Surgical instrument

• US 5,147,356 A
• Filed: 04/16/1991
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsurge, Inc. (Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsurge, Inc. (Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhatta, Nayantara
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/686,248
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/2, 606/8, 606/13-16, 606/36, 606/37, 606/39-52, 606/142-144, 606/167, 606/170-174, 606/205-211
• US Class Current: 606/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system

Abstract

The invention provides a surgical instrument having a pair of opposed jaw members, at least one of which jaw members is moveable with respect to the other jaw member. A cutting and/or cauterizing heat source such as a hot wire element and/or laser transmission fiber is carried on at least one of the jaw members.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising a pair of opposed jaw members, at least one of which jaw member is moveable with respect to the other jaw member, and including a heat source operatively disposed on or adjacent at least one of said jaw members for cutting and/or cauterizing during the performance of surgery, wherein said jaw members are dimensioned to receive and hold ligating clips, and wherein said jaw members are moveable between a clip applying open position, and a clip closing position.

2. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the clip applying jaw members are moveable in a plane, and said heat source is disposed to direct heat energy in said plane.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said jaws has a sharpened cutting edge.

4. A surgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein said heat source comprises an optical fiber waveguide for delivering laser radiation from a laser energy source.

5. A surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said jaw members is formed of a material transparent to radiation emitted by said laser energy source.

6. A surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein said transparent material is selected from the group consisting of quartz and sapphire.

8. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said cutting and/or cauterizing heat source comprises a hot wire element.

7. A surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein said jaws have opposed blunt edges.