Bipolar surgical devices and surgical methods
First Claim
1. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising an end effector including at least first and second elongate electrode members supported in spaced relation one beside the other, said electrode members each having a longitudinal axis;
- means for applying electrosurgical power to said electrode members; and
handle means for causing rotation of at least said first electrode member about the longitudinal axis thereof so as to vary the spacing between at least distal end portions of said first and second electrode members, the distal end portion of said first electrode member comprising an offset portion the spacing of which from said second electrode member is variable responsive to said rotation of said first electrode member about the longitudinal axis thereof.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical device includes a pair of end effector members. Rotation of one or both of the members about the longitudinal axis thereof enables a section of tissues to be inserted between the members and then grasped and compressed thereby. In use in laparoscopy, the members are rotated (or biassed) to the closed position to enable insertion of the members through a cannula, and, once inside the patient, the members are rotated from the closed position so that tissue can be inserted therebetween for gripping purposes. Electrosurgical current is applied to the members to provide coagulation of tissue held between the members. By simply rotating the rotating member between two opposed positions, coagulation can be carried out at two spaced zones. A third cutting member may then be used to cut the tissue along a midline between the coagulation zones. In another embodiment, a cutting edge on the rotating member is rotated into position to cut tissue after a further, blunt edge of the rotating member has been positioned relative to the fixed member to provide coagulation.
351 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising an end effector including at least first and second elongate electrode members supported in spaced relation one beside the other, said electrode members each having a longitudinal axis;
- means for applying electrosurgical power to said electrode members; and
handle means for causing rotation of at least said first electrode member about the longitudinal axis thereof so as to vary the spacing between at least distal end portions of said first and second electrode members, the distal end portion of said first electrode member comprising an offset portion the spacing of which from said second electrode member is variable responsive to said rotation of said first electrode member about the longitudinal axis thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27)
- means for applying electrosurgical power to said electrode members; and
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17. A method for coagulating an elongate section of tissue of a patient using a electrosurgical device having an end effector comprising first and second spaced electrodes wherein at least said first electrode is rotatable, said method comprising:
- placing the elongate section of tissue into a space between said first and second electrodes created by rotating said first, rotatable electrode away from said second electrode;
rotating said first, rotatable electrode towards said second electrode so as to engage and hold the tissue between said electrodes at a first location on the tissue;
applying electrosurgical current to said electrodes so as to produce a first weld line in the tissue held between said electrodes at said first location;
rotating the first rotatable electrode away from said first location so as to engage and hold the tissue between said electrodes at a second location on the tissue;
applying electrosurgical current to said electrodes to create a second weld line in the tissue held between the electrodes at said second location; and
cutting the tissue between said weld lines. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- placing the elongate section of tissue into a space between said first and second electrodes created by rotating said first, rotatable electrode away from said second electrode;
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20. An electrosurgical scissors device for providing cutting, and coagulation, said scissors device comprising:
- first and second electrode members supported in spaced relation, said first electrode member including a distal end portion and an elongate portion defining a longitudinal axis, and said distal end portion of said first electrode member being offset from said elongate portion and including a cutting edge;
means for enabling electrosurgical current to be supplied to said electrode members; and
handle means for causing rotation of said first electrode member about said longitudinal axis so as to vary the spacing between the distal end portion of said first electrode member and a distal end portion of said second electrode member so as to provide cutting of tissue positioned between said electrode members with said cutting edge. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
- first and second electrode members supported in spaced relation, said first electrode member including a distal end portion and an elongate portion defining a longitudinal axis, and said distal end portion of said first electrode member being offset from said elongate portion and including a cutting edge;
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25. A method of coagulation and cutting of tissue using an electrosurgical device comprising first and second spaced, elongate electrode members wherein the first electrode member is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof so as to vary the spacing between a distal end portion thereof and a distal end portion of the second electrode member, and wherein said distal end of said first electrode member includes a cutting edge, said method comprising:
- positioning tissue to be coagulated and cut into a space between said electrode members;
rotating said first electrode member so that a surface of said distal end portion thereof is brought into juxtaposition with an opposed surface of the distal end portion of said second electrode member;
applying electrosurgical current to said electrode members to cause coagulation of a portion of the tissue between said electrode members; and
further rotating said first electrode member so as to bring said cutting edge into contact with the tissue to provide cutting thereof.
- positioning tissue to be coagulated and cut into a space between said electrode members;
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26. An electrosurgical scissors device for, in use, providing cutting of tissue, said scissors device comprising:
- at least first and second elongate electrode members supported in spaced relation, said first and second electrode members each including a distal end portion and an elongate portion defining a longitudinal axis, the distal end portion of one said electrode members being offset axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion thereof; and
said distal end portion of each of said first and second members including a cutting edge;
means for enabling axial movement of at least one of said first and second electrode members between a first, scissors configuration wherein the distal end portions of said electrode members are in registration within another and a second, single element cutting configuration wherein the distal end portions of said electrode members are out of registration so that one of said cutting edges is exposed for use as a monopolar cutting element;
means for enabling electrosurgical current to be supplied to said electrode members; and
handle means for causing rotation of said first member about the longitudinal axis thereof in the scissors configuration of said device so as to vary the spacing between the distal end portion of said first electrode member and the distal end portion of said second electrode member so as to provide cutting of tissue positioned between said first and second members with the cutting edges of said electrode members.
- at least first and second elongate electrode members supported in spaced relation, said first and second electrode members each including a distal end portion and an elongate portion defining a longitudinal axis, the distal end portion of one said electrode members being offset axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion thereof; and
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28. An elongate rotary surgical scissors device for, in use, providing cutting of patient tissue, said scissors device having a central longitudinal axis and comprising:
- first and second elongate members supported in spaced relation, said first member including a distal end portion including a cutting edge and an elongate portion connected to said distal end portion and defining a further longitudinal axis offset from said central longitudinal axis, and said second member including a distal end portion; and
means for rotating said first member about said further longitudinal axis so as to provide relative movement between the distal end portion of said first member and the distal end portion of said second member to a closed position so as to provide cutting of patient tissue positioned between said members with said cutting edge. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- first and second elongate members supported in spaced relation, said first member including a distal end portion including a cutting edge and an elongate portion connected to said distal end portion and defining a further longitudinal axis offset from said central longitudinal axis, and said second member including a distal end portion; and
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34. A rotary surgical scissors device for, in use, providing cutting of patient tissue, said scissors device having a central longitudinal axis and comprising:
- first and second members supported in spaced relation, said first member including a distal end portion and a further, offset portion connected to said distal end portion and defining a further longitudinal axis, said second member including a base portion and a distal end portion affixed to said base portion and spaced radially from said central longitudinal axis an amount defining an outer limit of an outer peripheral boundary of the device, and said distal end portions of said first and second members each including a cutting edge; and
means for rotating said first member about said further longitudinal axis so as to vary the relative positions of the distal end portions of said first and second members between a closed position wherein said cutting edges provide cutting and an open position, said central longitudinal axis and said further longitudinal axis being offset such that said distal end portion of said first member is disposed within said outer peripheral boundary in said closed position and is disposed outside of said outer peripheral boundary in said open position. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- first and second members supported in spaced relation, said first member including a distal end portion and a further, offset portion connected to said distal end portion and defining a further longitudinal axis, said second member including a base portion and a distal end portion affixed to said base portion and spaced radially from said central longitudinal axis an amount defining an outer limit of an outer peripheral boundary of the device, and said distal end portions of said first and second members each including a cutting edge; and
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41. A surgical scissors device for, in use, providing cutting of patient tissue, said scissors device comprising:
- at least first and second elongate cutting members supported in spaced relation, said first and second members each including a distal end portion and an elongate portion defining a longitudinal axis, and said distal end potion of each of said first and second members including a cutting edge;
means for enabling axial movement of at least one of said first and second members between a first, scissors configuration wherein the distal end portions of said members are in registration within another and a second, single element cutting configuration wherein the distal end portions of said members are out of registration so that one of said cutting edges is exposed for cutting; and
means for rotating said first member about the longitudinal axis thereof in the scissors configuration of said device so as to vary the spacing between the distal end portion of said first member and the distal end portion of said second member so as to provide cutting of tissue positioned between said first and second members with the cutting edges of said members.
- at least first and second elongate cutting members supported in spaced relation, said first and second members each including a distal end portion and an elongate portion defining a longitudinal axis, and said distal end potion of each of said first and second members including a cutting edge;
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42. An elongate rotary surgical device for, in use, providing engagement of patient tissue, said device having a central longitudinal axis and comprising:
- first and second elongate members supported in spaced relation, said first member including a distal end portion and an elongate portion connected to said distal end portion and defining a further longitudinal axis offset from said central longitudinal axis, and said second member including a distal end portion; and
handle means for rotating said first member about said further longitudinal axis so as to provide relative movement between the distal end portion of said first member and the distal end portion of said second member to a closed position so as to provide engagement of patient tissue positioned between said members. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
- first and second elongate members supported in spaced relation, said first member including a distal end portion and an elongate portion connected to said distal end portion and defining a further longitudinal axis offset from said central longitudinal axis, and said second member including a distal end portion; and
Specification