Hemostatic bi-polar electrosurgical cutting apparatus and methods of use
First Claim
1. Apparatus for hemostatically cutting tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a first shearing member having, a first shearing surface, a first cutting edge having a length, and a first exterior surface, a portion of the first exterior surface adjacent the first cutting edge defining a first electrode;
a second shearing member having a second shearing surface, a second cutting edge, and a second exterior surface, a portion of the second shearing member adjacent the second cutting edge defining a second electrode;
means for connecting the first and second shearing members so that the first shearing surface moves relative to the second shearing surface through a range of motion in a scissors-like cutting action, wherein the first and second cutting edges close together for shearing tissue located therebetween, the scissors-like cutting action defining a cutting point located just distally of where the first and second cutting edges come together, the cutting point moving distally atoms where the first and second cutting edges come together through the range of motion; and
an electrically insulative material interposed between the first and second electrodes so that the first and second electrodes do not contact each other in the range of motion, and so that a current passes between the first and second electrodes distal to the cutting point to cause hemostasis of the tissue and not between the first and second shearing surfaces, the first and second cutting edges cutting the tissue at the cutting point,wherein the first and second shearing members comprises an electrically conductive material, the means for connecting the first and second shearing members comprised of a material that does not conduct electricity and the electrically insulative material comprises a first layer of material disposed on the first shearing member to form substantially the entire length of the first cutting edge and the first shearing surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument is described that incorporates bipolar electrodes on opposing shearing members for passing a high frequency current through the tissue for causing hemostasis of the tissue and for cutting the tissue. An electrically insulating material is interposed between the shearing members so that the electrodes are spaced apart from 0.002 to 0.050 inches and the current passes between the opposing electrodes through the tissue and not between the opposing shearing surfaces. The insulating material has a higher hardness than the opposing members to reduce wear of the insulation and provide a self-sharpening feature. Methods of simultaneously causing tissue and severing tissue are also provided. The use of a constant voltage high frequency power supply to deliver current to the tissue to cause hemostasis is described in conjunction with those methods.
489 Citations
29 Claims
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1. Apparatus for hemostatically cutting tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a first shearing member having, a first shearing surface, a first cutting edge having a length, and a first exterior surface, a portion of the first exterior surface adjacent the first cutting edge defining a first electrode; a second shearing member having a second shearing surface, a second cutting edge, and a second exterior surface, a portion of the second shearing member adjacent the second cutting edge defining a second electrode; means for connecting the first and second shearing members so that the first shearing surface moves relative to the second shearing surface through a range of motion in a scissors-like cutting action, wherein the first and second cutting edges close together for shearing tissue located therebetween, the scissors-like cutting action defining a cutting point located just distally of where the first and second cutting edges come together, the cutting point moving distally atoms where the first and second cutting edges come together through the range of motion; and an electrically insulative material interposed between the first and second electrodes so that the first and second electrodes do not contact each other in the range of motion, and so that a current passes between the first and second electrodes distal to the cutting point to cause hemostasis of the tissue and not between the first and second shearing surfaces, the first and second cutting edges cutting the tissue at the cutting point, wherein the first and second shearing members comprises an electrically conductive material, the means for connecting the first and second shearing members comprised of a material that does not conduct electricity and the electrically insulative material comprises a first layer of material disposed on the first shearing member to form substantially the entire length of the first cutting edge and the first shearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for hemostatically cutting tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a first shearing member comprising an electrically non-conductive material, the first shearing member having, a first hearing surface, a first cutting edge having a length and a first exterior surface, the non-conductive material extending along substantially the entire length of the first cutting edge; a second shearing member comprising an electrically non-conductive material, the second shearing member having a second shearing surface, a second cutting edge, and a second exterior surface; means for connecting the first and second shearing members so that the first shearing surface moves relative to the second shearing surface through a range of motion in a scissors-like cutting action, wherein the first and second cutting edges close together for shearing tissue located therebetween, the scissors-like cutting action defining a cutting point located just distally of where the first and second cutting edges come together, the cutting point moving distally along where the first and second cutting edges come together through the range of motion; first and second electrodes disposed on the first and second shearing members, respectively, the first electrode comprising a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed on the first exterior surface and the second electrode comprising a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed on the second exterior surface, so that the first and second electrodes do not contact each other in the range of motion, and so that a current passes between the first and second electrodes distal to the cutting point to cause hemostasis of the tissue and not between the first and second shearing surfaces, the first and second cutting edges cutting the tissue at the cutting point. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification