Compact Jaw Including Through Bore Pivot Pin

• US 20110060333A1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mueller, Peter Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• 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 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• 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

Abstract

An end effector assembly for use with a forceps includes a pair of jaw members, a knife assembly, and one or more cam assemblies. One or more of the jaw members are moveable relative to the other about a pivot from a first, open position to a second, closed position. One or more of the jaw members include a knife channel. The pivot includes a bore. The knife assembly includes a knife blade and an actuation shaft. The knife blade is disposed distally relative to the pivot. The actuation shaft is configured for slidable translation through the bore to allow selective advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel. The one or more cam assemblies are operably coupled to the one or more moveable jaw members and are actuatable to move the one or more jaw members from the first to second position for grasping tissue therebetween.

Claims

1. An end effector assembly for use with a forceps, the end effector assembly comprising:

a pair of jaw members, at least one jaw member moveable relative to the other about a pivot from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined therein that extends therealong, the pivot including a bore defined therethrough;

a knife assembly including a knife blade and an actuation shaft, the knife blade disposed distally relative to the pivot and the actuation shaft configured for slidable translation through the bore defined in the pivot to allow selective advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel; and

at least one cam assembly operably coupled to the at least one moveable jaw member and actuatable to move the at least one jaw member from the first to second position for grasping tissue therebetween.

2. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cam assembly includes an actuator configured to move the at least one movable jaw member from the first to second position upon selective longitudinal translation thereof.

3. The end effector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the actuator includes at least one cam pin extending therefrom and wherein at least one jaw member defines at least one cam slot therein such that the at least one cam slot and the at least one cam pin are configured to cooperate with one another.

4. The end effector assembly according to claim 2, wherein an actuator bore is defined through the actuator that is configured to slidably receive the actuation shaft therethrough.

5. The end effector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the actuation shaft and at least one of the bore of the pivot and the actuator bore have non-circular cross-sections such that the actuation shaft and at least one of the bore of the pivot and the actuator bore cooperate to prevent the knife blade from rotating.

6. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the knife blade is affixed to a distal end of the actuation shaft.

7. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to electrosurgically treat tissue.

8. A forceps, comprising.

a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that includes a clevis at a distal end thereof;

a pair of jaw members mounted to the clevis about a pivot, at least one jaw member moveable relative to the other about the pivot from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined therein that extends therealong, the pivot including a bore defined therethrough;

a knife assembly including a knife blade and an actuation shaft, the knife blade disposed distally relative to the pivot and the actuation shaft configured for slidable translation through the bore defined in the pivot to allow selective advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel; and

at least one cam assembly operably coupled to the at least one moveable jaw member and actuatable to move the at least one jaw member from the first to second position for grasping tissue therebetween.

9. The forceps according to claim 8, wherein the at least one cam assembly includes an actuator operably coupled to the housing that is configured to move the at least one jaw member from the first to second position upon selective longitudinal translation thereof.

10. The forceps according to claim 9, wherein the actuator includes at least one cam pin extending therefrom and wherein at least one jaw member defines at least one cam slot therein such that the at least one cam slot and the at least one cam pin are configured to cooperate with one another.

11. The forceps according to claim 9, wherein an actuator bore is defined through the actuator that is configured to slidably receive the actuation shaft therethrough.

12. The forceps according to claim 11, wherein the actuation shaft and at least one of the bore of the pivot and the actuator bore have non-circular cross-sections such that the actuation shaft and at least one of the bore of the pivot and the actuator bore cooperate to prevent the knife blade from rotating.

13. The forceps according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is moveable to actuate the both jaw members.

14. The forceps according to claim 8, wherein the knife blade is affixed to a distal end of the actuation shaft.

15. The forceps according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to electrosurgically treat tissue.

16. The forceps according to claim 8, wherein the pivot is fixedly connected to the clevis.

17. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that includes a clevis at a distal end thereof, the clevis defining at least one channel therethrough;

a pair of jaw members mounted to the clevis about a pivot, at least one jaw member moveable relative to the other about the pivot from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined therein that extends therealong, the pivot including a bore defined therethrough;

a knife tube disposed through the at least one channel of the clevis and dimensioned to slidingly receive a knife assembly therein, the knife assembly including a knife blade and an actuation shaft, the knife blade disposed distally relative to the pivot and the actuation shaft configured for slidable translation through the knife tube and the bore of the pivot to allow selective advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel; and

at least one cam assembly operably coupled to the at least one moveable jaw member and actuatable to move the at least one jaw member from the first to second position for grasping tissue therebetween.

18. The forceps according to claim 17, wherein the at least one cam assembly includes an actuator operably coupled to the housing that is configured to move the at least one jaw member from the first to second position upon selective longitudinal translation thereof.

19. The forceps according to claim 18, wherein the actuator includes at least one cam pin extending therefrom and wherein at least one jaw member defines at least one cam slot therein such that the at least one cam slot and the at least one cam pin are configured to cooperate with one another.

20. The forceps according to claim 17, wherein the knife blade is affixed to a distal end of the actuation shaft.

21. The forceps according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to electrosurgically treat tissue.

22. The forceps according to claim 17, wherein the pivot is fixedly connected to the clevis.

23. The forceps according to claim 17, wherein the actuation shaft and the bore of the pivot have non-circular cross-sections such that the actuation shaft and the bore of the pivot cooperate to prevent the knife blade from rotating.