Clamp and Scissor Forceps

• US 20110238066A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Jessica E.C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• 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 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• 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 2018/1457 having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers

Abstract

A forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes first and second longitudinal jaw halves. At least one of the first and second jaw halves of each jaw member is moveable with respect to the other jaw half between an aligned position and a displaced position for cutting tissue disposed between the jaw members.

Claims

1. A forceps, comprising:

an end effector assembly including;

first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including first and second longitudinal jaw halves, at least one of the first and second jaw halves of each jaw member moveable with respect to the other jaw half between an aligned position and a displaced position for cutting tissue disposed between the jaw members.

2. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw halves of each jaw member and the second jaw halves of each of the jaw members cooperate to move in unison upon movement of the jaw halves between the aligned and displaced positions for sheer-cutting tissue disposed between the jaw members.

3. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw halves of each of the jaw members are fixed in the aligned position during movement of the first and second jaw members between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.

4. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members are fixed in the approximated position during movement of the first and second jaw halves of each of the jaw members between the aligned position and the displaced position.

5. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein opposed surfaces of the first and second jaw halves of each of the jaw members define sheering surfaces for sheer-cutting tissue upon movement of the jaw halves between the aligned position and the displaced position.

6. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface disposed on a tissue-facing surface thereof, the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface including first and second sealing surface sections disposed on each of the first and second jaw halves of the jaw member, at least one of the sealing surface sections adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members.

7. The forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for at least one of locking the jaw members in the approximated position and locking the jaw halves of each of the jaw members in the aligned position.

8. The forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly coupled to a housing and configured for moving the jaw members between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.

9. The forceps according to claim 8, further comprising a trigger mechanism disposed on the housing and configured for moving the jaw halves between the aligned position and the displaced position.

10. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly including:

first, second, third and fourth elongated jaw quadrant members, each jaw quadrant member including a tissue sealing surface and a sheering surface, the tissue sealing surfaces of the first and third jaw quadrant members opposing one another, the tissue sealing surfaces of the second and fourth jaw quadrant members opposing one another, the sheering surfaces of the first and second jaw quadrant members opposing one another, and the sheering surfaces of the third and fourth jaw quadrant members opposing one another; and

wherein the jaw quadrant members are moveable in each of a grasping mode and a cutting mode, the first and second jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another and the third and fourth jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another relative to and in an opposite direction with respect to the first and second jaw quadrant members during the grasping mode for grasping tissue between the sealing surfaces of the jaw quadrant members, the first and third jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another and the second and fourth jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another relative to and in an opposite direction with respect to the first and third jaw quadrant members during the cutting motion for sheer-cutting tissue disposed between the sheering surfaces of the jaw quadrant members.

11. A method of grasping and cutting tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing an end effector assembly including;

first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including first and second longitudinal jaw halves, at least one of the first and second jaw halves of each jaw member moveable with respect to the other jaw half between an aligned position and a displaced position for cutting tissue disposed between the jaw members;

positioning the jaw members such that tissue to be cut is disposed between the jaw members;

moving the jaw members to the approximated position to grasp tissue disposed therebetween; and

moving the jaw halves to the displaced position to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of fixing the first and second jaw halves of each of the jaw members in the aligned position during movement of the first and second jaw members to the approximated position.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of fixing the first and second jaw members in the approximated position during movement of the first and second jaw halves of each jaw member to the displaced position.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein opposed surfaces of the first and second jaw halves of each of the jaw members define sheering surfaces for sheer-cutting tissue upon movement of the jaw halves between the aligned position and the displaced position.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface disposed on a tissue-facing surface thereof, the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface including first and second sealing surface sections disposed on each of the first and second jaw halves of the jaw member, at least one of the sealing surface sections adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of supplying electrosurgical energy to the least one sealing surface section to seal tissue grasped between the sealing surface sections.