Electrosurgical hemostatic device

• US 5,709,680 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Williamson, Warren P. IV, Kuhns, Jesse J., Yates, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/362,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/52, 606/205, 606/209, 606/142, 606/143
• US Class Current: 606/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• 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 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00672 lower
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedances, thicknesses and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue in the compression zone between first interfacing surface and second interfacing surfaces. The compression zone is formed by an insulator which forms a compression ridge in one of the interfacing surfaces and separates first and second electrically opposite electrodes. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed using RF along a cut line.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device having an end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising:

first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween;

electrically isolated first and second poles comprised of electrically opposite first and second electrodes respectively said electrodes capable of conducting bipolar energy therethrough;

said first and second electrodes located on said first surface and separated by an insulator;

said electrodes arranged so that bipolar energy may be communicated between said poles through the tissue engaged by said interfacing surfaces; and

wherein said insulator forms a compression ridge for compressing tissue between said interfacing surfaces.

2. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrodes are arranged to provide a current path through tissue compressed by said compression ridge.

3. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said second interfacing surface comprises a compression ridge formed of an insulator.

4. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said device includes a cutting element arranged on said device to divide tissue engaged by said end effector, through a cutting line, when said cutting element is actuated.

5. The electrosurgical device of claim 4 wherein said insulator includes a slot arranged to receive said cutting element and to permit said cutting element to move through said cutting line.

6. The electrosurgical device of claim 4 wherein said end effector comprises at least one tissue fastener and an applier located with said end effector, said applier adapted to apply the fastener to tissue engaged by the end effector.

7. The electrosurgical device of claim 4 wherein said end effector comprises at least one staple and at least one driver adapted to apply said at least one staple lateral to said cutting line.

8. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 wherein said end effector further comprises:

at least one tissue fastener and at least one applier adapted to apply said at least one tissue fastener to tissue engaged by said end effector.

9. An electrosurgical device having an end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising:

first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween;

electrically isolate first and second poles comprised of respectively electrically opposite first and second electrodes capable of conducting bipolar energy therethrough;

said first and second electrodes located on said first surface and separated by an insulator;

said electrodes arranged so that bipolar energy may be communicated between said poles through the tissue engaged by said interfacing surfaces; and

wherein said second interfacing surface comprises a compression ridge formed of an insulating material.

10. The electrosurgical device of claim 9 wherein said device includes a cutting element arranged on said device to divide tissue engaged by said end effector, through a cutting line, when said cutting element is actuated.

11. The electrosurgical device of claim 10 wherein said insulator includes a slot arranged to receive said cutting element and to permit said cutting element to move through said cutting line.

12. The electrosurgical device of claim 10, wherein said end effector comprises at least one fastener and at least one applier adapted to apply said at least one fastener lateral to said cutting line.

13. The electrosurgical device of claim 10 wherein said end effector comprises at least one staple and at least one driver adapted to apply said at least one staple lateral to said cutting line.

14. The electrosurgical device of claim 9 wherein said end effector further comprises:

at least one tissue fastener and at least one applier adapted to apply said at least one tissue fastener to tissue engaged by said end effector.

15. An electrosurgical device having an end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising:

first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween;

a longitudinal plane bisecting said first and second surfaces;

first and second sides laterally opposite of each other with respect to the longitudinal plane;

an insulator located between said first and second sides wherein said insulator forms a compression ridge in either the first or second interfacing surface;

electrically isolated first and second poles comprised of electrically opposite first and second electrodes respectively, said electrodes capable of conducting bipolar energy therethrough;

each of said first and second electrodes located on at least one of said first and second interfacing surfaces; and

said first electrode located on said first side and the second electrode located on said second side.

16. The electrosurgical device of claim 15 wherein said first electrode is located on said first interfacing surface and wherein said second electrode is located on said second interfacing surface.

17. The electrosurgical device of claim 15 wherein a said insulator forms a compression ridge in said first interfacing surface and wherein a said insulator forms a compression ridge in said second interfacing surface.