Electrical Cutting and Vessel Sealing Jaw Members

• US 20110046623A1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Reschke, Arlan J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,679,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• 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 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 17/00 Metal-working operations, not covered by a single other subclass or another group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49986 Subsequent to metal working

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members and a first electrically conductive cutting plate. The pair of opposing first and second jaw members is movable to cooperatively grasp tissue. Each of the jaw members includes a tissue contacting plate that is disposed thereon and has a longitudinal channel that is defined therealong. The first electrically conductive cutting plate includes a cutting element that extends along the first electrically conductive cutting plate and into the longitudinal channel of the first jaw member to engage and electrosurgically sever tissue upon activation thereof.

Claims

1. An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, each of the first and second jaw members including a tissue contacting plate disposed thereon having a longitudinal channel defined therealong, the longitudinal channels disposed in substantial vertical registration relative to one another; and

a first electrically conductive cutting plate disposed on at least the first jaw member below the tissue contacting plate and adapted to connect to a first potential of an electrosurgical energy source, the first electrically conductive cutting plate including a cutting element that extends along the first electrically conductive cutting plate and into the longitudinal channel of the at least the first jaw member to engage and electrosurgically sever tissue upon activation thereof.

2. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting plate of the first jaw member is electrically non-conductive.

3. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting plate of the first jaw member is electrically conductive and adapted to connect to the electrosurgical energy source and the first jaw member includes an insulator disposed between the tissue contacting plate and the first electrically conductive cutting plate.

4. The end effector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first electrically conductive cutting plate includes a stamped portion that is bent therefrom to form the cutting element.

5. The end effector assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive cutting plate of the first jaw member is sandwiched between two layers of insulative material.

6. The end effector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second jaw member includes a second electrically conductive cutting plate disposed on a non-tissue contacting side of the tissue contacting plate, the second electrically conductive cutting plate of the second jaw member adapted to connect to an opposite potential of an electrosurgical energy source, at least a portion of the second electrically conductive cutting plate disposed within the longitudinal channel of the tissue contacting plate of the second jaw member, and wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive cutting plates of jaw members are each sandwiched between two layers of insulative material.

7. The end effector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the insulative material is a polymeric material.

8. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element includes a cutting edge that facilitates mechanical separation of tissue during electrical activation thereof.

9. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second jaw member includes a second electrically conductive cutting plate disposed on a non-tissue contacting side of the tissue contacting plate, the second electrically conductive cutting plate of the second jaw member adapted to connect to an opposite potential of the electrosurgical energy source, at least a portion of the second electrically conductive cutting plate disposed within the longitudinal channel of the tissue contacting plate of the second jaw member.

10. The end effector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cutting element of the first electrically conductive cutting plate and the second electrically conductive cutting plate cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween.

11. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element of the first electrically conductive cutting plate is centrally disposed within the longitudinal channel of the at least the first jaw member.

12. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element of the first electrically conductive cutting plate is non-centrally disposed within the longitudinal channel of the at least the first jaw member.

13. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tissue contacting plates of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to opposite potentials of an electrosurgical energy source and upon selective activation thereof cooperate to seal tissue disposed therebetween.

14. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element of the first electrically conductive cutting plate is configured to extend into the longitudinal channel of the second tissue contacting plate when the first and second jaw members are approximated.

15. An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, each of the first and second jaw members including a tissue contacting plate disposed thereon having a longitudinal channel defined therealong, the longitudinal channels disposed in substantial vertical registration relative to one another; and

a first electrically resistive cutting plate disposed on at least the first jaw member below the tissue contacting plate and adapted to connect to an electrical energy source, the first electrically resistive cutting plate including a cutting element that extends along the first electrically resistive cutting plate and into the longitudinal channel of the at least the first jaw member to engage, heat, and separate tissue upon activation thereof.

16. The end effector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first electrically resistive cutting plate is configured to heat tissue to a threshold temperature assuring separation of tissue.

17. A method of manufacturing an end effector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, each of the first and second jaw members including a tissue contacting plate disposed thereon having a longitudinal channel defined therealong, the longitudinal channels being disposed in substantial vertical registration relative to one another, respectively;

providing a first electrically conductive cutting plate disposed on at least the first jaw member below the tissue contacting plate and adapted to connect to a first potential of an electrosurgical energy source;

stamping the first electrically conductive cutting plate to define a cutting element;

bending the cutting element about a bending region such that the cutting element extends along the first electrically conductive cutting plate and into the longitudinal channel of the at least the first jaw member; and

applying an insulative material to a portion of the first electrically conductive cutting plate.