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Vessel sealer and divider

  • US 20060189981A1
  • Filed: 02/21/2006
  • Published: 08/24/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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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