Apparatus and Method of Controlling Cutting Blade Travel Through the Use of Etched Features
First Claim
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1. A forceps, comprising:
- an end effector assembly having a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, at least one of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source and at least one of the jaw members including a curved blade channel having opposing sidewalls defined therein and extending therealong; and
a cutting blade configured for selective translation within the curved blade channel;
wherein proximal portions of a first sidewall are manufactured to include incident angles of less than five degrees that engage the cutting blade during translation thereof to direct the cutting blade towards a specific point of contact on the opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel.
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Abstract
A forceps includes a housing including a shaft. The shaft includes an end effector assembly having a pair of curved jaw members. The jaw members include an electrically conductive surface and a curved blade channel having opposing sidewalls. A cutting blade is configured for translation within the blade channel. Proximal portions of a first sidewall include incident angles of less than five degrees that engage the cutting blade and direct the blade towards a specific point of contact on the opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A forceps, comprising:
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an end effector assembly having a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, at least one of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source and at least one of the jaw members including a curved blade channel having opposing sidewalls defined therein and extending therealong; and a cutting blade configured for selective translation within the curved blade channel; wherein proximal portions of a first sidewall are manufactured to include incident angles of less than five degrees that engage the cutting blade during translation thereof to direct the cutting blade towards a specific point of contact on the opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of cutting tissue grasped between the jaws of a curved end effector of a forceps having a cutting blade, the curved end effector including a curved blade channel having opposing sidewalls defined therein and extending therealong, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving the cutting blade through the curved end effector until the cutting blade contacts a first sidewall at an incident angle of less than five degrees, the first sidewall forcing the cutting blade to towards a specific point of contact on the opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel; moving the cutting blade past the first sidewall, through the curved blade channel until the cutting blade contacts the specific point of contact on the opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel, the specific point of contact on the opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel forcing the cutting blade towards a second direction substantially parallel to the second wall; and moving the cutting blade along the second wall.
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13. A method of manufacturing a curved knife channel defined within an end effector of a forceps, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a resist covered substrate; providing a photolithography mask having a pattern configured to provide a curved blade channel defined in an end effector of the forceps; exposing the pattern of the photolithography mask to the resist covered substrate for developing the pattern on the resist covered substrate; and removing the exposed resist pattern to expose the curved blade channel of the end effector having first and second sidewalls, wherein proximal portions of the first sidewall are manufactured to include incident angles of less than five degrees to direct a translating cutting blade of the end effector towards a specific point of contact on the second, opposing sidewall of the curved blade channel.
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Specification