Electrosurgical instrument with integral tissue removal feature
First Claim
1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a body;
(b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the body, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises at least one lateral opening proximal to a distal end of the elongate shaft; and
(c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, and wherein the end effector comprises;
(i) a first jaw,(ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture a tissue, and(iii) a firing beam configured to advance relative to the first and second jaws to sever the captured tissue and retract relative to the first and second jaws after the captured tissue has been severed;
(d) a debris removal element in communication with the firing beam, wherein the debris removal element is disposed within the elongate shaft proximal to the distal end such that the debris removal element is contained within the elongate shaft adjacent to the at least one lateral opening, wherein the debris removal element is configured to engage at least a portion of the firing beam within the elongate shaft and remove at least a portion of debris from the firing beam at least during retraction of the firing beam relative to the first and second jaws, wherein the at least one lateral opening is configured to receive the debris removed by the debris removal element within the elongate shaft and thereby transfer the removed debris out of the elongate shaft.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an elongate shaft extending distally from a body and an end effector at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw that is selectively pivotable toward and away from a second jaw to capture tissue and a firing beam. The firing beam is configured to advance relative to the first and second jaws to sever captured tissue and retract relative to the first and second jaws after the captured tissue has been severed. The apparatus further includes a debris removal element in communication with the firing beam. The debris removal element is configured to engage at least a portion of the firing beam at least during retraction of the firing beam relative to the first and second jaws to thereby remove at least some debris from the firing beam.
61 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a body; (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the body, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises at least one lateral opening proximal to a distal end of the elongate shaft; and (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, and wherein the end effector comprises; (i) a first jaw, (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture a tissue, and (iii) a firing beam configured to advance relative to the first and second jaws to sever the captured tissue and retract relative to the first and second jaws after the captured tissue has been severed; (d) a debris removal element in communication with the firing beam, wherein the debris removal element is disposed within the elongate shaft proximal to the distal end such that the debris removal element is contained within the elongate shaft adjacent to the at least one lateral opening, wherein the debris removal element is configured to engage at least a portion of the firing beam within the elongate shaft and remove at least a portion of debris from the firing beam at least during retraction of the firing beam relative to the first and second jaws, wherein the at least one lateral opening is configured to receive the debris removed by the debris removal element within the elongate shaft and thereby transfer the removed debris out of the elongate shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a body; (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the body, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end and an inner wall; and (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, and wherein the end effector comprises; (i) a first jaw, (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture a tissue, and (iii) a translating element configured to advance relative to the first and second jaws to sever the captured tissue and to retract relative to the first and second jaws after the captured tissue has been severed; (d) an elastically deformable member disposed between the inner wall of the elongate shaft and the translating element such that the elastically deformable member is located inside the elongate shaft, wherein the elastically deformable member is configured to deform as the translating element advances, wherein the elastically deformable member is configured and positioned to maintain contact with the translating element as the translating element is advanced and retracted through a full range of longitudinal motion from a proximal-most position to a distal-most position such that the elastically deformable member is configured to scrape at least a portion of the translating element, wherein at least one lateral opening disposed proximal to the distal end of the elongated shaft is configured to receive debris removed by the elastically deformable member within the elongate shaft, and wherein the elastically deformable member is disposed within the elongate shaft proximal to the distal end such that the elastically deformable member is contained within the elongate shaft adjacent to the at least one lateral opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a body; (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the body, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end and at least one lateral opening proximal to the distal end; and (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, and wherein the end effector comprises; (i) a first jaw, (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw to capture a tissue, and (iii) a slidable blade configured to advance relative to the first and second jaws to sever the captured tissue and retract relative to the first and second jaws after the captured tissue has been severed; (d) a scraper securely located within the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the scraper is in communication with the slidable blade and is configured to engage the slidable blade and thereby remove a portion of debris from the slidable blade during advancement or retraction of the slidable blade relative to the first and second jaws, wherein the at least one lateral opening is configured to receive the portion of debris removed by the scraper within the elongate shaft and thereby transfer the removed debris out of the elongate shaft. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification