Endoscopic Vessel Sealer and Divider Having a Flexible Articulating Shaft
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:
- a housing having a shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough, the shaft being at least partially flexible and including first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof, each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween;
a drive assembly disposed in the housing including a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof wherein actuation of the first actuator reciprocates the drive rod which, in turn, moves the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue; and
a second actuator disposed on the housing being actuatable to articulate the shaft.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough. The shaft is at least partially flexible and includes first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. A drive assembly is disposed in the housing and has a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof to move the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue. A second actuator is disposed on the housing and is actuatable to articulate the shaft.
534 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:
-
a housing having a shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough, the shaft being at least partially flexible and including first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof, each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; a drive assembly disposed in the housing including a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof wherein actuation of the first actuator reciprocates the drive rod which, in turn, moves the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue; and a second actuator disposed on the housing being actuatable to articulate the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:
-
a housing having a shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough, the shaft being at least partially flexible and including first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof, each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; a drive assembly disposed in the housing including a four bar mechanical linkage operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof wherein actuation of the four bar mechanical linkage reciprocates the drive rod which, in turn, moves the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue; and a second actuator disposed on the housing being actuatable to articulate the shaft.
-
-
9. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:
-
a housing having a shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough, the shaft being at least partially flexible and including first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof, each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; a drive assembly disposed in the housing including a drive assembly operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof wherein actuation of the drive assembly reciprocates the drive rod which, in turn, moves the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue; a second actuator disposed on the housing being actuatable to articulate the shaft; and an adjustment actuator coupled to the drive rod which allows a manufacturer to adjust the relative distance of the jaw members when disposed in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification