Apparatus for Tissue Sealing

• US 20110098689A1
• Filed: 10/28/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sartor, Joe D., Nau, William H. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2825 Inserts of different material in jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

An ultrasound forceps for sealing tissue is provided. The forceps includes one or more shaft members having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to another subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members includes an ultrasound transducer coupled to an ultrasound generator adapted to provide an electrical signal to the ultrasound transducer to induce treatment pulses therein.

Claims

1. An ultrasound forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including opposing jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members includes an ultrasound transducer coupled to an ultrasound generator adapted to provide an electrical signal to the ultrasound transducer to induce at least one treatment pulse therein.

2. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, where the ultrasound transducer is made from lead zirconate titanate.

3. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

a handle assembly including a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is movable relative to the second handle; and

a pushrod operatively coupled at one end to the handle assembly and to the end effector assembly, wherein longitudinal movement of the pushrod moves the jaw members from the first position to the at least one subsequent position.

4. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

a knife channel defined along a length of at least one of the jaw members, the knife channel configured to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong; and

an actuator operatively connected to the shaft member for selectively advances the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members.

5. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer includes a planar tissue sealing surface.

6. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer includes a concave tissue sealing surface.

7. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer includes a longitudinally-oriented channel defined along a length thereof, the longitudinally-oriented channel configured to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong.

8. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer includes a longitudinally-oriented groove defined along a length thereof, the longitudinally-oriented groove configured to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong.

9. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer includes a temperature sensor, which is coupled to the ultrasound generator and is adapted to provide temperature feedback thereto.

10. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound generator is adapted to energize the ultrasound transducer to produce an ultrasound interrogation pulse that is of different frequency and amplitude from the at least one treatment pulse.

11. A method for sealing tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing an ultrasound forceps including an end effector assembly having opposing jaw members, at least one of the jaw members includes an ultrasound transducer; and

supplying an electrical signal to the ultrasound transducer to induce vibrations therein.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of:

energizing the ultrasound transducer to produce an ultrasound interrogation pulse that is of different frequency and amplitude from a treatment pulse.

13. An ultrasound forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including opposing jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members includes a plurality of ultrasound transducers coupled to an ultrasound generator adapted to provide an electrical signal to the plurality of ultrasound transducers to induce at least one treatment pulse therein.

14. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducers are controlled in at least one of independent, simultaneous or dependent manner.

15. The ultrasound forceps according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of ultrasound transducers are controlled in a server-follower manner.