Bipolar endoscopic surgical scissor blades and instrument incorporating the same
First Claim
1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising:
- a) first and second blade members each comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, said inner face layer forming a shearing surface of said blade member;
b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;
c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and
d) means for applying a voltage between the outer electrically conductive layers of said first and second blade members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Endoscopic bipolar scissor blades are formed in a laminate assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer, an intermediate electrically insulating layer, and an inner face layer which is a coating of titanium dioxide, chromium dioxide, or zirconium dioxide. In one embodiment, the conductive layer is a metal blade, while the insulating material is a ceramic which is fixed to the metal blade. In a second preferred embodiment, the insulating layer and the inner face layer are applied simultaneously by coating the metal blade with a mixture of ceramic and titanium dioxide, chromium dioxide, or zirconium dioxide. In a third embodiment, the insulating layer is a molded ceramic blade, and the electrically conductive layer is metalized or otherwise fixed to the ceramic blade. In all embodiments, the cutting edges and shearing surfaces are insulated from the electrodes, and no short circuit can form between the electrodes even though the cutting edges and shearing surfaces are metal. Each of the embodiments may be applied to straight or curved scissor blades. A bipolar endoscopic instrument utilizing blades according to the invention is also disclosed.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising:
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a) first and second blade members each comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, said inner face layer forming a shearing surface of said blade member; b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another; c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and d) means for applying a voltage between the outer electrically conductive layers of said first and second blade members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising:
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a) first and second blade members each having an inner shearing surface and a conductive portion, at least one of said blade members comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, and defining said inner shearing surface; b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members with their respective inner shearing surfaces facing one another; c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and d) means for applying a voltage between said conductive portions of said first and second blade members. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An endoscopic scissor blade for use in a bipolar endoscopic instrument, said blade comprising:
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a) an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, and defining an inner shearing surface; b) an outer electrically conductive layer which is electrically insulated from said inner shearing surface; and d) means for coupling a source of voltage to said outer electrically conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification