Vessel Sealing Jaw With Offset Sealing Surface

• US 20110077649A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kingsley, Dylan R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/52
• 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 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• 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

A forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The shaft has a longitudinal axis defined therethrough. The end effector assembly includes a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. Each jaw member has an opposing sealing surface and at least one of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other about a pivot from a first position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. The pivot is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis defined through the shaft. When the jaw members are disposed in the second position, a plane is formed between the opposing sealing surfaces, the plane offset from the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein the end effector assembly includes;

a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, each jaw member having an opposing sealing surface, at least one jaw member moveable relative to the other about a pivot from a first position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween;

wherein the pivot is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis defined through the shaft; and

wherein, when the jaw members are disposed in the second position, a plane is formed between the opposing sealing surfaces, the plane being offset from the longitudinal axis.

2. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the pivot is offset a distance “

X”

relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein “

X”

is in the range of about 0.036″

to about 0.046″

.

3. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the plane is offset a distance “

Y”

relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein “

Y”

is in the range of about 0.005″

to about 0.025″

.

4. The forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a knife assembly disposed within the shaft and a knife channel defined within at least one of the jaw members wherein, upon activation, a knife blade is configured to translate distally from the shaft and extend at least partially through the at least one knife channel to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

6. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the forceps includes at least one handle that operably couples to a drive assembly for moving the jaw members between the first and second positions.

7. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue disposed between the jaw members.

5. The forces according to claim 5, wherein when the knife blade is translated distally from the shaft and at least partially through the at least one knife channel, the knife blade is offset a distance “

Z”

relative to the pivot.

8. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein the end effector assembly includes;

first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, each jaw member including a sealing surface opposed to the sealing surface of the opposing jaw member, the first jaw member moveable relative to the second jaw member about a pivot from a first position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween;

wherein the sealing surface of the second jaw member is offset relative to the longitudinal axis defined through the shaft.

9. The forceps according to claim 8, wherein the sealing surface of the first, moveable jaw member includes a thickness “

T”

that forms a substantially parallel plane beyond the longitudinal axis and toward the opposing sealing surface.

10. The forceps according to claim 9, wherein the thickness “

T”

is in the range of about 0.105″

to about 0.120″

.