Jaw, Blade and Gap Manufacturing for Surgical Instruments With Small Jaws

• US 20110082494A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Garrison, David M., Kingsley, Dylan R., Unger, Jeffrey R., Kerr, Duane E., Townsend, Jeffrey R., Nau, William H. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• 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 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/141 Snare
• 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

Abstract

An endoscopic forceps includes an elongate shaft defining an instrument axis. An end effector includes first and second jaw members each supporting an opposed sealing surface for clamping tissue. At least one of the jaw members is movable relative to the instrument axis such that the jaw members are movable between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second closed configuration for grasping tissue. A cutting instrument includes a reciprocating blade translatable relative to the sealing surfaces to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members. The reciprocating blade contacts an undersurface of at least one of the jaw members when the jaw members are in the second configuration to define a gap distance between the sealing surfaces. A handle adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft is operable to induce motion in the jaw members, and an actuator is operable to selectively translate the reciprocating blade.

Claims

1. An endoscopic forceps, comprising;

an elongate shaft including a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate shaft defining an instrument axis;

an end effector adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including first and second jaw members each supporting a corresponding sealing surface thereon for clamping tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the instrument axis such that the jaw members are movable between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second closed configuration for grasping tissue;

a cutting instrument including a reciprocating blade translatable relative to the sealing surfaces to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members, wherein the reciprocating blade contacts an undersurface of an opposite jaw member when the jaw members are in the closed configuration to define a gap distance between the sealing surfaces;

a handle adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle operable to induce motion in the jaw members to move the jaw members between the first configuration and second configuration; and

an actuator operable to selectively translate the reciprocating blade.

2. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument includes a distal blade and a proximal blade each contacting the undersurface of the opposite jaw member when the end effector is in the closed configuration.

3. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 2, wherein the proximal blade and the distal blade are independently movable relative to the sealing surfaces.

4. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the reciprocating blade includes a tubular member extending proximally through the elongate shaft, the tubular member including a taper at a distal end of the tubular member that forms a cutting edge.

5. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sealing surfaces is spring biased against a body of the respective jaw member.

6. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes a generally flat stamped spine supporting a laterally extending backing thereon to form the corresponding sealing surface.

7. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the end effector is configured to fit through a cannula opening measuring five millimeters in diameter.

8. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

an elongate shaft including a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate shaft defining an instrument axis;

an end effector adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including first and second jaw members each supporting a corresponding sealing surface thereon for clamping tissue therebetween, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the instrument axis to move the jaw members between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second closed configuration for grasping tissue;

a cutting instrument including a reciprocating blade translatable relative to the sealing surfaces to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members, wherein the reciprocating blade includes a tubular member extending proximally through the elongate shaft, the tubular member including a taper at a distal end of the tubular member that forms a cutting edge;

a handle adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle operable to induce motion in the jaw members to move the jaw members between the first configuration and second configuration; and

an actuator operable to selectively translate the reciprocating blade.

9. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 8, wherein the tubular member includes a lateral opening therein providing access to an interior region of the tubular member.

10. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

an elongate shaft including a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate shaft defining an instrument axis;

an end effector adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including first and second jaw members each supporting a corresponding sealing surface thereon for clamping tissue therebetween, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the instrument axis to move the jaw members between a first spaced-apart configuration and a second closed configuration for grasping tissue;

a cutting instrument including a reciprocating blade translatable relative to the sealing surfaces to sever tissue clamped between the jaw members, wherein the reciprocating blade includes a wire loop coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy;

a handle adjacent the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle operable to induce motion in the jaw members to move the jaw members between the first configuration and second configuration; and

an actuator operable to selectively translate the reciprocating blade.

11. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 10, wherein the wire loop exhibits a first electrical polarity, and wherein at least one of the sealing surfaces supported by the jaw members exhibits a second electrical polarity.