Apparatus and method for rapid reliable electrothermal tissue fusion
First Claim
1. Apparatus for fusing together pieces of tissue at an interface, comprising:
- an tissue fusion instrument including jaws with working surfaces and a movement mechanism to move the jaws toward one another to compress the tissue pieces together at the interface between the working surfaces of the jaws, the working surfaces are formed of ceramic material and have a smoothness defined by an Ra of 0.40 microns or less, the movement mechanism having a capability for transferring sufficient force to compress the tissue pieces at the interface to a compressed tissue thickness sufficient to fuse the tissue pieces; and
a power control device connected to deliver an impulse of electrical power to the jaws which contains sufficient energy to fuse the tissue pieces together at the interface within no greater than 4.0 seconds after the electrical power impulse is initiated, the power impulse creating thermal energy and maintaining a temperature of the thermal energy applied to the interface in the range of 150°
C. to 200°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Pieces of tissue are fused together by compressing the pieces together at an interface, delivering an impulse of electrical power which is converted into sufficient thermal energy to fuse the pieces together at the interface. The impulse and the fusion occur within a preferable time of 0.5-2.0 seconds but no greater than 4.0 seconds. The temperature of the thermal energy is regulated between 150° C.-200° C. The tissue pieces are compressed to a thickness of 0.05-0.10 mm. Jaws which compress the tissue and transfer the energy have smooth working surfaces with an Ra of 0.15 or less microns to 0.40 microns.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. Apparatus for fusing together pieces of tissue at an interface, comprising:
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an tissue fusion instrument including jaws with working surfaces and a movement mechanism to move the jaws toward one another to compress the tissue pieces together at the interface between the working surfaces of the jaws, the working surfaces are formed of ceramic material and have a smoothness defined by an Ra of 0.40 microns or less, the movement mechanism having a capability for transferring sufficient force to compress the tissue pieces at the interface to a compressed tissue thickness sufficient to fuse the tissue pieces; and a power control device connected to deliver an impulse of electrical power to the jaws which contains sufficient energy to fuse the tissue pieces together at the interface within no greater than 4.0 seconds after the electrical power impulse is initiated, the power impulse creating thermal energy and maintaining a temperature of the thermal energy applied to the interface in the range of 150°
C. to 200°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for fusing together pieces of tissue at an interface, comprising:
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an tissue fusion instrument including jaws and a movement mechanism to move the jaws toward one another to compress the tissue pieces together at the interface between the working surfaces of the jaws; and a power control device connected to deliver an impulse of electrical power to the jaws which has a time duration of no greater than 2.0 seconds and which contains sufficient energy to fuse the tissue pieces together at the interface by creating a temperature applied to the interface in the range of 150°
C. to 200°
C. within the time duration of the electrical power impulse.
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28. A method of electrothermally fusing together pieces of tissue at an interface, comprising:
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compressing the tissue pieces together at the interface sufficiently for fusing the tissue pieces together at the interface; delivering an impulse of electrical power of no greater than 4.0 seconds time duration which contains sufficient energy to fuse the tissue pieces together at the interface within the time duration of the electrical power impulse; converting the electrical power impulse into thermal energy applied at the interface to fuse the tissue pieces; and regulating the temperature of the thermal energy applied at the interface in a range of 150°
C. to 200°
C. while fusing the tissue pieces by controlling characteristics of the electrical power impulse. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification