Bipolar concentric electrode assembly for soft tissue fusion
First Claim
1. A bipolar electrosurgical forceps, comprising:
- first and second opposing jaw members having respective tissue engaging surfaces associated therewith, said first and second jaw members adapted for relative movement between an open position to receive tissue and a closed position engaging tissue between said tissue engaging surfaces; and
at least one of said first and second jaw members including a substantially annular electrode mounted to said tissue engaging surface thereof, at least one of said first and second jaw members including a corresponding post electrode mounted to said tissue engaging surface thereof, said post electrode being in inwardly disposed relation to said annular electrode when said jaw members are in at least said closed position to thereby define a micro-sealing pad whereby, upon energization, electrosurgical energy communicates between said ring electrode and said annular electrode of said micro-sealing pad to thermally treat tissue disposed therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bipolar electrosurgical forceps for treating tissue includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members each having a tissue engaging surface disposed thereon. Each of the jaw members is movable relative to one another from a first position to approximate tissue to a second position for engaging tissue therebetween. The first jaw member includes a plurality of ring electrodes disposed thereon having a first electrical potential and the second jaw member includes a corresponding plurality of post electrodes disposed thereon having a second electrical potential. Each of the plurality of post electrodes is inwardly disposed of a respective ring electrode to form an electrode micro-sealing pad wherein upon activation of the forceps tissue grasped between each electrode micro-sealing pad is sealed while tissue adjacent to each electrode micro-sealing pads remains viable.
308 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A bipolar electrosurgical forceps, comprising:
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first and second opposing jaw members having respective tissue engaging surfaces associated therewith, said first and second jaw members adapted for relative movement between an open position to receive tissue and a closed position engaging tissue between said tissue engaging surfaces; and
at least one of said first and second jaw members including a substantially annular electrode mounted to said tissue engaging surface thereof, at least one of said first and second jaw members including a corresponding post electrode mounted to said tissue engaging surface thereof, said post electrode being in inwardly disposed relation to said annular electrode when said jaw members are in at least said closed position to thereby define a micro-sealing pad whereby, upon energization, electrosurgical energy communicates between said ring electrode and said annular electrode of said micro-sealing pad to thermally treat tissue disposed therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A bipolar electrosurgical forceps, comprising:
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first and second opposing jaw members each having a tissue engaging surface disposed thereon, said opposing jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first position to approximate tissue to a second position for engaging tissue therebetween;
at least one of said first and second jaw members including a plurality of ring electrodes disposed thereon having a first electrical potential and at least one of the first and second jaw members having a corresponding plurality of post electrodes disposed thereon having a second electrical potential wherein each of said plurality of post electrodes is inwardly disposed of a respective ring electrode to form an electrode micro-sealing pad;
such that upon activation of the forceps the amount of electrosurgical energy between each of said ring and post electrodes pairs is sufficient to seal tissue disposed therebetween while the amount of electrosurgical energy between adjacent electrode micro-sealing pads is substantially less such that the tissue disposed between adjacent electrode micro-sealing pads remains substantially viable after activation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification