Open vessel sealing forceps with disposable electrodes

• US 20030109875A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dale F. Schmaltz, Kate R. Lawes, Michael J. Lands, Philip M. Tetzlaff, Randel A. Frazier, Stephen W. Lukianow, Steven P. Buysse
• Original Assignee: Dale F. Schmaltz, Kate R. Lawes, Michael J. Lands, Philip M. Tetzlaff, Randel A. Frazier, Stephen W. Lukianow, Steven P. Buysse
• Inventors: Frazier, Randel A., Lukianow, Stephen W., Schmaltz, Dale F., Lands, Michael J., Buysse, Steven P., Tetzlaff, Philip M., Lawes, Kate R.
• Application Number:
  US10/299,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/48
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A removable electrode assembly for use in combination with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The electrode assembly includes a housing which is removably engageable with the forceps and a pair of electrodes which are attachable to a distal end of the housing. The electrodes are removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The electrode assembly also includes a cover plate which is removably attachable to the housing and at least one stop member for controlling the distance the electrodes move relative to one another.

Claims

1. A removable electrode assembly for use with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another, the electrode assembly comprising:

a housing having at least one portion which is removably engageable with at least a portion of the forceps;

a pair of electrodes attachable to a distal end of the housing, the electrodes being removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes are disposed in opposing relation to one another; and

at least one stop member for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes.

2. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the electrodes includes an electrically conductive sealing surface and an insulating substrate.

3. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 2 wherein the stop member is attached to the insulating substrate.

4. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of the housing is bifurcated forming two prongs and each of the electrodes is attached to one of the prongs.

5. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 4 wherein the prongs of the housing are movable relative to one another to facilitate engagement of the electrodes with the end effectors of the forceps.

6. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 5 wherein the insulating substrate of each of the electrodes includes at least one mechanical interface for engaging a complimentary mechanical interface disposed on the corresponding end effector of the forceps.

7. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 6 wherein the mechanical interface of at least one of the substrates includes at least one detent and the mechanical interface of the corresponding end effector includes at least one complimentary socket for receiving the detent.

8. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 6 wherein the substrate of at least one of the electrodes includes at least one guide pin and the corresponding end effector includes at least one complimentary aperture for receiving the guide pin.

9. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the stop member is attached to at least one of the end effectors.

10. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the stop member is attached to at least one of the electrodes.

11. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrodes are tapered.

12. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the electrodes includes an electrical connector for coupling to a wire.

13. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing is removably engageable with the handle of the forceps.

14. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a cover plate which is removably engageable with the housing.

15. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 14 wherein both the housing and the cover plate are engageable with the forceps.

16. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 15 wherein the forceps are disposed between the housing and the cover plate.

17. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes a bifurcated distal end which forms two prongs and each electrode is removably attachable to one of the prongs.

18. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 17 wherein the prongs of the housing are movable relative to one another to facilitate engagement of the electrodes with the end effectors of the forceps.

19. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 further comprising at least one ratchet which engages at least one complementary mechanical interface to maintain a desired closure force between opposing electrodes.

20. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of opposing ratchets which interlock in at least one position for maintaining a desired closure force between opposing electrodes.

21. A removable electrode assembly for use with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another, the electrode assembly comprising:

a housing having a portion which is removably engageable with a portion of the forceps; and

a pair of electrodes attachable to a distal end of the housing, the electrodes being removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes are disposed in opposing relation to one another.

22. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 21 wherein the distal end of the housing is bifurcated forming two prongs and each of the electrodes is removably engageable with one of the prongs.

23. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 22 wherein the prongs are movable relative to one another to facilitate engagement of the electrodes with the end effectors of the forceps.

24. A removable electrode assembly according to claim 21 wherein the electrodes are electrically isolated from the handle.

25. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another, an electrode assembly removably attachable to the forceps, the electrode assembly including a pair of opposing electrodes attached to a distal end thereof, each of the electrodes being removably engageable with one of the end effectors such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation to one another, and at least one stop member for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes.

26. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a pair of first and second members each having an end effector extending from a distal end thereof and a handle attached to a proximal end thereof for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another; and

an electrode assembly which is removably engageable with the first member, the electrode assembly having a pair of electrodes, each electrode being removably engageable with one of the end effectors.

27. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 26 wherein the electrode assembly is bifurcated such that two prong-like members extend outwardly to support an electrode which is removably engaged with one of the end effectors.

28. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a pair of first and second members each having an end effector extending from a distal end thereof and a handle movable from a first position wherein the first and second members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the members are closer relative to one another; and

a first electrode removably mounted to the first end effector and a second electrode removably mounted to the second end effector.

29. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for sealing vessels, comprising:

first and second opposing end effectors, each end effector has an inner surface and an outer surface;

a handle disposed proximal of the first and second end effectors, the handle being movable from a first position wherein the first and second end effectors are disposed in spaced relation to one another to a second position wherein the end effectors are closer relative to one another such that the end effectors hold tissue therebetween for application of electrosurgical energy, the handle including at least one gripping portion to be gripped by a user to move the handle between the first position and the second position;

a first electrode disposed on the first end effector and a second electrode disposed on the second end effector such that movement of the handle from the first position to the second position results in the first and second electrodes being closer relative to each other, the electrodes residing in substantially opposing relation to one another and each electrode having a tissue contacting surface to engage tissue between the tissue contacting surfaces of the first and second electrodes and to enable the supply of electrosurgical energy to the tissue engaged therebetween to effect sealing;

a connector for electrically connecting the first and second electrodes to a source for supplying electrosurgical energy to each of the electrodes such that one of the electrodes has a first electrical potential and the other electrode has a second electrical potential such that the substantially opposing electrodes are capable of conducting bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween; and

at least one stop member for maintaining a gap distance between the first and second electrodes when handle is moved to the second position such that the end effectors and the electrodes are closer relative to one another, the gap distance being in the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.

30. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 29 wherein the gap distance is in the range of about 0.002 inches to about 0.005 inches.

31. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a handle;

a drive rod assembly comprising;

an outer shaft having an end effector assembly attached to a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing first and second electrodes attached at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly having an inner nose portion electrically coupled to the first electrode and an outer nose portion electrically coupled to the second electrode;

a drive rod disposed within the outer shaft, the drive rod movable by the handle from a first position wherein the first and second electrodes are disposed in spaced relation to one another to a second position wherein the first and second electrodes are closer relative to one another such that the electrodes hold tissue therebetween for application of electrosurgical energy; and

a connector for electrically connecting the first and second electrodes to a source for supplying electrosurgical energy to each of the electrodes such that the first electrode has a first electrical potential and the second electrode has a second electrical potential.

32. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 31 wherein the connector includes a PC board having first and second clips, the first clip transmits the first electrical potential to the shaft which conducts the first electrical potential to the outer nose portion and the first electrode and the second clip transmits the second electrical potential to the drive rod which conducts the second electrical potential to the inner nose portion and the second electrode.

33. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 31 wherein the drive rod is electrically isolated from the outer shaft.

34. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 31 wherein the inner nose portion and the outer nose portion are electrically isolated from each other.