Instrument for high-frequency treatment and method of high-frequency treatment

• US 20030109876A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,052,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing

Abstract

An instrument for high-frequency treatment is provided which includes a first jaw having, on a first holding surface thereof, an active electrode provided with a substantially flat portion and a protruded portion, and a second jaw having an opposing electrode formed on a second holding surface opposed to the first holding surface. The opposing electrode includes a portion opposed to the protruded portion of the active electrode, and the opposing portion has a shape different from that of the protruded portion of the active electrode. The instrument also includes an operation member for opening and closing the first jaw and the second jaw.

Claims

1. An instrument for high-frequency treatment comprising:

a first jaw having, on a first holding surface thereof, an active electrode provided with a substantially flat portion and a protruded portion;

a second jaw having an opposing electrode formed on a second holding surface opposed to the first holding surface; and

an operation member for opening and closing the first jaw and the second jaw,

wherein the opposing electrode includes a portion opposed to said protruded portion of the active electrode, and said opposing electrode has a shape different from that of said protruded portion of the active electrode.

2. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, further comprising a power source for selectively supplying at least one of a high-frequency electric current for cutting and a high-frequency electric current for coagulation across the active electrode and the opposing electrode.

3. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the first jaw, except where the active electrode is provided, is electrically insulated from the active electrode.

4. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the active electrode are formed together as a unitary structure by using an electrically conducting member, and outer surfaces of the first jaw except where the portion the active electrode is formed are electrically insulated.

5. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the second holding surface of the second jaw is electrically insulated at a portion which comes into contact with an end of the active electrode when the first and second jaws are closed, in order to prevent short-circuiting between the active electrode and the opposing electrode.

6. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the substantially flat portion of the active electrode is formed at a portion closer to a distal end of the first jaw than to the protruded portion of the active electrode.

7. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein a length of the protruded portion of the active electrode along a lengthwise direction thereof is longer than a length of the substantially flat portion of the active electrode.

8. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 7, wherein the length of the protruded portion of the active electrode along the lengthwise direction thereof is longer than three times the length of the substantially flat portion of the active electrode.

9. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the substantially flat portion of the active electrode comprises a swollen portion which is inclined more mildly than an inclination of the protruded portion of the active electrode.

10. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are provided in an insertion portion that can be inserted into a body.

11. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the holding surface of the second jaw has a substantially flat shape over a whole length thereof.

12. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein a lateral width of the first jaw is narrower than a lateral width of the second jaw.

13. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein an area of the holding surface of the first jaw is smaller than an area of the holding surface of the second jaw.

14. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw have an elongated shape which as a whole becomes narrow toward end portions of the first and second jaws.

15. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 1, wherein the active electrodes of the first jaw comprises a first electrode portion and the second jaw comprises a second electrode portion that neighbors the opposing electrode, and wherein the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are on a same side with respect to a plane formed by opening and closing of the first jaw and the second jaw.

16. An instrument for high-frequency treatment comprising:

a first jaw having, on a first holding surface thereof, at least an active electrode, wherein an outer surface of the first jaw, except where the active electrode is formed, is electrically insulated from the active electrode;

a second jaw having an opposing electrode formed on a second holding surface opposed to the first holding surface; and

an operation member for opening and closing the first jaw and the second jaw;

wherein the active electrode of the first jaw comprises a first electrode portion that is supplied with a high-frequency electric current, and the second jaw comprises a second electrode portion that is served with a high-frequency electric current from the first electrode portion, said first electrode portion and said second electrode portion being formed on a same side with respect to a plane formed by opening and closing of the first jaw and the second jaw.

17. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 16, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw have a curved shape, and the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are respectively formed on a protruded side of the curved shape of the first jaw and the second jaw.

18. An instrument for high-frequency treatment according to claim 16, wherein the high-frequency electric current is a high-frequency electric current for coagulation.

19. An instrument for high-frequency treatment comprising:

a first jaw which is selectively supplied with at least one of a high-frequency electric current for cutting and a high-frequency electric current for coagulation, and which has, on a first holding surface thereof, an active electrode provided with a substantially flat portion and a protruded portion, wherein an outer surface of the first jaw, except where the active electrode is formed, is electrically insulated from the active electrode;

a second jaw having a substantially flat opposing electrode formed on a second holding surface opposed to the first holding surface so as to be opposed to the active electrode, wherein the second jaw is electrically insulated at a portion which comes into contact with an end of the active electrode in order to prevent short-circuiting between the active electrode and the opposing electrode; and

an operation member for opening and closing the first jaw and the second jaw.

20. An instrument for high-frequency treatment comprising:

clamping means for clamping a surgical site, said clamping means having both a portion with a first area that comes in contact with the surgical site and a portion with a second area that comes in contact with the surgical site when the surgical site is clamped, wherein the first area is smaller than the second area;

operation means for opening and closing the clamping means; and

high-frequency current supplying means for selectively supplying at least one of a high-frequency electric current for cutting and a high-frequency electric current for coagulation to the surgical site that is clamped.

21. A method of treating a surgical site in a patient comprising:

selecting one of a protruded portion and a substantially flat portion from an electrode formed on a holding surface of a first jaw;

holding the surgical site between the selected portion and a holding surface of a second jaw having an opposing electrode; and

selectively applying at least one of a high-frequency electric current for cutting and a high-frequency electric current for coagulation across the electrode of the first jaw and the opposing electrode of the second jaw.

22. A method of treating a surgical site of a patient comprising:

selecting one of an end portion having a substantially flat electrode on a holding surface of a first jaw and a portion other than said end portion having a protruded electrode;

holding the surgical site between the selected portion and a holding surface of a second jaw having an opposing electrode;

applying a high-frequency electric current for coagulation when the surgical site is held between the end portion of the first jaw and the holding surface of the second jaw; and

applying a high-frequency electric current for cutting when the surgical site is held between said portion other than the end portion of the first jaw and the holding surface of the second jaw.

23. A method of treating a surgical site in a patient comprising:

opening a first jaw and a second jaw by a predetermined amount;

positioning an electrode of the first jaw and an electrode of the second jaw at the surgical site in a manner faced to a same side; and

applying a high-frequency electric current for coagulation across the electrode of the first jaw and the electrode of the second jaw.