APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AN ELECTROSURGICAL PROCEDURE

• US 20100087816A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Roy, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a bipolar forceps adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom. The bipolar forceps is in operative communication with one or more vacuum sources. The bipolar forceps includes an end effector assembly having a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration; each jaw member including a respective seal plate. The pair of first and second jaw members is operatively and pivotably connected to a distal end of the shaft. One or both of the first and second jaw members includes one or more apertures in fluid communication with the distal end of the shaft and the one or more vacuum sources.

Claims

1. A forceps adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for performing an electrosurgical procedure, the forceps comprising:

a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom;

at least one vacuum source in operative communication with the forceps; and

an end effector assembly having a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration and each including a respective seal plate, the pair of first and second jaw members operatively and pivotably connected to a distal end of the shaft, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes at least one aperture in fluid communication with the distal end of the shaft and the at least one vacuum source.

2. The forceps according to claim 1, further including a control system in operative communication with the forceps and configured to control the at least one vacuum source.

3. The forceps according to claim 2, wherein the control system includes at least one sensor in operative communication with the at least one vacuum source configured to control fluid flow through the at least one aperture.

4. The forceps according to claim 1, further including a seal structure configured to provide a substantially air tight seal between the pair of jaw members and the distal end of the shaft.

5. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second jaw members defines a channel extending from the at least one aperture located on each of the first and second jaw members to the distal end of the shaft.

6. The forceps according to claim 5, wherein the forceps further includes a vacuum tube feed path configured to house a vacuum tube in fluid communication with the vacuum source and the channel of each in the jaw members.

7. The forceps according to claim 6, wherein the vacuum tube operatively couples to a proximal end of the forceps and extends therethrough to the proximal end of each of the first and second jaw members.

8. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture on each of the first and second jaw members is disposed along the seal plates of each of the jaw members.

9. The forceps according to claim 3, wherein the at least one vacuum source is activated by a switch in operative communication with the forceps.

10. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure, the method comprising:

providing a forceps including;

a shaft;

at least one fluid source in operative communication with the shaft;

a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration and each including a respective seal plate, the pair of first and second jaw members pivotably connected to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the first and second jaw members each include at least one aperture in fluid communication with the distal end of the shaft and the at least one vacuum source;

activating the vacuum source;

positioning tissue between the pair of first and second jaw members such that the first and second jaw members are drawn within the distal end of the shaft thereby pivot the jaw members to a closed position relative to one another about the tissue such that tissue is grasped therebetween; and

applying electrosurgical energy to the jaw members such that a desired tissue effect may be achieved.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of applying electrosurgical energy includes sealing tissue.

12. A system for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:

a bipolar forceps, comprising;

a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom;

at least one vacuum source in operative communication with the shaft;

an end effector assembly having a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration and each including a respective seal plate, the pair of first and second jaw members operatively and pivotably connected to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the first and second jaw members each include at least one aperture in fluid communication with the distal end of the shaft and the at least one vacuum source; and

a control system in operative communication with the bipolar forceps and having at least one algorithm for at least one of independently controlling and monitoring the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the tissue sealing plate on each of the jaw members and controlling and monitoring fluid flow to and through each of the first and second jaw members to regulate the closure pressure between the jaws.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the control system includes at least one sensor in operative communication with one of the at least one vacuum source and the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling fluid flow to and through each of the first and second jaw members.