OFFSET FORCEPS

• US 20140276786A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Batchelor, Kester J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1462 Tweezers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/167 Passive electrodes capacitively coupled to the skin

Abstract

An electrosurgical device comprising: forceps including: (i) a first working arm having a contact surface and (ii) a second working arm having a contact surface; wherein the forceps has a first electrical configuration where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are substantially opposite each other so that the contact surfaces of the forceps can be used to grip an item between the working arms and so that the forceps is configured to deliver a first therapy current through the first working arm, the second working arm, or both; and wherein the forceps has second electrical configuration where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are askew relative to each other and an electrode edge is formed on at least one side of the forceps so that a second therapy current extends from the electrode edge.

Claims

1. ) An electrosurgical device comprising:

forceps including;

i. a first working arm having a contact surface and

ii. a second working arm having a contact surface;

wherein the forceps have a bipolar position where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are substantially opposite each other so that the contact surfaces of the forceps can be used to grip an item between the working arms and so that a therapy current can be passed between the first working arm and the second working arm through the item; and

wherein the forceps have a monopolar position where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are askew relative to each other and an electrode edge is formed on at least one side of the forceps so that the therapy current extends from the electrode edge.

2. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the first working arm and the second working arm are electrically connected in the monopolar position so that a therapy current is disabled from passing between the first working arm and the second working arm.

3. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the first working arm and second working arm in the monopolar position are mechanically connected so that the forceps are mechanically disabled.

4. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces when moved to be askew are located on opposite sides of the working arms.

5. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 4, wherein the first working arm has an edge on a first side and the second working arm has an edge on a second side and the edge of the first working arm and the edge of the second working arm extend in opposite directions when the forceps are in the monopolar position, in the bipolar position, or both and the edge on the first working arm, the edge on the second working arm, or both are the electrode edge.

6. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces when moved to be askew are both located on a same side of the working arms.

7. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 6, wherein the first working arm has an edge on a first side and the second working arm has an edge on a first side and the edge of the first working arm and the edge of the second working arm extend in opposite directions when the forceps are in the monopolar position, in the bipolar position, or both and the edge on the first working arm, the edge on the second working arm, or both are the electrode edge

8. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the first working arm, the second working arm, or both include an axis and the first working arm, the second working arm, or both rotate around the axis during reconfiguration between a monopolar position and a bipolar position or vice versa.

9. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 4, wherein the first working arm, the second working arm, or both include an axis and the first working arm, the second working arm, or both rotate around the axis during reconfiguration between a monopolar position and a bipolar position or vice versa.

10. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 6, wherein the first working arm, the second working arm, or both include an axis and the first working arm, the second working arm, or both rotate around the axis during reconfiguration between a monopolar position and a bipolar position or vice versa.

11. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 8, wherein the rotation of the first arm, the second arm or both is about 45 degrees or more.

12. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein each working arm includes a connection region and the connection regions of the working arms are aligned when the working arms are moved into the monopolar position.

13. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 11, wherein each working arm includes a connection region and the connection regions of the working arms are aligned when the working arms are moved into the monopolar position.

14. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the contact regions are substantially smooth and planar so that a mechanical connection, an electrical connection or both is formed between the first working arm and the second working arm when the working arms are reconfigured into the monopolar position.

15. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the connection regions each include a connection feature and the connection features are complementary to each other so that when the working arms are reconfigured into the monopolar position the working arms are locked relative to each other.

16. ) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the tip is sharp so that the tip can mechanically cut.

17. ) A method comprising:

a. providing an electrosurgical device including;

i. a first working arm and

ii. a second working arm;

b. moving the first working arm and the second working arm towards each other so that the first working arm and the second working arm are forceps and are configured in a bipolar configuration so that a therapy current can pass between the first working arm and the second working arm; and

c. configuring the first working arm and the second working so that the first working arm and the second working arm are askew relative to each other forming a monopolar configuration.

18. ) The method of claim 17, wherein the electrosurgical device in the bipolar position are movable relative to each other and are configured as forceps.

19. ) The method of claim 17, wherein during the step of configuring the first working arm and the second working arm so that they are askew, the first working arm, the second working arm, or both are rotated around an axis so that connection regions of the first working arm and the second working arm align and the working arms are configured in the monopolar configuration.

20. ) The method of claim 17, wherein the first working arm, the second working a or both are rotated about 75 degrees or more.