterally spaced-apart and arranged in a parallel, usually linear manner so that the lateral distance therebetween remains generally constant. In operation, tissue may be grasped between the jaws so that the electrode members contact and/or the tissue-penetrating elements enter into the tissue. By energizing the electrode members at opposite polarities using a high frequency energy source, tissue between the jaws will be heated, coagulated, and/or necrosed, while heating of tissue outside of the lines will be minimized.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a pair of opposed jaws at the distal end of the shaft;
a first electrode member comprising a first line of tissue-penetrating elements on one of the jaws;
a second electrode member comprising a second line of tissue-penetrating elements on one of the jaws, wherein the first and second electrode members are electrically isolated and laterally spaced-apart from each other;
and
a linkage attaching at least one of the jaws to the shaft, wherein the linkage maintains opposed surfaces of the jaws in a generally parallel orientation as the jaws are moved between an opened and closed configuration by the linkage.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/910,439Filed 19 Jul 2001 · continuation in part

Priority

1 May 1998

Published

US 2002/0013583 A131 Jan 2002

Granted

4 Feb 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

A61B 18/1442
Probes or electrodes therefor: probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
A61B 18/1445
Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps: at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
A61B 18/1477
Probes or electrodes therefor: needle-like probes
A61B 2018/00101
Thermal conductivity: low, i.e. thermally insulating

Family

Application09/071,689Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 May 1998

Application09/303,007Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Apr 1999

Application09/705,054Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Nov 2000

US 2002/0013583 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Jan 2002

Application09/705,054Parent of this continuation

US 6,162,220 AParent of this continuation

Application09/303,007Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,030,384 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,514,252 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Bipolar surgical instruments having focused electrical fields

Life of this patent

Bipolar surgical instruments having focused electrical fields

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30