SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR TRANSMITTING ENERGY TO TISSUE COMPRISING A MOVABLE ELECTRODE OR INSULATOR

• US 20110087208A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Giordano, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,574,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/29
• 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 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• 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 surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue can comprise a jaw member comprising an electrode, wherein the electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to the electrode, and wherein the electrode comprises a top surface. The surgical instrument can further comprise an insulator positioned adjacent to the electrode, wherein the insulator comprises a top surface movable between a first position and a second position relative to the top surface of the electrode, and wherein the top surface of the insulator is closer to the top surface of the electrode when the insulator is in the first position than when the insulator is in the second position.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:

a handle, comprising;

a trigger; and

an electrical input;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor; and

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw member, comprising;

an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode, and wherein said electrode comprises a top surface; and

an insulator positioned adjacent to said electrode, wherein said insulator comprises a top surface movable between a first position and a second position relative to said top surface of said electrode, and wherein said top surface of said insulator is closer to said top surface of said electrode when said insulator is in said first position than when said insulator is in said second position; and

a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said end effector further comprises a driver, and wherein said driver is slidable relative to said insulator in order to move said insulator between said first position and said second position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said insulator comprises a first insulator positioned adjacent to a first side of said electrode, wherein said end effector further comprises a second insulator positioned adjacent to a second side of said electrode, and wherein said second insulator is movable between a third position and a fourth position relative to said top surface of said electrode.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said end effector further comprises a driver, wherein said driver is slidable relative to said first insulator in order to move said first insulator between said first position and said second position, and wherein said driver is slidable relative to said second insulator in order to move said second insulator between said third position and said fourth position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said insulator moves in a first direction when it moves between said first position and said second position, and wherein said first direction is transverse to a plane defined by said top surface of said electrode.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said insulator comprises a cam, wherein said end effector comprises an end effector body, wherein said cam is configured to operably engage said end effector body such that when said insulator is moved in a second direction said insulator is moved in said first direction.

7. A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:

a handle, comprising;

a trigger; and

an electrical input;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor; and

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw member, comprising;

an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode, and wherein said electrode comprises a tissue-contacting surface; and

an insulator positioned adjacent to said electrode, wherein said insulator is movable relative to said tissue-contacting surface between a first height and a second height, and wherein said insulator is positioned closer to said tissue-contacting surface when said insulator is at said first height than when said insulator is at said second height; and

a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said end effector further comprises a driver, and wherein said driver is slidable relative to said insulator in order to move said insulator between said first height and said second height.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said insulator comprises a first insulator positioned adjacent to a first side of said electrode, wherein said end effector further comprises a second insulator positioned adjacent to a second side of said electrode, and wherein said second insulator is movable between a third height and a fourth height relative to said tissue-contacting surface.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein said end effector further comprises a driver, wherein said driver is slidable relative to said first insulator in order to move said first insulator between said first height and said second height, and wherein said driver is slidable relative to said second insulator in order to move said second insulator between said third height and said fourth height.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said insulator moves in a first direction when it moves between said first height and said second height, and wherein said first direction is transverse to a plane defined by said tissue-contacting surface of said electrode.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said insulator comprises a cam, wherein said end effector comprises an end effector body, wherein said cam is configured to operably engage said end effector body such that when said insulator is moved in a second direction said insulator is moved in said first direction.

13. A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:

a handle, comprising;

a trigger; and

an electrical input;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor; and

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw member, comprising;

an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode, and wherein said electrode comprises a top surface; and

an insulator positioned adjacent to said electrode, wherein said insulator comprises a top surface, wherein said top surface of said electrode is movable between a first position and a second position relative to said top surface of said insulator, and wherein said top surface of said electrode is closer to said top surface of said insulator when said electrode is in said first position than when said electrode is in said second position; and

a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said end effector further comprises a driver, and wherein said driver is slidable relative to said electrode in order to move said electrode between said first position and said second position.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said electrode comprises a first electrode, wherein said end effector further comprises a second electrode, and wherein said second electrode is movable between a third position and a fourth position relative to said top surface of said insulator.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein said end effector further comprises a driver, wherein said driver is slidable relative to said first electrode in order to move said first electrode between said first position and said second position, and wherein said driver is slidable relative to said second electrode in order to move said second electrode between said third position and said fourth position.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said electrode moves in a first direction when it moves between said first position and said second position, and wherein said first direction is transverse to a plane defined by said top surface of said insulator.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein said electrode comprises a cam, wherein said end effector comprises an end effector body, wherein said cam is configured to operably engage said end effector body such that when said electrode is moved in a second direction said electrode is moved in said first direction.