US 8,945,127 B2 · Single action tissue sealer

Abstract

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing and a shaft, the shaft having an end effector assembly at its distal end. The end effector assembly includes two jaw members for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source which enable them to conduct energy through the tissue to create a tissue seal. A drive assembly is disposed within the housing which moves the jaw members. A switch is disposed within the housing which activates the electrosurgical energy. A knife assembly is included which is advanceable to cut tissue held between the jaw members. A movable handle is connected to the housing. Continual actuation of the movable handle engages the drive assembly to move the jaw members, engages the switch to activate the electrosurgical energy source to seal the tissue, and advances the knife assembly the cut the tissue disposed between the jaw members.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;
an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing;
an end effector assembly engaged to a distal end of the elongated shaft, the end effector assembly including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first jaw member pivotable relative to the second jaw member from a first open position to a second closed position for grasping tissue, the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween;
a drive assembly disposed within the housing and operable to pivot the first jaw member from the first open position to the second closed position;
a switch operably associated with the housing and actuatable to energize the jaw members;
a knife advanceable to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members;
and
a movable handle connected to the housing and selectively rotatable about a pivot point, wherein continuous actuation of the movable handle is operable to force the drive assembly to pivot the first jaw member from the first open position toward the second closed position and advance the knife to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members,
wherein the switch is actuatable to conduct energy through tissue grasped between the jaw members prior to advancement of the knife to cut tissue and the knife is advanceable through the jaw members to cut tissue subsequent to movement of the first jaw member to the second closed position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description12,374 words

Summary2,048 words

#The present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical forceps and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to an endoscopic bipolar electrosurgical forceps for manipulating, clamping, sealing and cutting tissue in a single action.

#Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to affect hemostasis by heating the tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize and/or seal tissue. As an alternative to open forceps for use with open surgical procedures, many modern surgeons use endoscopes and endoscopic instruments for remotely accessing organs through smaller, puncture-like incisions. As a direct result thereof, patients tend to benefit from less scarring and reduced healing time.

#Endoscopic instruments are inserted into the patient through a cannula, or port, which has been made with a trocar. Typical sizes for cannulas range from about three millimeters to about 12 millimeters. Smaller cannulas are usually preferred, which, as can be appreciated, ultimately presents a design challenge to instrument manufacturers who look for ways to make endoscopic instruments that fit through the smaller cannulas.

Brief description of the drawings33 figures

#Various embodiments of the subject instrument are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of one embodiment of an endoscopic bipolar forceps having a movable thumb handle in an unactuated position according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of the forceps of FIG. 1 illustrated in a partially actuated position;

Detailed description9,762 words

#Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of an endoscopic bipolar forceps 10 is shown for use with various surgical procedures and generally includes a housing 20, a handle assembly 30, a rotating assembly 80, an end effector assembly 100, a knife assembly 140 (see FIGS. 10, 12, 15-18), a drive assembly 150, a switch 500 and a latch assembly 600 which all mutually cooperate to grasp, seal and divide tubular vessels and vascular tissue 420 (FIG. 29). Although the majority of the figure drawings depict a bipolar forceps 10 for use in connection with endoscopic surgical procedures, the present disclosure may be used for more traditional open surgical procedures. For the purposes herein, the forceps 10 is described in terms of an endoscopic instrument, however, it is contemplated that an open version of the forceps may also include the same or similar operating components and features as described below.

#Forceps 10 includes a shaft 12 which has a distal end 16 dimensioned to mechanically engage the end effector assembly 100 and a proximal end 14 which mechanically engages the housing 20. In the drawings and in the descriptions which follow, the term “proximal,” as is traditional, will refer to the end of the forceps 10 which is closer to the user, while the term “distal” will refer to the end which is farther from the user.

#Forceps 10 also includes an electrosurgical cable 310 which connects the forceps 10 to a source of electrosurgical energy, e.g., a generator (not shown). Generators such as those sold by Valleylab—a division of Tyco Healthcare LP, located in Boulder, Colo. are contemplated for use as a source of electrosurgical energy, e.g., FORCE EZ™ Electrosurgical Generator, FORCE FX™ Electrosurgical Generator, FORCE 1C™, FORCE 2™ Generator, SurgiStat™ II. One such system is described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,399 entitled “ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR WITH ADAPTIVE POWER CONTROL,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Other systems have been described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,003 entitled “BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR SEALING VESSELS,” the entire contents of which are also incorporated by reference herein.

Facts

Application

14/162,192Filed 23 Jan 2014 · continuation

Priority

19 Aug 2005

Published

US 2014/0094798 A115 May 2014

Granted

3 Feb 2015

Term ended

19 Aug 2025

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification24 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 17/282
With a single pivotal connection: jaws
A61B 17/285
Surgical forceps: combined with cutting implements
A61B 17/3205
Surgical cutting instruments: excision instruments

Family

Application11/207,956Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Aug 2005

Application12/621,056Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Nov 2009

Application13/633,554Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Oct 2012

Application14/091,505Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Nov 2013

US 2014/0135761 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 May 2014

Application14/091,505Parent of this continuation

US 8,277,447 B2Parent of this continuation

Application13/633,554Parent of this continuation

US 7,628,791 B2Parent of this continuation

Application12/621,056Parent of this continuation

US 2007/0043352 A1Published application

US 2010/0130977 A1Published application

US 2013/0030432 A1Published application

US 2014/0094798 A1Published application

US 8,945,127 B2This patent

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

Timeline

19 Aug 2005Priority claimedParent application 11/207,956
23 Jan 2014Application filedUS 14/162,192
15 May 2014PublishedUS 2014/0094798 A1
22 Aug 2014Assigned to Sherwood Services AGassignment of assignor's interest
22 Aug 2014Assigned to Covidien AGchange of name
22 Aug 2014Assigned to Tyco Healthcare Group AGmerger
22 Aug 2014Assigned to Covidien AGchange of name
22 Aug 2014Assigned to Covidien AGassignment of assignor's interest
3 Feb 2015GrantedUS 8,945,127 B2
19 Aug 2025Term endedEstimated

Single action tissue sealer

Life of this patent

Single action tissue sealer

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description12,374 words

Drawings

Description12,374 words

Classification24 codes

Life of this patent