US 8,366,709 B2Granted

Articulating bipolar electrosurgical instrument

AssigneeCovidien LP

InventorsDavid A. Schechter, Stephen G. Solga, Duane E. Kerr, Scott D. Nelson, Mark R. Henault, Joseph D. Bucciaglia

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has a pair of pivotable juxtaposed jaw members and a locking mechanism operatively associated with a second of the jaw members. The locking mechanism has a first position engaged with the second jaw member for preventing movement of the second jaw member between an axially aligned orientation and at least one angled orientation, and a second position. The second position is disengaged from the second jaw member allowing for movement of the second jaw member between the axially aligned orientation and the at least one angled orientation. The instrument has an actuation mechanism operatively connected to a first of the jaw members with the actuation mechanism operable to move the first jaw member between an axially aligned first orientation and at least one angled orientation. An articulation knob is operatively associated with the locking mechanism and effectuates independent operation of the locking and actuation mechanisms.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing supporting a cutter actuation control thereon;
an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing;
a first jaw member coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft;
a second jaw member coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the second jaw member movable with respect to the first jaw member such that the first and second jaw members have an open condition wherein the first and second jaw members are relatively spaced and a closed condition wherein the first and second jaw members are relatively close to one another;
an elongated knife channel defined in the second jaw member;
a knife carrier slidably disposed within the elongated knife channel;
a knife blade protruding from the knife carrier toward the first jaw member;
a spindle disposed at a distal end of the elongated knife channel;
and
a drive cable extending through the knife channel and looping around the spindle to define first and second cable parts on two lateral sides of the spindle, the first and second cable parts extending proximally from the second jaw member into the elongated shaft, the knife carrier coupled to the first cable part such that proximal movement of the first cable part induces proximal movement of the knife carrier and proximal movement of the second cable part induces distal movement of the knife carrier.

7 more elements

An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;
an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing, the elongated shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector pivotally supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, end effector comprising:
first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft about the pivot axis;
and
a plurality of electrodes with at least one electrode being operatively disposed on the first jaw member and at least another electrode being operatively disposed on the second jaw member, wherein the electrodes transmit radiofrequency energy therebetween;
and
a reciprocating knife assembly comprising an elongated knife channel defined in at least one of the first and second jaw members, a spindle disposed within the knife channel and a drive cable extending distally from the elongated shaft into the knife channel on a first side of the spindle, looping around the spindle, and extending proximally from the knife channel into the elongated shaft on a second side of the spindle, and a knife slidably disposed with respect to the knife channel and operatively coupled to the drive cable such that proximal movement of the drive cable on the first side of the spindle induces proximal movement of the knife and proximal movement of drive cable on the second side of the spindle induces distal movement of the knife.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/337,699Filed 27 Dec 2011 · continuation
Priority: 21 Sep 2004
Published: US 2012/0095456 A119 Apr 2012
Granted: 5 Feb 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

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 17/32
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical cutting instruments
A61B 2017/2927
Details of heads or jaws: the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
A61B 2017/2939
Transmission of forces to jaw members: details of linkages or pivot points

Family

Application60/611,622Us provisional application · filed 21 Sep 2004
Application11/230,027Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Sep 2005
Application12/238,924Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Sep 2008
Application12/859,985Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Aug 2010
US 2012/0095456 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Apr 2012
US 8,092,451 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,799,028 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,540,872 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2006/0064085 A1Published application
US 2009/0018535 A1Published application
US 2010/0312238 A1Published application
US 8,366,709 B2This patent

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