Vessel sealing instrument with multiple electrode configurations
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and/or cutting tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:
- a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween;
an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces;
the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces and the cutting element;
wherein the cutting element and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a first potential during a sealing process and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a different potential from the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal; and
the cutting element being configured to maintain the same potential during a cutting process and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member being energized to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effectively cut tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and cutting vessels and/or tissue is provided. The assembly includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members. Each jaw member includes at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces extending along a length thereof. Each tissue sealing surface is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy to effect a tissue seal. An insulator is disposed adjacent to the at least one the electrically conductive sealing surfaces. The jaw members include an electrically conductive cutting element which effectively cuts tissue within pre-defined cutting zone between the jaw members. The polarity of the cutting element and electrically conductive sealing surfaces may be manipulated depending upon whether tissue sealing or tissue cutting is desired.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and/or cutting tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:
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a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces; the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces and the cutting element; wherein the cutting element and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a first potential during a sealing process and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a different potential from the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal; and the cutting element being configured to maintain the same potential during a cutting process and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member being energized to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effectively cut tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and/or cutting tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:
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a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces; the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the cutting element; wherein the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface includes at least one sealing section operatively connected to at least one flange, the at least one flange configured to control a gap distance between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the second jaw member; and a second insulator adjacent the at least one flange dimensioned to reduce stray currents and heat dissipation inwardly towards the at least one cutting zone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and cutting vessels and/or tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:
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a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; an insulator having a first portion which extends between at least one flange and an electrically conductive cutting element to a point in general horizontal registration with the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces; the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces and the cutting element; wherein the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface includes at least one sealing section operatively connected to at least one flange, the at least one flange extending from an inner leg of the at least one sealing section, the at least one flange configured to control a gap distance between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the second jaw member; wherein the cutting element and the electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a potential during a sealing process and the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a different potential from the corresponding at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal; and the cutting element being configured to maintain the same potential during a cutting stage and the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the second jaw member being energized to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue cut. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for sealing and cutting tissue comprising the steps of:
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providing a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; providing an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces; energizing a cutting element and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member to a potential during a sealing process, the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member being energized to a different potential from the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal; configuring the cutting element to maintain the same potential during a cutting process; and energizing the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effectively cut tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification