Surgical Forceps

• US 20110276048A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kerr, Duane E., Townsend, Jeffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• 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 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade

Abstract

A forceps includes a housing, a shaft, and an end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members. At least one of the jaw members is moveable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A cutting member having a plurality of cutting edges symmetrically-disposed about a longitudinal axis thereof is disposed within the shaft and is longitudinally translatable between a retracted position and an extended position. The cutting member extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween when in the extended position. The cutting member is fixedly-oriented with respect to the shaft and is configured for translation between the jaw members to cut tissue therebetween when the jaw members are rotated with respect to the shaft between about zero degrees and about 180 degrees in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

Claims

1. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the 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 with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween; and

a cutting assembly including a cutting member fixedly-oriented with respect to the shaft, the cutting member including a plurality of cutting edges symmetrically-disposed about a longitudinal axis thereof, the cutting member disposed within the shaft and longitudinally translatable between a retracted position and an extended position, the cutting member extending at least partially between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members when in the extended position, the cutting member configured for translation between the jaw members to cut tissue therebetween when the jaw members are rotated with respect to the shaft between about zero degrees and about 180 degrees in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

2. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cutting member defines a starburst-like front, cross-sectional configuration.

3. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cutting member includes a conically-shaped distal end, the conically-shaped distal end extending distally and radially inwardly to form a distal tip of the cutting member.

4. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein a channel is defined within and extends longitudinally along at least one of the jaw members, the channel configured for translation of the cutting member therethrough when the cutting member is translated from the retracted position to the extended position.

5. The forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating assembly disposed within the housing and operably coupled to the end effector assembly, the rotating assembly configured to rotate the end effector assembly with respect to the shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof between about zero degrees and about 180 degrees in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

6. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the cutting member defines a diamond-shaped front cross-sectional configuration and includes four cutting edges extending longitudinally therealong.

7. The forceps according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes a channel defined therein and extending longitudinally therealong, the at least one channel shaped at least partially complementary to the cutting member and configured for translation of the cutting member therethrough when the cutting member is translated to the extended position.

8. The forceps according to claim 6, wherein the cutting member includes a cutting edge defined at a distal end thereof.

9. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis and having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the 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 with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface disposed on an opposed surface thereof; and

a cutting assembly including a cutting member disposed within the shaft, the cutting member defining a rectangular front cross-sectional configuration, the cutting member longitudinally translatable between a retracted position and an extended position, the cutting member extending between the jaw members in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the at least one sealing surface to cut tissue disposed therebetween when the cutting member is translated to the extended position.

10. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the 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 with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members including a channel defined therein and extending longitudinally therealong, the channel including a repeating wave-shaped bottom surface; and

a cutting member positioned within the channel and including a complementary repeating wave-shaped bottom cutting surface, the cutting member longitudinally translatable with respect to the channel such that upon longitudinal translation of the cutting member with respect to the channel, the cutting member is vertically displaced between a first position, wherein the bottom cutting surface of the cutting member is out of phase with the bottom surface of the channel, and a second position, wherein the bottom cutting surface of the cutting member is in phase with the bottom surface of the channel, the cutting member being vertically displaced from the channel to expose the bottom cutting surface thereof to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members when in the second position.

11. The forceps according to claim 10, wherein the bottom surface of the channel defines a sine wave-shaped configuration and wherein the bottom cutting surface of the cutting member defines a complementary sine wave-shaped configuration.

12. The forceps according to claim 10, wherein, when the cutting member is in the first position, the bottom cutting surface thereof is unexposed.