Vessel sealing forceps with disposable electrodes

• US 20060259036A1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Romero, Paul R., Johnson, Kristin D., Cunningham, James S., Smith, Roger F., Moses, Michael C., Tetzlaff, Philip M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself

Abstract

A removable electrode assembly for use in combination with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The electrode assembly includes a housing which is removably engageable with the forceps and a pair of electrodes which are attachable to a distal end of the housing. The electrodes are removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The electrode assembly also includes a cover plate which is removably attachable to the housing and at least one stop member for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes. The stop member is selectively engageable with the electrodes.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another, an electrode assembly removably attachable to the forceps, the electrode assembly including a pair of opposing electrodes attached to a distal end thereof, each of the electrodes being removably engageable with one of the end effectors such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation to one another, at least one stop member for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes, the at least one stop member being selectively engageable with at least one of said electrodes.

10. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said electrodes includes at least an aperture defined therein that is dimensioned to selectively engage a complementary stop member therethrough.

11. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein said electrodes each include at least one mechanical interface dimensioned to engage a corresponding mechanical interface disposed on a respective end effector.

12. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said electrodes of said electrode assembly includes a conductive surface and an insulating substrate that matingly engage one another to form said electrode, said at least one stop member being selectively engageable with said conductive surface and said insulating substrate being selectively engageable with said end effector.

13. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical interface of said insulating substrate includes at least one detent and the mechanical interface of the corresponding end effector includes at least one complimentary key-like socket for slideably and securely receiving the detent.

14. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the at least one stop member protrudes about 0.001 inches to about 0.005 inches from an inner facing conductive surface of at least one of the electrodes.

15. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the at least one stop member protrudes about 0.002 inches to about 0.003 inches from an inner facing conductive surface of at least one of the electrodes.

16. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein said electrode assembly is bifurcated at a distal end thereof to form two flexible prongs, each of said flexible prongs supporting an electrode at a distal end thereof.

17. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein said flexible prongs are selectively flexible to facilitate engagement of the electrodes with respective end effectors of the forceps.