Vessel sealer and divider and method of manufacturing same

• US 20070062017A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dycus, Sean, Burry, James
• Application Number:
  US11/519,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20070062017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/407.40
• 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 2018/0013 non-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49769 Using optical instrument [excludes mere human eyeballing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49861 Sizing mating parts during final positional association

Abstract

A bipolar forceps includes a shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof and a drive assembly for moving the jaw members 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. The forceps also includes a handle having a first and second gripping portions which cooperate with first and second movable actuators, respectively, for independently actuating the drive assembly to move the jaw members. The forceps is connected to source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. The forceps also includes a selectively advanceable knife assembly for cuffing tissue along the tissue seal.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a forceps comprising the steps of:

specifying a desired closure pressure range for effective tissue sealing;

manufacturing a forceps housing having a visual indicator disposed thereon;

manufacturing each jaw member such that specifications of each jaw member fall within an acceptable manufacturing range the manufacturing step including;

manufacturing the surface area of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range;

manufacturing the distance from a pivot of each jaw member to a centroid of a sealing surface of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range;

manufacturing the angle between a cam slot of each jaw member and a line perpendicular to the sealing surface of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range;

manufacturing the distance from the cam slot to the pivot of each jaw member; and

a width of the cam slot of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range;

providing a spring with a known spring constant and a known free length;

activating the forceps; and

verifying via said visual indicator that the compressed length of the spring falls within a predefined distance to assure that the closure pressure of the jaw members falls within the specified closure pressure range.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the jaw members have a closure pressure from about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm².

3. A method for according to claim 1, wherein the jaw members have a closure pressure from about 7 kg/cm² to about 13 kg/cm².

4. A method for according to claim 1 wherein said visual indicator includes a color guide operably associated with the spring such that the compressed spring length of the spring is shown on the color guide on the outside of the handle assembly.

5. A method for according to claim 1 wherein said visual indicator includes a series of graduations disposed on an outside of the housing operably associated with the spring which visually correlates closure pressure with compressed length of the spring.

6. A method for according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a window defined therethrough and said verifying step includes verifying through said window that the compressed length of the spring falls within a predefined distance to assure that the closure pressure of the jaw members falls within the specified closure pressure range.

7. A method of manufacturing a forceps comprising, the steps of:

manufacturing a forceps housing having an audible indicator disposed therein;

manufacturing each jaw member such that specifications of each jaw member falls within an acceptable manufacturing range, the manufacturing step including;

manufacturing the surface area of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range, manufacturing the distance from a pivot of each jaw member to a centroid of a sealing surface of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range, manufacturing the angle between a cam slot of each jaw member and a line perpendicular to the sealing surface of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range, manufacturing the distance from the cam slot to the pivot of each jaw member and a width of the cam slot of each jaw member to fall within a specified manufacturing range, and providing a spring with a known spring constant and a known free length;

activating the forceps to compress the spring; and

verifying via said audible indicator that the compressed length of the spring falls within a predefined distance to assure that the closure pressure of the jaw members falls within the specified closure pressure range.

8. A method of manufacturing a forceps comprising the steps of:

specifying a desired closure pressure range for effective tissue sealing;

manufacturing a forceps housing having a window disposed therethrough and a visual indicator disposed thereon;

manufacturing each jaw member such that specifications of each jaw member fall within an acceptable manufacturing range;

providing a spring with a known spring constant and a known free length;

activating the forceps; and

verifying through said window and via said visual indicator that the compressed length of the spring falls within a predefined distance to assure that the closure pressure of the jaw members falls within the specified closure pressure range.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the jaw members have a closure pressure from about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm².

10. A method for according to claim 8, wherein the jaw members have a closure pressure from about 7 kg/cm² to about 13 kg/cm².

11. A method for according to claim 8 wherein said visual indicator includes a color guide operably associated with the spring such that the compressed spring length of the spring is shown on the color guide on the outside of the handle assembly.

12. A method for according to claim 8 wherein said visual indicator includes a series of graduations disposed on an outside of the housing operably associated with the spring which visually correlates closure pressure with compressed length of the spring.