Apparatus for Tissue Sealing

• US 20100249769A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Nau, William H JR., Rossetto, Francesca
• Application Number:
  US12/410,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249769A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1823 Generators therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a microwave forceps for sealing tissue. The forceps includes a shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes opposing jaw members 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 of the jaw members includes a sealing surface, wherein one of the sealing surfaces includes one or more microwave antennas coupled to a source of microwave energy.

Claims

1. A microwave forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof the end effector assembly including opposing jaw members 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 of the jaw members including a sealing surface, at least one of the sealing surfaces including a microwave antenna assembly coupled to a source of microwave energy.

2. The microwave forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

a handle assembly including a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is movable relative to the second handle; and

a pushrod disposed within the at least one shaft, the pushrod operatively coupled at one end to the handle assembly and to the end effector assembly, wherein longitudinal movement of the pushrod moves the jaw members from the first position to the at least one subsequent position.

3. The microwave forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

a knife channel defined along a length of at least one of the jaw members, the knife channel being dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong; and

an actuator operatively connected to one of the shaft members for selectively advances the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members.

4. The microwave forceps according to claim 1, wherein the microwave antenna assembly includes at least one monopole microwave antenna.

5. The microwave forceps according to claim 1, wherein each of the jaw members includes a shielding member adapted to confine microwave energy between the jaw members.

6. The microwave forceps according to claim 1, wherein the microwave antenna assembly includes at least two dipole microwave antennas.

7. The microwave forceps according to claim 6, wherein each of the opposing jaw members includes one of the at least two dipole microwave antennas.

8. The microwave forceps according to claim 6, wherein the at least two dipole microwave antennas are disposed on the sealing surface of one of the opposing jaw members.

9. The microwave forceps according to claim 1, wherein the microwave antenna assembly includes a microstrip antenna, which is wound across the sealing surface of one of the opposing jaw members.

10. A microwave forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including a first and second opposing jaw members 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 of the jaw members including a seating surface;

a microwave antenna assembly coupled to a microwave energy source, the microwave antenna assembly disposed on the sealing surface of the first jaw member, wherein the microwave antenna assembly includes;

a grounding member coupled to a ground reference of the microwave energy source and disposed within the first jaw member;

a dielectric substrate disposed on the grounding member; and

a patch antenna coupled to an active element of the microwave energy source and disposed on the dielectric substrate.

11. The microwave forceps according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric substrate has a larger surface area than a surface area of the patch antenna.

12. The microwave forceps according to claim 10, wherein the patch antenna has a length that is substantially equal to about half of a wavelength of the microwave energy being supplied thereto.

13. A microwave forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including a first and second opposing jaw members 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 of the jaw members including a sealing surface;

a microwave antenna assembly coupled to a microwave energy source, the microwave antenna assembly disposed on the sealing surface of the first jaw member, wherein the microwave antenna assembly includes;

a slot antenna having a substantially rectangular slot defined therethrough, the rectangular slot having a first longitudinal side coupled to a ground reference of the microwave energy source and a second longitudinal side coupled to an active element of the microwave energy source.

14. The microwave forceps according to claim 13, wherein the microwave antenna assembly further includes a cavity formed within the first jaw member, wherein the cavity overlaps the rectangular slot and is configured to direct microwave energy downward.

15. The microwave forceps according to claim 13, wherein the slot antenna has a length that is substantially equal to about half of a wavelength of the microwave energy being supplied thereto.

16. The microwave forceps according to claim 13, wherein the microwave antenna assembly further includes:

a retractable plate slidably disposed between the first jaw member and the slot antenna.

17. The microwave forceps according to claim 13, wherein the microwave antenna assembly further includes:

a retractable plate slidably disposed between the first jaw member and the slot antenna, wherein the retractable plate is configured to retract to at least partially cover the rectangular slot.

18. The microwave forceps according to claim 16, wherein the retractable plate is retracted to maintain a length of the rectangular slot that is substantially equal to about half of a wavelength of the microwave energy being supplied thereto.

19. A microwave forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including opposing jaw members 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 of the jaw members including a sealing surface, at least one of the sealing surfaces including a microwave antenna assembly coupled to a source of microwave energy, wherein the microwave antenna assembly is configured to operate in a therapeutic mode to deliver microwave energy to tissue and in a detection mode to measure at least one tissue property.

20. The microwave forceps according to claim 19, wherein the detection mode includes a receiving mode for measuring temperature of the tissue.