Spring Loaded Reciprocating Tissue Cutting Mechanism in a Forceps-Style Electrosurgical Instrument

• US 20090149854A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Cunningham, James S., Harvilla, Dennis J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

Open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue which include a pair of first and second shaft portions each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing surface which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween with at least one of the jaw members including a knife slot defined along a length thereof. The knife slot is dimensioned to reciprocate a knife blade therefrom. The forceps also have a cutting mechanism which selectively actuates the knife blade from a first position wherein the knife blade is disposed at least substantially entirely within the knife slot of the jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the knife blade is at least partially deployed from the knife slot of the jaw member. The knife blade is displaceable in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the forceps.

Claims

1. An open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

a pair of first and second shaft portions each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, said jaw members being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member defining a longitudinal axis;

each of said jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing surface which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therein;

at least one of the jaw members including a knife slot defined along a length thereof;

a knife blade reciprocally disposed in the knife slot for deployment therefrom, the knife blade defining a cutting edge oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaw member; and

a cutting mechanism for selectively actuating the knife blade from a first position wherein the knife blade is disposed at least substantially entirely within the knife slot of one jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the knife blade is at least partially deployed from the knife slot of the same jaw member, wherein the cutting edge of the knife blade remains substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaw member during actuation thereof from the first position to the at least one subsequent position to thereby slice tissue disposed between the jaw members.

2. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the knife blade includes a camming surface opposite the cutting edge, wherein the camming surface of the knife blade engages a corresponding camming surface formed in the slot of the jaw member to effectuate displacement of the knife blade between the first position and the at least one subsequent position.

3. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 2, wherein as the knife blade is actuated from the first position to the at least one subsequent position the camming surface of the knife blade engages the camming surface of the slot formed in the jaw member to displace the knife blade in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaw member.

4. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 3, wherein as the knife blade is actuated from the first position to the at least one subsequent position the camming surface of the knife blade engages the camming surface of the slot formed in the jaw member to displace the knife blade in a direction having a longitudinal component of translation.

5. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cutting mechanism selectively actuates the knife blade from a first distal position to at least one subsequent proximal position.

6. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the knife blade is fabricated from a material capable of transmitting compressive and tensile forces.

7. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 6, wherein each jaw member is arcuate.

8. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 7, wherein the slot formed in the respective jaw member is arcuate.

9. An open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

a pair of first and second shaft portions each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof said jaw members being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member defining a longitudinal axis;

each of said jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing surface which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therein;

at least one of the jaw members including a knife slot defined along a length thereof;

a knife blade reciprocally disposed in the knife slot for deployment therefrom, the knife blade defining a camming surface opposite a cutting edge thereof; and

a cutting mechanism for selectively actuating the knife blade from a first position wherein the knife blade is disposed at least substantially entirely within the knife slot of one jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the knife blade is at least partially deployed from the knife slot of the same jaw member, wherein the camming surface of the knife blade engages a corresponding camming surface formed in the slot of the jaw member to effectuate displacement of the knife blade between the first position and the at least one subsequent position to thereby slice tissue disposed between the jaw members.

10. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the knife blade defines a cutting edge that is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaw member.

11. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 10, wherein the cutting edge of the knife blade remains substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaw member during actuation thereof from the first position to the at least one subsequent position.

12. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein as the knife blade is actuated from the first position to the at least one subsequent position the camming surface of the knife blade engages the camming surface of the slot formed in the jaw member to displace the knife blade in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaw member.

13. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein as the knife blade is actuated from the first position to the at least one subsequent position the camming surface of the knife blade engages the camming surface of the slot formed in the jaw member to displace the knife blade in a direction having a longitudinal component of translation.

14. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the cutting mechanism selectively actuates the knife blade from a first distal position to at least one subsequent proximal position.

15. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the knife blade is fabricated from a material capable of transmitting compressive and tensile forces.

16. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 15, wherein each jaw member is arcuate.

17. The open electrosurgical forceps according to claim 16, wherein the slot formed in the respective jaw member is arcuate.