Apparatus for Performing an Electrosurgical Procedure

• US 20110054468A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dycus, Sean T.
• Application Number:
  US12/551,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20110054468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• 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 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1415 multiple blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors

Abstract

A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument including an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and having a pair of first and second jaw members, one or both of the first and second jaw members moveable from an open position to a clamping position, wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes a cutting channel defined therein that extends therethrough. A cutting element is movable within the cutting channel and includes a stationary blade and a pivoting blade that pivots with respect to the stationary blade when first and second jaw members are in the clamped position and the cutting element is advanced through the cutting channel. The jaw members include an actuator operably connected to the housing and configured to impart reciprocating movement of the cutting element.

Claims

1. A forceps, comprising:

an end effector assembly having a pair of first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable from an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes a cutting channel defined therein that extends therethrough;

a cutting element movable within the cutting channel, the cutting element including a stationary blade and a pivoting blade, the pivoting blade configured to pivot with respect to the stationary blade when the first and second jaw members are in the clamped position and the cutting element is advanced through the cutting channel; and

an actuator configured to impart reciprocating movement of the cutting element.

2. The forceps of claim 1, wherein the stationary blade and the pivoting blade are pivotably coupled to each other via a pivot pin located at a proximal end of the cutting element.

3. The forceps of claim 1, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade are offset from each other and configured such that as the cutting element is advanced through the cutting channel, the pivoting blade moves in a scissor-like fashion relative to the stationary blade to facilitate severing of tissue.

4. The forceps of claim 1, wherein at least one of the stationary blade and pivoting blade includes a serrated cutting edge.

5. The forceps of claim 1, wherein a groove is operably disposed on at least one of the first and second jaw members and configured to receive at least a portion of the pivoting blade.

6. The forceps of claim 5, wherein an upper portion of the pivoting blade includes a tab located distally relative to the pivot pin that is configured to translate within the groove.

7. The forceps of claim 6, wherein the groove includes a camming surface configured to cam the tab when the cutting element is being advanced through the cutting channel.

8. The forceps of claim 7, wherein the cutting element has a first height when the stationary blade and pivoting blade are in a retracted position and a second height when the stationary blade and pivoting blade are in fully advanced position, wherein the second height is less than the first height.

9. The forceps of claim 1, wherein the cutting element further includes a biasing element configured to bias the pivoting blade in an initial non-pivoted condition relative to the stationary blade when the cutting element is in the retracted position.

10. The forceps of claim 1, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade each include a thickness “

T”

, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade are offset from each other a distance that is about equal to the thickness “

T”

.

11. The forceps of claim 1, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade are interleaved.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

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

an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and having a pair of first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable from an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, wherein the each of the first and second jaw members includes a cutting channel defined therein that extends therethrough;

a handle assembly including a movable handle movable relative to a fixed handle operably connected to impart movement of the jaw members relative to each other;

a cutting element movable within the cutting channel, the cutting element including a stationary blade and a pivoting blade, the pivoting blade configured to pivot with respect to the stationary blade when the first and second jaw members are in the clamped position and the cutting element is advanced through the cutting channel; and

an actuator operably connected to the housing and configured to impart reciprocating movement of the cutting element.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the stationary blade and the pivoting blade are pivotably coupled to each other via a pivot pin located at a proximal end of the cutting element.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade are offset from each other and configured such that as the cutting element is advanced through the cutting channel, the pivoting blade moves in a scissor-like fashion relative to the stationary blade to facilitate severing of tissue.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein a groove is operably disposed on at least one of the first and second jaw members and is configured to receive at least a portion of the pivoting blade.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein an upper portion of the pivoting blade includes a tab located distally relative to the pivot pin that is configured to translate within the groove.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the groove includes a camming surface configured to cam the tab when the cutting element is being advanced through the cutting channel.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the cutting element has a first height when the stationary blade and pivoting blade are in a retracted position and a second height when the stationary blade and pivoting blade are in fully advanced position, wherein the second height is less than the first height.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the cutting element further includes a biasing element configured to bias the pivoting blade in an initial non-pivoted condition relative to the stationary blade when the cutting element is in the retracted position.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade each include a thickness “

T”

, wherein the stationary blade and pivoting blade are offset from each other a distance that is about equal to the thickness “

T”

.