Electrosurgical jaws for controlled application of clamping pressure

• US 20030114851A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Csaba Truckai, John H. Shadduck
• Original Assignee: Csaba Truckai, John H. Shadduck
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H., Truckai, Csaba
• Application Number:
  US10/017,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 2018/00619 Welding

Abstract

An electrosurgical medical device and technique for creating thermal welds in engaged tissue that provides very high compressive forces. The working end comprises five basic components, including (i) a handle portion coupled to an introducer sleeve member that carries paired first and second jaws members at it distal end; (ii) an actuatable elongate member that transitions distally to first and second extension portions that carry respective first and second slidable cam-type surfaces for engaging the paired jaws; (iii) a transverse member that is connected to the first and second extension portions for adjusting the transverse dimension between the first and second slidable cam surfaces to thereby control clamping pressure; (iv) a mechanism in the handle for actuating the elongate member to open and close the jaws; and (v) a mechanism in the handle for adjusting the transverse dimension between the first and second cam surfaces via the transverse member.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical working end for applying controlled pressure on captured tissue, comprising:

an introducer member coupled to a working end that carried paired jaws actuatable to open and close relative to a tissue engagement plane;

an axially-extendable member with first and second cam surfaces that define a transverse dimension therebetween, the first and second cam surfaces slidably engaging cooperating surfaces of said first and second jaws to move the jaws toward and away from the tissue engagement plane; and

a transverse member coupling the first and second cam surfaces, said transverse member allowing said transverse dimension between the first and second cam surfaces to vary thereby providing greater or lesser compressive forces on captured tissue about the tissue-engaging plane.

2. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the axially-extendable carries said first and second cam surfaces at distal end of spaced apart extension arms.

3. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the transverse member comprises a wire member.

4. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 2 wherein the wire member provides a variable transverse dimension between the first and second cam surfaces by coupling to a spring.

5. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said wire member is translatable between said first and second cam surfaces.

6. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 5 wherein the translatable wire member is substantially flexible.

7. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 4 wherein the wire member is coupled to an electrical source thereby functioning as an electrode.

8. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the transverse member comprises an actuatable member that adjustably couples the extension arms.

9. An electrosurgical working end for applying controlled pressure on captured tissue, comprising:

a body member carrying first and second jaw members actuatable to open and close about a tissue engagement plane;

a translatable extension member that is coupled to first and second spaced apart extension arms, the arms carrying a first and second cam surfaces for engaging cooperating surfaces of said first and second jaw members to actuate the jaws;

wherein said first and second cam surfaces define a space therebetween that defines a transverse dimension that is not fixed.

10. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 9 wherein the first and second spaced apart extension arms are of a spring-type material thereby providing adjustment to said transverse dimension.

11. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 9 wherein a medial portion of the first and second spaced apart extension arms are coupled by a spring member.

12. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 9 wherein a medial portion of the first and second spaced apart extension arms are coupled by a transverse slidable member.

13. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 9 wherein a medial portion of the first and second spaced apart extension arms are coupled by a transverse pivotable member.

14. An electrosurgical method for sealing tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a working end carried at the distal end of an introducer member that has paired jaws actuatable to close toward a tissue engagement plane;

capturing a tissue volume within the tissue engagement plane;

causing Rf current flow within the tissue volume substantially parallel to the engagement plane from spaced apart electrodes in left and right sides of the paired jaws; and

causing Rf current flow within the tissue volume substantially orthogonal to the engagement plane from electrodes in each jaw.