Low Profile Cutting Assembly with a Return Spring

• US 20110060356A1
• 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: Romero, Paul R., Reschke, Arlen J., Joseph, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• 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 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• 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 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a forceps that includes a housing, a cutting assembly, and an actuator. The housing has a shaft attached thereto that extends therefrom and is configured to support a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable to grasp tissue therebetween. The cutting assembly includes a spring element that has proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the spring element is fixed to a boss disposed within the housing and the distal end of the spring element includes a cutting edge. The spring element is coiled at a proximal end thereof to create a spring bias against the boss. The actuator is operably coupled to the spring element and is configured to selectively advance the cutting edge of the spring element into the jaw members against the spring bias to sever tissue disposed therebetween.

Claims

1. A forceps, comprising:

at least one shaft configured to support a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable to grasp tissue therebetween;

a cutting assembly including a spring element having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the spring element being fixed and the distal end of the spring element including a cutting edge, the spring element coiled and biased at the proximal end thereof; and

an actuator operably coupled to the spring element configured to selectively advance the cutting edge of the spring element into the jaw members against the spring bias to sever tissue disposed therebetween.

2. The forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing supporting the at least one shaft thereto and extending therefrom; and

a boss disposed within the housing, wherein the proximal end of the spring element is fixed about the boss.

3. The forceps according to claim 2, wherein the spring element is biased against the boss with a constant force.

4. The forceps according to claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the spring element is secured to the boss by a fastening technique selected from the group consisting of crimping, welding, gluing, over-molding, and friction-fitting.

5. The forceps according to claim 2, further comprising:

at least one stop operably coupled to the forceps within the housing, the at least one stop including a slot defined therethrough configured to receive the spring element; and

at least one bumper operably coupled to the spring element, the at least one bumper cooperating with the stop to limit movement of the spring element to within a predetermined range.

6. The forceps according to claim 2, wherein the boss is bifurcated to define a slit therebetween, the slit configured to secure the spring element thereto.

7. The forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting element attached to the distal end of the spring element and extending therefrom, wherein the cutting edge is defined at a distal end of the cutting element.

8. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is made from at least one of spring steel and plastic.

9. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the spring element is fixed about a boss disposed within the at least one shaft.

15. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is biased against the boss with a constant force.

10. A forceps, comprising:

at least one shaft configured to support a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable to grasp tissue therebetween;

a cutting assembly including;

a spring element having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the spring element being fixed and the distal end of the spring element including a cutting edge, the spring element coiled and biased at the proximal end thereof;

a joining member disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the spring element and configured to receive and secure the spring element; and

a cutting element attached to a distal end of the joining member and extending therefrom, the cutting element including a cutting edge defined at a distal end thereof; and

an actuator operably coupled to the spring element configured to selectively advance the cutting edge of the spring element into the jaw members against the spring bias to sever tissue disposed therebetween.

11. The forceps according to claim 10, further comprising:

a housing supporting the at least one shaft thereto and extending therefrom; and

a boss disposed within the housing, wherein the spring element is fixed about the boss.

12. The forceps according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one stop operably coupled to the forceps within the housing, the at least one stop including a slot defined therethrough configured to receive the spring element; and

at least one bumper operably coupled to the spring element, the at least one bumper cooperating with the stop to limit movement of the spring element to within a predetermined range.

13. The forceps according to claim 11, further comprising a guide pin disposed within the housing, the guide pin configured to support the spring element at least partially therearound to substantially reverse the actuation direction for advancing the cutting edge of the cutting element.

14. The forceps according to claim 13, wherein the guide pin includes a pulley that facilitates actuation of the spring element against the spring bias.

16. The forceps according to claim 11, wherein the boss is bifurcated to define a slit therebetween, the slit being configured to secure the spring element thereto.

17. The forceps according to claim 10, wherein the spring element is fixed about a boss disposed within the at least one shaft.

18. The forceps according to claim 10, further comprising:

at least one stop operably coupled to the forceps within the at least one shaft, the at least one stop including a slot defined therethrough configured to receive the spring element; and

at least one bumper operably coupled to the spring element, the at least one bumper cooperating with the stop to limit movement of the spring element to within a predetermined range.

19. The forceps according to claim 10, wherein the spring element is made from at least one of spring steel and plastic.