SHIELD MECHANISMS FOR SURGICAL DEVICES

• US 20150174390A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nobis, Rudolph H., Davison, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

Various surgical devices are provided for shielding tissue from potentially harmful byproducts generated by surgical devices that use energy to treat tissue. In general, a shield member is provided that includes a connector element for removably connecting the shield member to a surgical device and a shield body configured to extend adjacent to an energy-emitting end effector of the device. When energy is delivered to treated tissue captured by the end effector, the shield body can be configured to serve as a physical barrier between the end effector and tissue adjacent to the treated tissue. In this way, the shield member can protect the adjacent tissue from potentially harmful byproducts of the end effector, e.g., heat and steam, and/or can deflect the byproducts back toward the treated tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a shaft having an end effector extending from a distal end thereof, the end effector being configured to treat tissue, at least in part, by delivering energy thereto;

a shield member having a connector element at a proximal end thereof that is configured to operably couple the shield member to the shaft and a shield body extending distally from the connector element, the shield body being configured, in an operative position, to be spaced apart from the end effector.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the connector element attaches to the shaft via frictional fit.

3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the connector element is configured to slide along the shaft when acted upon by a force that exceeds a threshold force.

4. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the connector element includes a locking mechanism configured to secure the shield member to one or more positions along the shaft.

5. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the shield body is parallel to the end effector.

6. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the shield body extends distally beyond a distal end of the end effector.

7. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein a length of the shield body measured along a longitudinal axis of the shaft is equal to or greater than a length of the end effector.

8. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein a width of the shield body measured along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft is equal to or greater than a width of the end effector.

9. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the surgical device treats tissue using electrical energy.

10. A surgical method, comprising:

positioning an end effector of a surgical device adjacent to tissue to be treated by the end effector, the end effector having a shield member operably coupled thereto;

positioning the end effector and the shield member such that at least a portion of the end effector is disposed between the shield member and the tissue to be treated and the end effector is disposed between the shield member and a user'"'"'s line of sight; and

treating the tissue by applying energy thereto from the end effector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the shield member comprises attaching the shield member to a proximal portion of the surgical device and moving the shield member distally until the shield member is disposed adjacent to the end effector.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the shield member comprises sliding the shield member proximally along a shaft of the surgical device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the treating includes cutting and coagulating the tissue.