Surgical Device for Performing an Electrosurgical Procedure

• US 20110295251A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Garrison, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/49
• 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 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing

Abstract

An electrosurgical forceps includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle is selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft. The jaw members are moveable from an open position to a closed position and are each adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source. A first linkage is disposed at least partially within the shaft and is operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage disposed proximal to the first linkage. Selective movement of the handle rotates the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions. In some embodiments, the jaw members are configured in a releasably locked configuration when in the closed position.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising:

a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; and

a first linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage disposed proximal to the first linkage, wherein selective movement of the handle rotates the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions.

2. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members is stationary.

3. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members is monolithically formed with the distal end of the shaft.

4. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein a second end of the second linkage is operably coupled to a distal end of a drive element, the drive element operably coupled at a proximal end to the handle such that selective movement of the handle causes movement of the drive element relative to the shaft to cause rotational movement of the second linkage.

5. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 4, wherein the second end of the second linkage is configured to move within an aperture defined through the shaft upon selective movement of the handle, the aperture including a distal stop configured to limit rotational movement of the second linkage in the first direction and a proximal stop to limit rotational movement of the second linkage in a second direction.

6. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrically conductive tissue sealing plate operatively coupled to each of the jaw members, the electrically conductive tissue sealing plates adapted to connect to the electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped between the jaw members to effect the tissue seal.

7. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the coupling between the first linkage and the second linkage is movable between a first position to move the jaw members to the open position, and a second position to move the jaw members to the closed position in a releasably locked configuration.

8. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 7, wherein the coupling between the first linkage and the first jaw member is collinear with the second end of the second linkage along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second positions of the coupling between the first and second linkages correspond to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis.

9. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the second linkage is operably coupled to the shaft via a pivot pin.

10. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first linkage is operably coupled to the second linkage via a first pivot pin and to the first jaw member via a second pivot pin.

11. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first linkage is substantially linear and the second linkage is generally L-shaped.

12. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising:

a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; and

a 2-pin linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and an 3-pin linkage disposed proximal to the 2-pin linkage, the 3-pin linkage being operably coupled at a first end to a distal end of a drive element, the drive element operably coupled at a proximal end to the handle such that selective movement of the handle causes movement of the drive element relative to the shaft to rotate the 3-pin linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the 2-pin linkage in an opposite second direction, wherein the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the 3-pin linkage is movable between a first position to move the jaw members to the open position, and a second position to move the jaw members to the closed position in a releasably locked configuration.

13. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein the first end of the 3-pin linkage is configured to move within an aperture defined through the shaft upon selective movement of the handle, the aperture including a distal stop configured to limit rotational movement of the 3-pin bracket in a first direction and a proximal stop to limit rotational movement of the 3-pin linkage in a second direction.

14. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the first jaw member is collinear with the second end of the 3-pin linkage along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second positions of the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the 3-pin linkage correspond to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis.

15. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 14, wherein the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the 3-pin linkage is movable to a third position collinear with the longitudinal axis such that the 2-pin and 3-pin linkages are in a state of unequal equilibrium relative to each other.

16. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein the 2-pin linkage is operably coupled to the 3-pin linkage via a first pivot pin and to the first jaw member via a second pivot pin.

17. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein the 3-pin linkage rotates in a counter clock-wise direction to move the jaw members to the open position and in a clock-wise direction to move the jaw members to the closed position.

18. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein the 2-pin linkage is substantially linear and the 3-pin linkage is generally L-shaped.

19. A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure, the steps comprising:

providing an electrosurgical forceps, including;

a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; and

a first linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage disposed proximal to the first linkage;

selectively moving the handle to rotate the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions;

actuating the jaw members to grasp tissue therebetween; and

delivering electro surgical energy from the electrosurgical energy source to each of the jaw members to effect a tissue seal.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

rotating the first and second linkages into an over-the-center configuration to releasably lock the jaw members in the closed position.