Bipolar electrosurgical sealing instrument having an improved tissue gripping device

• US 20070118115A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Artale, Ryan, Tetzlaff, Philip
• Application Number:
  US11/285,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118115A1
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has inner and outer members each having a respective jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. Each jaw members has right and left side surfaces and seal surface. The seal surfaces are adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that the seal surfaces are capable of conducting bipolar energy therebetween. The inner and outer members are movable from a first position where the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position where the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue. The instrument further has a first gripping device disposed on at least one of the right and left side surfaces of one of the jaw members. The first gripping device includes tines extending therefrom dimensioned to engage and hold tissue when the jaw members are moved from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

inner and outer members each having a respective jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, each of said jaw members including right and left side surfaces and seal surface, said seal surfaces adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that said seal surfaces are capable of conducting bipolar energy therebetween;

said inner and outer members movable from a first position wherein said jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue; and

a first gripping device disposed on at least one of said right and left side surfaces of one of said jaw members, said first gripping device including a plurality of tines extending therefrom dimensioned to engage and hold tissue when said jaw members are moved from said first position to said second position.

2. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second gripping device disposed on the other of said at least one of said right and left side surfaces of the other of said jaw members, said second gripping device including said plurality of tines extending therefrom which cooperate with said first gripping device to engage and hold tissue when said jaw members are moved from said first position to said second position.

3. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each tine is a resilient member.

4. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines extends from said jaw member at an angle.

5. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each tine has a complementary size relative to a remainder of said plurality of tines, and wherein said plurality of tines are configured to form a gripping zone.

6. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein each tine is straight.

7. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein each tine is curved.

8. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of tines contact the epidermis section of the tissue before tissue is grasped by said seal surface.

9. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each tine is a resilient member configured to move a predetermined amount of tissue from a separated position to another position between said seal surfaces.

10. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of tines is a rectangular member configured in a substantially “

U”

shape, with each tine being a complementary size relative to one another, said plurality of tines configured to form a gripping zone.

11. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

inner and outer members each having a respective jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, each of said jaw members including right and left side surfaces and seal surface, said seal surfaces adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that said seal surfaces are capable of conducting bipolar energy therebetween;

said inner and outer members movable from a first position wherein said jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue;

a first gripping device disposed on at least one of said right and left side surfaces of one of said jaw members, said first gripping device including a plurality of tines extending therefrom dimensioned to engage and hold tissue when said jaw members are moved from said first position to said second position;

wherein each of said plurality of tines has a free gripping end, said free gripping end being suitable to manipulate the epidermis section of tissue but not disturb the subcutaneous adipose tissue layer when said outer member and said inner member move from said first position to said second position.

12. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of tines extend from said respective jaw member at an angle, said angle being measured relative to a horizontal axis of said jaw member, said horizontal axis being about perpendicular to said seal surface, said angle being in a range that includes about forty five degrees.

13. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein each tine is a U shaped member including a base portion connected to said first gripping device.

14. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines has said free gripping end being pointed.

15. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines is curved.

16. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines has a pointed end.

17. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines has a cylindrical end.

18. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines has an end with a plurality of points.

19. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of tines has a different end relative to another one of said plurality of tines.

20. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

inner and outer members each having a respective jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, each of said jaw members including right and left side surfaces and seal surface, said seal surfaces adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that said seal surfaces are capable of conducting bipolar energy therebetween;

said inner and outer members movable from a first position wherein said jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue; and

a plurality of tines disposed on at least one of said right and left side surfaces of one of said jaw members, said plurality of tines dimensioned to engage and hold tissue when said jaw members are moved from said first position to said second position; and

wherein said plurality of tines form an epidermis gripping zone, said epidermis gripping zone being suitable to grasp and retain the epidermis section of tissue and the dermis section of tissue between said seal surfaces but not contact any subcutaneous adipose tissue layer.

21. A method of sealing tissue comprising the step of:

providing a bipolar instrument including;

inner and outer members each having a respective jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, each of said jaw members including right and left side surfaces and seal surface, said seal surfaces adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that said seal surfaces are capable of conducting bipolar energy therebetween;

a first gripping device disposed on at least one of said right and left side surfaces of one of said jaw members, said first gripping device including a plurality of tines extending therefrom dimensioned to engage and hold tissue when said jaw members are moved from said first position to said second position;

moving said inner and outer members from the first to second positions and engaging tissue with said gripping device;

closing said first and second jaw members about tissue; and

activating an electrical energy source to seal tissue between said seal surfaces.