Apparatus, System, and Method for Performing an Electrosurgical Procedure

• US 20100179546A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cunningham, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue includes a housing having a flexible shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough. The flexible shaft has first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof and each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A drive assembl is disposed in the housing and has a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof and a second actuator operably coupled to the drive rod for rotation thereof. A knife is operably coupled to a distal end of the drive rod. Actuation of the first actuator moves the jaw members relative to one another for engaging tissue and actuation of the second actuator rotates the drive rod about the axis A-A to translate the knife to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical forceps adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising:

a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough; and

an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft having a pair of first and second jaw members at least one of which is partially manufactured from a shape memory alloy (SMA), each of the first and second jaw members adapted to connect to a heat source and an electrical electrosurgical energy source, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other from a normally open configuration to a closed configuration upon transition of the SMA from a martensite phase to an austenite phase as a result of selectively supplying heat from the heat source thereto.

2. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes a non-stick material.

3. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein a heating element supplies heat to the SMA and is operatively disposed between the jaw members and is in electrical communication with the electrosurgical energy source.

4. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is a thermoelectric cooler.

5. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein each of the jaw members includes an insulative housing.

6. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 5, wherein the insulative housing is malleable and configured to bend upon application of heat to the jaw members.

7. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members and in operative communication with the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling electrosurgical energy to the end effector assembly.

8. A electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the SMA is selected from the group consisting of copper-zinc-aluminum-nickel, copper-aluminum-nickel, and nickel-titanium.

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

providing a bipolar forceps including;

an end effector assembly having a pair of first and second jaw members at least one of which is partially manufactured from a shape memory alloy (SMA), at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other from a normally open configuration to a closed configuration upon transition of the SMA from a martensite phase to an austenite phase as a result of selectively supplying heat from a heat source thereto;

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

activating the heat source to cause at least one of the jaw members to move towards the other such that the tissue is grasped therebetween; and

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

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of providing includes providing each of the first and second jaw members a non-stick material.