Resistively heated cutting and coagulating surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A working end assembly for connection with a surgical instrument and responsive to electrical power supplied from a source for carrying out thermal and hemostatic cutting of tissue, comprising:
- an electrical heating component, responsive to said source to generate heat, formed of a material exhibiting low thermal conductivity, high thermal resistance having an electrical resistance effective for carrying out said thermal and hemostatic cutting at temperatures above about 300°
C. said heating component extending continuously from a first terminus to a second terminus, having a tissue engaging region located between said first and second termini and having first and second thermal transition regions extending toward said tissue engaging region from said first and second termini and exhibiting a thermal resistance eater than about 200°
C./Watt;
a support assembly formed of thermally conductive material exhibiting a thermal resistance value of less than about 100°
C./watt and low electrical resistance. configured having first and second ends in heat transfer communication with respective said first and second termini to derive said first and second thermal transition regions at said heating component and extending to an oppositely disposed connector portion for connection with said surgical instrument; and
said first and second thermal transition regions being effective to restrict the temperature level exhibited at said support assembly to values atraumatic to said tissue when said heating component is at said cutting temperatures.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument having a resistively-heated heating component responsive to a power source for generating thermal excitation effective for cutting tissue and carrying out hemostasis. The surgical instrument includes a support assembly having two leg extensions connected in heat transfer relationship with the heating component. Two thermal transition regions are provided within the heating component and have extents effective to provide a decreasing temperature gradient and to restrict temperature levels exhibited at the support assembly. The support assembly is formed of high thermally conductive material and extends from the transition regions to an elongate shaft. This shaft is in heat transfer relationship with the support assembly and is formed from a high thermally conductive material. Together, the shaft and support assembly act as a heat buffer such that temperature levels exhibited at the support assembly are restricted to levels atraumatic to tissue while the heating component is heated to temperatures effective for cutting and hemostasis. A hand engagable handle connects to the shaft. The surgical instrument may be powered from existing, conventional electrosurgical generators having bipolar outputs, and, in this regard, additionally includes circuit components selected for effecting power transfer impedance matching between the electrosurgical generator and the heating component.
521 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A working end assembly for connection with a surgical instrument and responsive to electrical power supplied from a source for carrying out thermal and hemostatic cutting of tissue, comprising:
-
an electrical heating component, responsive to said source to generate heat, formed of a material exhibiting low thermal conductivity, high thermal resistance having an electrical resistance effective for carrying out said thermal and hemostatic cutting at temperatures above about 300°
C. said heating component extending continuously from a first terminus to a second terminus, having a tissue engaging region located between said first and second termini and having first and second thermal transition regions extending toward said tissue engaging region from said first and second termini and exhibiting a thermal resistance eater than about 200°
C./Watt;a support assembly formed of thermally conductive material exhibiting a thermal resistance value of less than about 100°
C./watt and low electrical resistance. configured having first and second ends in heat transfer communication with respective said first and second termini to derive said first and second thermal transition regions at said heating component and extending to an oppositely disposed connector portion for connection with said surgical instrument; andsaid first and second thermal transition regions being effective to restrict the temperature level exhibited at said support assembly to values atraumatic to said tissue when said heating component is at said cutting temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A surgical instrument responsive to electrical power supplied from a bipolar electrosurgical source for carrying out thermal and hemostatic cutting of tissue, comprising:
-
an electrical resistance heating component, responsive to said source to generate heat, formed of a material exhibiting low thermal conductivity, high thermal resistance and having an electrical resistance effective for carrying out said thermal and hemostatic cutting at temperatures above about 300°
C., said heating component extending continuously from a first terminus to a second terminus, having a tissue engaging region located between said first and second termini and having first and second thermal transition regions extending toward said tissue engaging region from said first and second termini, said first and second thermal transition regions exhibiting a thermal resistance eater than about 200°
C./watt;a first support assembly formed of thermally conductive material exhibiting a thermal resistance value of less than about 100°
C./watt and low electrical resistance, configured having first and second ends in thermal transfer and electrical communication with respective said first and second termini to derive said first and Second thermal transition regions at said heating component and extending to an oppositely disposed connector portion;said first and second thermal transition regions being effective to restrict the temperature level exhibited at said first support assembly to values atraumatic to said tissue during the generation of heat at said tissue engaging region at a level effective to cut said tissue; a second support assembly formed of thermally conductive material, having a first end region connected in supporting and heat transfer relationship with said first support assembly connector portion, having a second end region oppositely disposed from said first end region; and an instrument handle portion coupled in supporting relationship with said second support assembly second end region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification