Electrothermal Instrument For Sealing And Joining Or Cutting Tissue

• US 20070208330A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Kucklick, Theodore, Hermann, George, Howell, Thomas, Treat, Michael, Monfort, Michelle, Mollenauer, Kenneth, Co, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 7,588,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• 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 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 : using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1266 : with DC current output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 : with a battery

Abstract

An instrument and method are provided for sealing and joining or hemostatically dividing tissue, which is particularly suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. The instrument makes use of the controlled application of a combination of heat and pressure to seal adjacent tissues, to join adjacent tissues, or to anastomose tissues, whereby tissue is heated for an optimal time and at an optimal temperature under optimal pressure to maximize tissue seal strength while minimizing collateral tissue damage. The instrument of the present invention is lightweight and therefore portable, and is particularly useful in field conditions where a source of external power may not be readily available.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument which comprises two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein at least one working surface has a heating element comprising an electrically resistant wire to seal and cut or cut tissue and the heating element loops around the distal end of a working surface.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument also comprises a battery pack electrically connected to each heating element.

3. The instrument of claim 1, which also comprises an elongated member having distal and proximal ends, the distal end of which is attached to the proximal end of at least one working member.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a working surface contains one heating element.

5. The instrument of claim 1 wherein a working surface has more than one heating element.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein both working surfaces have at least one heating element.

7. A surgical instrument which comprises two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein each working surface has a heating element comprising an electrically resistant wire to seal and cut or cut tissue.

8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein each heating element loops around the distal end of a working member.

9. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the instrument also comprises a battery pack electrically connected to each heating element.

10. The instrument of claim 7, which also comprises an elongated member having distal and proximal ends, the distal end of which is attached to the proximal end of at least one working member.

11. The instrument of claim 7, wherein a working surface contains one heating element.

12. The instrument of claim 7, wherein a working surface has more than one heating element.

13. The instrument of claim 7, wherein a heating element actuator is operatively connected to each heating element.

14. The instrument of claim 7 which also comprises a working member actuator operatively connected to at least one working member.

15. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the working members are attached to each other at their respective proximal ends.

16. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the opposing working surfaces apply pressure and approximate tissue.