Vessel Sealer and Divider with Blade Deployment Alarm

• US 20100256635A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wilkesanders, Geneva, McKenna, Nicole, Dunne, J. Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• 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 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

An electrosurgical forceps includes a selectively advanceable knife and a knife deployment alarm configured to emit a signal under predetermined conditions. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel. A series of resistances are arranged so that a shorting of each resistor is indicative of a predetermined operating condition triggering the alarm to emit a signal. Pressure sensors, optical measurement devices, and electrical contacts are envisioned for determining blade or trigger actuation or translation.

Claims

1. A forceps, comprising:

a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source;

a cutting blade configured to selectively translate within a blade channel defined within at least one jaw member; and

an alarm operatively coupled to the cutting blade and configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade is deployed into the blade channel, wherein the emission of the signal is independent of the activation of the electrosurgical energy source.

2. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade is deployed to a predetermined position relative to the blade channel.

3. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is disposed within at least one of the jaw members and emits a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel.

4. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes an electrical contact disposed within the blade channel and wherein the alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel and contacts the electrical contact.

5. A forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger operably associated with the housing and configured to actuate the cutting blade.

6. A forceps according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is operably coupled to the alarm and is configured to emit the signal when the actuator is moved relative to a housing to deploy the cutting blade.

7. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes an electrical contact disposed on a housing and wherein the alarm is configured to emit a signal when the actuator moves relative to the housing and contacts the electrical contact.

8. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes at least one resistor which is configured to short and emit the signal upon a predetermined operating condition of the forceps, the predetermined operating condition of the forceps including at least one of cutting blade deployment, activation of electrosurgical energy, and cutting blade fully extended.

9. A forceps according to claim 8, wherein a series of resistors are arranged in a circuit, the shorting of each resistor of the series indicative of a predetermined operating condition of the forceps.

10. A forceps according to claim 8, wherein the alarm is configured to emit a different signal depending upon which predetermined operating condition is satisfied.

11. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes at least one pressure sensor configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade contacts tissue.

12. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes an optical measurement feature configured to emit a signal upon a predetermined operating condition of the forceps, the predetermined operating condition of the forceps including at least one of cutting blade deployment, cutting blade partially extended, and cutting blade fully extended.

13. A forceps according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes an optical measurement feature configured to emit a signal upon a predetermined operating condition of the forceps, the predetermined operating condition of the forceps including at least one of trigger activation, trigger partially translated, and trigger fully translated.

14. A forceps according to claim 12, wherein the optical measurement feature is an LED device.

15. A forceps according to claim 13, wherein the optical measurement feature is an LED device.

16. A forceps according to claim 12, wherein the optical measurement feature is an image processing device.

17. A forceps according to claim 13, wherein the optical measurement feature is an image processing device.

18. =A forceps according to claim 1 wherein the alarm includes at least one magnetic sensor configured to emit a signal upon a predetermined operating condition of the forceps, the predetermined operating condition of the forceps including at least one of cutting blade deployment, cutting blade partially extended, and cutting blade fully extended.

19. A method of operating a forceps, comprising:

providing a forceps, comprising;

a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source;

a cutting blade configured to selectively translate within a blade channel defined within at least one of the jaw members; and

an alarm operatively coupled to the cutting blade;

actuating the forceps such that the pair of jaw members engage tissue;

advancing the cutting blade to a predetermined position relative to the blade channel without activation of the electrosurgical energy source;

sensing the advancement of the cutting blade; and

causing the alarm to emit a signal.