Apparatus, System, and Method for Performing an Endoscopic Electrosurgical Procedure

• US 20100094287A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cunningham, James S., Allen, James D. IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• 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 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• 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

A bipolar forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom. The housing includes a drive assembly operable to reciprocate an actuation tube within the shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration. One or both of the first and second jaw members is pivotable about a living hinge from a first position to a clamping position. One or both of the jaw members includes a cam slot defined at a proximal end thereof. One of the jaw members is operatively connected to a distal end of the actuation tube via a cam pin that operatively engages the cam slot such that proximal reciprocation of the actuation tube cams at least one jaw member towards the other jaw member about the living hinge

Claims

1. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, the housing including a drive assembly operable to reciprocate an actuation tube within the shaft; and

an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft having a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration, at least one of the first and second jaw members pivotable about a living hinge from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a clamping position wherein the jaw members are moved closer to one another for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members including a cam slot defined at a proximal end thereof,

wherein the at least one jaw member is operatively connected to a distal end of the actuation tube via a cam pin that operatively engages the cam slot such that proximal reciprocation of the actuation tube cams the at least one jaw member towards the other jaw member about the living hinge.

2. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the jaw members are housed within the distal end of the shaft when the jaw members are in the closed configuration.

3. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the jaw members are electrically isolated from each other via a non-conductive spacer disposed between the proximal ends of the jaw members.

4. The bipolar forceps according to claim 3, wherein the spacer provides a gap distance from about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches between the jaw members when disposed in the clamping position.

5. The bipolar forceps according to claim 3, wherein the spacer provides a gap distance that is greater than 0.006 inches between the jaw members when disposed in the clamping position.

6. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cam slot of the at least one jaw member is overmolded on the at least one jaw member.

7. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cam slots of the at least one jaw member is arcuate.

8. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes an actuation rod coupled to the actuation tube to actuate the jaw members.

9. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein each jaw member includes an outer insulative housing that is overmolded to capture a sealing plate for engaging tissue, the outer insulative housing configured to include the cam slot at a proximal end thereof.

10. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein each jaw member includes an outer insulative housing and a sealing plate that are integrally formed together for engaging tissue, the outer insulative housing configured to include the cam slot at a proximal end thereof.

11. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a bipolar forceps including;

a drive assembly operable to reciprocate an actuation tube; and

an end effector assembly having a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration, at least one of the first and second jaw members pivotable about a living hinge from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a clamping position wherein the jaw members are moved closer to one another, at least one of the jaw members including a cam slot defined at a proximal end thereof,

wherein the at least one jaw member is operatively connected to a distal end of the actuation tube via a cam pin that operatively engages the cam slot;

positioning tissue between the pair of first and second jaw members;

proximally actuating the drive assembly to move the actuation tube causing the cam pin to cam the first and second jaw members to pivot about the living hinge towards each other such that tissue is grasped therebetween; and

applying electrosurgical energy to the jaw members such that a tissue seal may be effected therebetween.