Electrosurgical instrument for coagulation and cutting

• US 20020107517A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kreger, Verne E. Jr., Baxter, Chester O. III, Faller, Craig N., Witt, David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/054,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107517A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/142 at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument having a pair of relatively moveable jaws, each of which includes a tissue contacting surface. The tissue contacting surfaces of the jaws are in face-to-face relation with one another, and adjacent each of the tissue contacting surfaces are first and second spaced-apart electrodes that are adapted for connection to the opposite terminals of a bipolar RF generator so as to generator a current flow therebetween. The first and second electrodes of one jaw are in offset opposed relation, respectively, with the first and second electrodes of the other jaw. The tissue contacting surfaces are disposed between the electrodes on each jaw, and the first opposed electrodes of each jaw are connectable to one terminal of the bipolar RF generator, while the second opposed electrodes of each jaw are connectable to the other terminal of the bipolar RF generator. A cutting portion is provided between the jaws. The cutting portion is moveable to provide the instrument with a scissors-like capability or a grasper-like capability, depending on the position of the cutting portion.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:

first and second elongated grasping jaws, each jaw including a tissue contacting surface in face-to-face relation with the tissue contacting surface of the other jaw;

said grasping jaws being relatively movable for grasping tissue between said tissue contacting surfaces;

said tissue contacting surfaces of said jaws comprising an insulating material; and

at least two electrode surfaces carried adjacent said tissue contacting surfaces of each said jaw and disposed to engage said tissue when grasped, said two electrode surfaces on said first jaw being in offset relation with said two electrode surfaces on said second jaw, and said facing electrode surfaces being of like polarity, said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said electrode surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cutting blade movably disposed between at least two of said electrode surfaces wherein said at least two electrode surfaces have opposite polarity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tissue contacting surfaces of said first and second jaws each have opposed elongated edges and said electrode surfaces are located on the edges of said tissue contacting surfaces.

4. A Tissue grasping and cutting apparatus comprising:

two grasping jaws, each jaw including an insulating tissue contacting surface;

said grasping jaws being relatively movable for grasping tissue between said tissue contacting surfaces;

said jaws further comprising two spaced-apart electrode surfaces adjacent said insulating tissue contacting surface, said jaws being in face-to-face relationship to provide a first offset face-to-face electrode surface pair, face-to-face insulating surfaces, and a second offset face-to-face electrode surface pair; and

said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said one and said other electrode surface pairs, said electrode surfaces comprising a particular offset face-to-face electrode surface pair being of like polarity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a cutting blade disposed between said first offset face-to-face electrode surface pair and said second offset face-to-face electrode surface pair.

6. A method of promoting coagulation in tissue, comprising:

providing a pair of grasping jaws, each jaw including an insulating tissue contacting surface in face-to-face relation with said tissue

contacting surface of said other jaw, said jaws further comprising two spaced-apart electrode surfaces adjacent said insulating tissue contacting surface, said jaws providing first offset face-to-face electrode surface pair, face-to-face insulating surfaces, and a second offset face-to-face electrode surface pair, said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said first and said second

electrode surface pairs, said electrode surfaces comprising a particular electrode surface pair being of like polarity;

closing said jaws on tissue to be coagulated, with said tissue contacting surfaces in contact with said tissue; and

connecting said electrode surfaces to a current source to create a current flow between said first and said second electrode surface pairs and through tissue located between said tissue contacting surfaces to promote coagulation of tissue grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces.