ARTICULATING BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT
First Claim
1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
a handle assembly operatively associated with the housing;
a shaft extending from the housing, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector operatively associated with a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising;
a first jaw member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft;
a second jaw member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and in juxtaposed relation to the first jaw member, the first and second jaw members being movable from a first orientation in which the first and the second jaw member are axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and a plurality of second orientations in which the first and second jaw members are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis, the first and second jaw members having an open condition in which the first and second jaws members are spaced from one another and a closed condition in which the first and second jaw members are substantially in close proximity to one another, the second jaw member comprising a plurality of inter-engagement elements;
a locking mechanism operatively associated with the second jaw member, the locking mechanism comprising;
a locking shaft extending longitudinally through the shaft, the locking shaft having a distal end operatively associated with the second jaw member and including a locking pin extending transversely from the distal end of the locking shaft, the locking pin selectively engagable with each of the plurality of inter-engagement elements of the second jaw member; and
an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the first jaw member, the actuation mechanism comprising;
an actuation shaft reciprocally and rotatably disposed in the locking shaft, the actuation shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; and
a band having a proximal end operatively connected to the distal end of the actuation shaft, and a distal end extending through an aperture formed in the distal end of the locking shaft and operatively connected to the first jaw member.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has a pair of pivotable juxtaposed jaw members and a locking mechanism operatively associated with a second of the jaw members. The locking mechanism has a first position engaged with the second jaw member for preventing movement of the second jaw member between an axially aligned orientation and at least one angled orientation, and a second position. The second position is disengaged from the second jaw member allowing for movement of the second jaw member between the axially aligned orientation and the at least one angled orientation. The instrument has an actuation mechanism operatively connected to a first of the jaw members with the actuation mechanism operable to move the first jaw member between an axially aligned first orientation and at least one angled orientation. An articulation knob is operatively associated with the locking mechanism and effectuates independent operation of the locking and actuation mechanisms.
318 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; a handle assembly operatively associated with the housing; a shaft extending from the housing, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; an end effector operatively associated with a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising; a first jaw member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft; a second jaw member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and in juxtaposed relation to the first jaw member, the first and second jaw members being movable from a first orientation in which the first and the second jaw member are axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and a plurality of second orientations in which the first and second jaw members are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis, the first and second jaw members having an open condition in which the first and second jaws members are spaced from one another and a closed condition in which the first and second jaw members are substantially in close proximity to one another, the second jaw member comprising a plurality of inter-engagement elements; a locking mechanism operatively associated with the second jaw member, the locking mechanism comprising; a locking shaft extending longitudinally through the shaft, the locking shaft having a distal end operatively associated with the second jaw member and including a locking pin extending transversely from the distal end of the locking shaft, the locking pin selectively engagable with each of the plurality of inter-engagement elements of the second jaw member; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the first jaw member, the actuation mechanism comprising; an actuation shaft reciprocally and rotatably disposed in the locking shaft, the actuation shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; and a band having a proximal end operatively connected to the distal end of the actuation shaft, and a distal end extending through an aperture formed in the distal end of the locking shaft and operatively connected to the first jaw member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector operatively associated with a distal end of a shaft, the end effector comprising; a first jaw member pivotably coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a second jaw member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft, wherein at least one of the first and the second jaw members comprise a plurality of inter-engagement elements; and a plurality of electrodes with at least one electrode being operatively disposed on the first jaw member and at least another electrode being operatively disposed on the second jaw member, wherein the electrodes transmit radiofrequency energy therebetween; wherein the first and second jaw members move from a first orientation in which the first and the second jaw member are axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft and a plurality of second orientations in which the first and the second jaw members are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis, the first and second jaw members having an open condition in which the first and second jaws members are spaced from one another and a closed condition in which the first and second jaw members are substantially in close proximity to one another; a locking mechanism operatively associated with the second jaw member to prevent movement of the second jaw member between the first orientation and any of the plurality of second orientations, and a second position in which the locking mechanism is disengaged from the second jaw member and allows for movement of the second jaw member between the first orientation and any of the plurality of second orientations; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the first jaw member and second jaw member, the actuation mechanism operable to move at least one of the first jaw member and second jaw member between the first orientation and the plurality of second orientations.
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17. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector operatively associated with a distal end of a shaft, the end effector comprising; a first jaw member pivotably coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a second jaw member pivotably coupled to the distal end of the shaft; and a plurality of electrodes with at least one electrode being operatively disposed on the first jaw member and at least another electrode being operatively disposed on the second jaw member, wherein the electrodes transmit radiofrequency energy therebetween; wherein the end effector defines a longitudinal axis with the shaft when the end effector is in a coaxial position, and wherein the end effector is articulatable from an angle of about 0°
with respect to the longitudinal axis to an angle of about 60°
with respect to the longitudinal axis; andwherein the first and the second jaw members are adapted to move between an open position and a closed position at any of a plurality of angular positions of the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification