Vessel sealer and divider
First Claim
1. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface having a non-stick coating disposed thereon to reduce tissue adherence;
each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces;
a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
a bifurcated knife bar including a blade attached at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue; and
at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue which includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first spaced position to a second closed position to grasp tissue. Each jaw member is adapted to couple to a generator for conducting energy to effect a seal. The forceps also includes a handle assembly and a longitudinally reciprocating knife assembly which is translatable to sever tissue. The knife assembly includes a bifurcated knife bar having two forks which ride about the pivot during translation of the knife. One or more non-conductive stop members are operatively associated with the jaw members to regulate the distance between the jaw members when closed.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
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an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface having a non-stick coating disposed thereon to reduce tissue adherence;
each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces;
a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
a bifurcated knife bar including a blade attached at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue; and
at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
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an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface made from a material designed to reduce tissue adherence;
a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
a bifurcated knife bar including a blade attached at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue; and
a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
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an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface made from a material designed to reduce tissue adherence;
each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
a bifurcated knife bar including a blade attached at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue; and
at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.
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Specification