Combined dissecting, cauterizing, and stapling device

• US 20050072827A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starion Instruments Corp. (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Mollenauer, Kenneth H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/180.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1152 applying the staples on the outside of the lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing

Abstract

A medical device for simultaneously cutting tissue with a heating element, cauterizing the tissue with sealing elements, and stapling the tissue together. The heating elements comprise bipolar RF electrodes.

Claims

1. A method of cutting and sealing tissue comprising the steps of:

providing a device for cutting and sealing tissue comprising;

an insertion rod;

a first jaw and a second jaw extending from the insertion rod, said first and second jaws being operable to allow closure of the first and second jaws relative to each other, said first jaw having a first grasping face and said second jaw having a second grasping face, said first grasping face and said second grasping face aligned to meet each other upon closure of the first and second jaws;

a cutting element comprising an electrically resistive wire disposed in the first jaw and further disposed along the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod;

a first electrode disposed on the first jaw, said first electrode operably paired with a second electrode disposed on the second jaw, said first and second electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said first and second electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, and said first and second electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes;

a third electrode disposed on the first jaw, said third electrode operably paired with a fourth electrode disposed on the second jaw, said third and fourth electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said third and fourth electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, said third electrode disposed opposite the first electrode and said fourth electrode disposed opposite the second electrode, and said third and fourth electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

grasping tissue between the first and second grasping faces;

transmitting RF energy to the bipolar electrodes at energy levels sufficient to seal tissue; and

adjusting the temperature of the cutting element to a temperature above about 100°

Celsius until the tissue is severed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is a section of the intestines.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue comprises a diseased body organ.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue comprises an injured body organ.

5. A device for cutting and sealing body tissue comprising:

an insertion rod;

a first jaw and a second jaw extending from the insertion rod, said first and second jaws being operable to allow closure of the first and second jaws relative to each other, said first jaw having a first grasping face and said second jaw having a second grasping face, said first grasping face and said second grasping face aligned to meet each other upon closure of the first and second jaws;

a first cutting element comprising a first monopolar electrode disposed on the first jaw;

a second cutting element comprising a second monopolar electrode disposed on the second jaw;

a first electrode disposed on the first jaw, said first electrode operably paired with a second electrode disposed on the second jaw, said first and second electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said first and second electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, and said first and second electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes;

a third electrode disposed on the first jaw, said third electrode operably paired with a fourth electrode disposed on the second jaw, said third and fourth electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said third and fourth electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, said third electrode disposed opposite the first electrode and said fourth electrode disposed opposite the second electrode, and said third and fourth electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising an RF generator for supplying RF energy to the first and second cutting elements and the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes.

7. A method of cutting and sealing tissue comprising the steps of:

providing a device for cutting and sealing tissue comprising;

an insertion rod;

a first jaw and a second jaw extending from the insertion rod, said first and second jaws being operable to allow closure of the first and second jaws relative to each other, said first jaw having a first grasping face and said second jaw having a second grasping face, said first grasping face and said second grasping face aligned to meet each other upon closure of the first and second jaws;

a first cutting element comprising a first monopolar electrode disposed on the first jaw;

a second cutting element comprising a second monopolar electrode disposed on the second jaw;

a first electrode disposed on the first jaw, said first electrode operably paired with a second electrode disposed on the second jaw, said first and second electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said first and second electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, and said first and second electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes;

a third electrode disposed on the first jaw, said third electrode operably paired with a fourth electrode disposed on the second jaw, said third and fourth electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said third and fourth electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, said third electrode disposed opposite the first electrode and said fourth electrode disposed opposite the second electrode, and said third and fourth electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

grasping tissue between the first and second grasping faces;

transmitting RF energy to the bipolar electrodes at energy levels sufficient to seal tissue; and

transmitting RF energy to the first and second cutting elements at energy levels sufficient to cut tissue.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the body tissue is a section of the intestines.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the tissue comprises a diseased body organ.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the tissue comprises an injured body organ.

11. A method of cutting and sealing tissue comprising the steps of:

providing a device for cutting and sealing tissue comprising;

an insertion rod;

a first jaw and a second jaw extending from the insertion rod, said first and second jaws being operable to allow closure of the first and second jaws relative to each other, said first jaw having a first grasping face and said second jaw having a second grasping face, said first grasping face and said second grasping face aligned to meet each other upon closure of the first and second jaws;

a cutting element comprising an electrically resistive wire disposed in the first jaw and further disposed along the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod;

a first electrode disposed on the first jaw, said first electrode operably paired with a second electrode disposed on the second jaw, said first and second electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said first and second electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, and said first and second electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes;

a third electrode disposed on the first jaw, said third electrode operably paired with a fourth electrode disposed on the second jaw, said third and fourth electrodes aligned to face each other upon closure of the first and second jaws, said third and fourth electrodes laterally spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion rod, said third electrode disposed opposite the first electrode and said fourth electrode disposed opposite the second electrode, and said third and fourth electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

grasping tissue between the first and second grasping faces;

transmitting electrical energy to the bipolar electrodes at energy levels sufficient to seal tissue; and

operating the cutting element to severe the tissue.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the tissue comprises a lumenal vessel of the body.