HEAT MANAGEMENT CONFIGURATIONS FOR CONTROLLING HEAT DISSIPATION FROM ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20110306968A1
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Beckman, Andrew T., White, Bradley E., Kimball, Cory G., Cummings, John F., Mirel, Al, Schall, Christopher J., Aldridge, Jeffrey L., Dietz, Timothy G., Witt, David A., Mootoo, Mary E., Huang, Zhifan F., Banks, Raymond M., Widenhouse, Tamara, Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Harris, Jason L., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Stulen, Foster B., Malaviya, Prasanna, Johnson, Gregory W., Guerra, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• 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 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00047 using Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1452 including means for cutting A61B2018/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical instrument is provided that may comprise an end effector for performing a surgical procedure on tissue, for example. The end effector may comprise at least one energy delivery surface and heat dissipation means for dissipating heat from at least a portion of the end effector. For example, in at least one embodiment, the end effector may comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, and a cutting member. The cutting member may comprise a cutting surface and a body, which may define a cavity and at least one opening communicating with the cavity. A fluid may be moved through the cavity to and/or from the opening(s). Additionally, in at least one embodiment, a surgical instrument'"'"'s end effector may comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, a cutting member, and at least one heat pipe. Various other heat dissipation means are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together; and

a cutting member configured to translate with respect to the first jaw, wherein the cutting member comprises a cutting surface and a body, wherein the body defines a cavity and at least one opening communicating with the cavity.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an elongate shaft and a handle operably coupled to the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector is operably coupled to the elongate shaft, and wherein the at least one cutting member opening is positioned between the handle and the cutting surface.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the cutting member is configured to translate between a retracted position and a fully advanced position with respect to the first jaw, wherein the at least one cutting member opening is positioned between the first jaw and the handle when the cutting member is at the fully advanced position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the cutting member defines a longitudinal axis and wherein the at least one opening defines a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the cutting member defines a longitudinal axis and wherein the at least one opening defines a plane that intersects the longitudinal axis.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a porous material positioned within the at least one opening.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a handle operably coupled to the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector is operably coupled to the elongate shaft; and

a fluid chamber operably coupled to the cutting member cavity.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a plunger movable within the chamber.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the fluid chamber contains at least one gas and/or liquid.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, the fluid chamber contains at least one liquid, wherein the at least one liquid comprises nano-particles that are configured to absorb and store heat.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector comprising;

a first jaw comprising an energy delivery surface;

a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together;

a cutting member configured to translate with respect to the first jaw; and

at least one heat pipe.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the at least one heat pipe is attached to the cutting member.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the at least one heat pipe is attached to the first jaw.

14. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector comprising at least one energy delivery surface; and

heat dissipation means for dissipating heat from at least a portion of the end effector.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the end effector comprises:

a first jaw comprising the at least one energy delivery surface and an exterior surface, wherein the heat dissipation means comprises a groove positioned between the energy delivery surface and the exterior surface; and

a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together;

16. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the heat dissipation means comprises a heat sink and wherein the end effector comprises:

a first jaw comprising the at least one energy delivery surface and the heat sink; and

a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the heat sink comprises aluminum and/or a ceramic material.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the heat sink comprises a Peltier device.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising a handle and an elongate shaft operably coupling the handle to the end effector, wherein the heat dissipation means comprises a gas container operably coupled to the handle, wherein the gas container is configured to selectively release a gas such that the gas moves through the elongate shaft and to at least a portion of the end effector.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising a handle and an elongate shaft operably coupling the handle to the end effector, wherein the heat dissipation means comprises a vortex tube operably coupled to the handle, wherein the vortex tube is configured to expel a cooled gas such that the gas moves through the elongate shaft and to at least a portion of the end effector.