Electrosurgical clamping device with coagulation feedback

• US 5,599,350 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Giordano, James, Schulze, Dale R., Yates, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,957
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/46, 606/48-52, 606/171
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar

Abstract

An electrosurgical hemostatic instrument is provided in which the coagulation status of tissue engaged by two elements delivering an electrosurgical energy to tissue may be observed, and in which damage from thermal spread may be minimized. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar endoscopic clamping, coagulation and cutting device. The coagulation may be observed by exposed electrode tips at the distal end of the instrument, an open knife slot which permits the escape of vapor, plume, steam or smoke from the coagulation process, windows located in the first or second element through which coagulating tissue may be observed, indentation in one of the elements which exposes a tissue contacting surface of the other element; a temperature indication strip located on the distal end of the instrument, or a current indicator located on the instrument.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a longitudinal axis;

an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, adapted to receive bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising;

a distal end; and

first and second elements comprising first and second opposed tissue contacting surfaces respectively and first and second outer surfaces respectively, said tissue contacting surfaces moveable relative to each other from an open, spaced-apart position for positioning tissue therebetween, to a closed position for approximating the tissue, at least a portion of one of said tissue contacting surfaces comprising a first electrode, and at least a portion of one of said tissue contacting surfaces comprising an electrically isolated second electrode; and

a temperature sensor coupled to at least one outer surface of said elements, said temperature sensor arranged to provide visual indication of the temperature of said end effector.