Mechanical Cycling of Seal Pressure Coupled with Energy for Tissue Fusion

• US 20110015632A1
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Artale, Ryan C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• 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 instrument for sealing tissue includes one or more elongated shafts having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof that includes a pair of opposing jaw members movable by an actuator from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue. One or both jaw members are adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that electrosurgical energy can be supplied to tissue disposed therebetween. A controller is coupled to the actuator for regulating a closing pressure between the jaw members and a sensor is configured to provide feedback to the controller regarding a seal pressure of tissue disposed between the jaw members.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:

an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members, at least one of the jaw members adapted to move from a first position to a second position for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrical energy source;

an actuator coupled to at least one jaw member for moving the at least one jaw member to the second position for grasping tissue;

a controller coupled to the actuator for regulating a closing pressure between the jaw members; and

a sensor configured to provide feedback to the controller regarding a seal pressure of tissue disposed between the jaw members.

2. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a pressure controller for regulating the sealing pressure of tissue disposed between the jaw members to within about ±

10 kg/cm².

3. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the seal pressure is determined by at least one property of the tissue disposed between the jaw members.

4. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 3, wherein the at least one property of the tissue includes at least one of tissue impedance, tissue type, tissue clarity, tissue compliance, temperature of the tissue or jaw members, water content in tissue, jaw opening angle, water motality in tissue and energy delivery.

5. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the seal pressure is determined at least one of before, during and after electrical activation of the at least one jaw member.

6. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the seal pressure is determined in real time during electrical activation and provided to the controller for regulating the closing pressure between jaw members.

7. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the closure pressure is cycled during electrical activation based upon a predetermined pressure profile to control the seal pressure.

8. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined pressure profile is sinusoidal.

9. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy source communicates with the controller to regulate the delivery of electrical energy to tissue as a function of the seal pressure.

10. A method of sealing tissue comprising the steps of:

providing an electrosurgical instrument including;

an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members;

actuating at least one jaw member to grasp tissue;

sensing a seal pressure of tissue disposed between the jaw members;

providing feedback to a controller regarding the sensed seal pressure; and

activating a pressure controller to regulate the seal pressure of the jaw members on tissue.

11. A method of sealing tissue according to claim 10, wherein after the sensing step the method further includes the steps of:

activating the electrosurgical energy source to supply energy to tissue disposed between the jaw members; and

continuously sensing the seal pressure on tissue during electrical activation and activating a pressure controller to regulate the seal pressure of the jaw members on tissue.

12. A method of sealing tissue according to claim 10, wherein the seal pressure is determined by at least one property of the tissue disposed between the jaw members, the property of the tissue including at least one of tissue impedance, tissue type, tissue clarity, tissue compliance, temperature of the tissue or jaw members, water content in tissue, jaw opening angle, water motality in tissue and energy delivery.

13. A method of sealing tissue according to claim 10, wherein the step of activating the pressure controller cycles the sealing pressure based upon a predetermined pressure profile.

14. A method of sealing tissue according to claim 10, wherein the step of controlling the pressure controller is based upon a predetermined sinusoidal pressure profile.

15. A method of sealing tissue according to claim 11, wherein the step of activating the electrical energy source is a function of the seal pressure.