Bipolar medical instrument

• US 20020128649A1
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Bacher, Uwe, Blocher, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 6,669,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod

Abstract

A bipolar medical instrument comprises a tubular shaft and two jaw parts. The jaw parts are arranged movably, one relative to the other, at the distal end of the tubular shaft and coupled one with the other via a joint. Each of the jaw parts forms a work electrode of different polarity. Each jaw part has associated to it a separate current line, one of such current lines being constituted by an axially movable force transmission element that is arranged in the tubular shaft and that is frictionally coupled to at least one of the jaw parts. At least one of the jaw parts comprises, at least in the region of the joint, a single-piece main body made from an electrically insulating material on which an electrically conductive jaw part insert is fastened, which forms a respective work electrode and which is connected, in an electrically conductive fashion, to the respective associated current line.

Claims

1. Bipolar medical instrument, comprising:

a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

at least two jaw parts arranged movably, one relative to the other, at said distal end of said tubular shaft and coupled one to the other via a joint, each of said at least two jaw parts forming a work electrode of different polarity;

a separate current line for each of said at least two jaw parts, one of such current lines being constituted by an axially movable force transmission element arranged in said tubular shaft and force-lockingly connected to at least one of said jaw parts,

wherein at least one of said jaw parts comprises, at least in the region of said joint, a single-piece main body made from an electrically insulating material on which an electrically conductive jaw part insert is fastened, which forms said respective work electrode and which is connected, in an electrically conductive fashion, to said respective associated current line.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a distal section in which said jaw part insert is enclosed on its outside in insulated fashion.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaw part insert is connected with said main body in force-locking and in positive fashion.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein said jaw part insert is fastened on said main body by a dovetail connection.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein one of said jaw parts is immovably connected with said tubular shaft, and at least that jaw part comprises said main body consisting of an electrically insulating material.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein each of said two jaw parts comprises a main body made from an electrically insulating material, with said electrically conductive jaw part insert, forming said respective work electrode of said jaw parts, being fastened thereon.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said tubular shaft forms the other current line, and the latter is connected with said other jaw part in electrically conductive fashion, while being insulated from said force transmission element.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said main body made from insulating material is provided at least in that jaw part which is connected with said force transmission element, in which case said force transmission element is hinged on a proximal section of said main body on which an electrically conductive connection element is provided which then connects said force transmission element with the respective jaw part insert in electrically conductive fashion.

9. The instrument of claim 8, wherein a pivot pin of said joint connecting said first jaw part with said second jaw part passes through said connection element.

10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said force transmission element is connected to a current supply via a spring-loaded contact in a proximal region of said force transmission element.

11. The instrument of claim 10, wherein said spring-loaded contact is a wiper contact.

12. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said force transmission element is connected to a current supply via a spring-loaded contact in a proximal region of said force transmission element, and wherein said contact comprises an element, which is spring-loaded toward said force transmission element.

13. The instrument of claim 5, wherein said jaw part insert of said jaw part, which is immovably connected with said tubular shaft, is connected in electrically conductive fashion with said tubular shaft via an electrically conductive wire element which is embedded in said main body of said jaw part.

14. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a proximal section of said second jaw part comprises a recessed portion with two legs extending in longitudinal direction, with a proximal section of said first jaw part being arranged between such legs and being connected with said legs in articulated fashion.

15. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a proximal section of said first jaw part comprises a fork section which is engaged by said force transmission element.

16. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said main body of said one jaw part consists of a hard plastic material.

17. The instrument of claim 1, wherein mutually opposite inner surfaces of said work electrodes are given a planar surface, so that said work electrodes coact as grasping tools when said jaw parts are closed.

18. The instrument of claim 17, wherein said work electrodes are given a complementary V-shaped cross-section.

19. The instrument of claim 1, wherein mutually opposite inner surfaces of said work electrodes are configured as cutting elements, so that said work electrodes coact as cutting tools when said jaw parts are closed.

20. The instrument of claim 19, wherein said inner surface of said one work electrode is provided with a notch extending in longitudinal direction, and said inner surface of said other work electrode is provided with a cutting edge coacting with said notch in cutting fashion.