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Apparatus and method for rapid reliable electrothermal tissue fusion and simultaneous cutting

  • US 20080188844A1
  • Filed: 02/01/2007
  • Published: 08/07/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for fusing together pieces of tissue at an interface and simultaneously cutting the fused tissue along a linear path through the interface, comprising:

  • an 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 together at the interface followed by further compressing the tissue pieces at the interface to a zero thickness for cutting the fused together pieces of tissue; and

    a power control device connected to deliver an impulse of electrical power to the jaws which contains sufficient energy to fuse and simultaneously cut the tissue pieces along the linear path 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 220°

    C. to 320°

    C.

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