Electrothermal device for coagulating, sealing and cutting tissue during surgery

A medical device comprising:

• a pair of tweezers characterized by a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said grasping arms having a proximal end and a distal end, said first grasping arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second grasping arm having a second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the tweezers;
• a first layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the first grasping arm;
• a second layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the second grasping arm;
• and
• a wire disposed between the first and second layers of resilient material so as to be trapped between the gripping faces of the first and second grasping arms upon closing of the tweezers.

A medical device comprising:

• a pair of forceps characterized by a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said grasping arms having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said grasping arms being rotatably fixed to the other at a midpoint thereof, said first grasping arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second grasping arm having a second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the forceps;
• a first layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the first grasping arm;
• a second layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the second grasping arm;
• a wire disposed between the first and second layers of resilient material so as to be trapped between the gripping faces of the first and second grasping arms upon closing of the forceps.

A medical device comprising:

• a laparoscopic grasper characterized by a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said grasping arms having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said grasping arms being rotatable relative to the other about a point near the distal end thereof, said grasping arms being adapted to be inserted into the body and to be rotatably opened and closed upon each other within the body, said first grasping arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second grasping arm having a second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, and said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the graspers;
• a first layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the first grasping arm;
• a second layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the second grasping arm;
• and
• a wire disposed between the first and second layers of resilient material so as to be trapped between the gripping faces of the first and second grasping arms upon closing of the graspers.