Insulated surgical scissors

• US 5,827,281 A
• Filed: 01/05/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John M. Levin
• Original Assignee: John M. Levin
• Inventors: Levin, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/583,389
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/46, 606/48, 606/49, 606/50, 606/51, 606/52, 606/170, 606/174
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0088 ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1415 multiple blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1457 having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers

Abstract

An insulated surgical scissors, having a monopolar or a bipolar scissors construction, that can be used during laparoscopic, endoscopic and open surgery for cutting and coagulating tissue.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting and coagulating tissue during surgery while minimizing electrical and thermal contact of said apparatus with surrounding tissue, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of opposing electrically conductive cutting blades pivotally connected to allow for shearing action of any tissue confined between opposed cutting edges of said cutting blades, said blades having confronting surfaces, said pair of opposing cutting blades being entirely covered with an electrically and thermally insulative material except along corresponding segments of said confronting surfaces;

a power source coupled to at least one of said pair of opposing cutting blades for electrically and thermally energizing at least one of said pair of blades; and

said apparatus including a closed condition wherein said confronting surfaces form overlapping surfaces, said overlapping surfaces including said corresponding segments.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said corresponding segments is adjacent a respective cutting edge.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes a closed condition wherein said confronting surfaces form overlapping surfaces, said overlapping surfaces defining said corresponding segments.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutting blades further comprise tips having facing surfaces, said facing surfaces being thermally and electrically conductive and cooperating to compress tissue disposed therebetween and to coagulate said tissue therebetween.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pair of opposing cutting blades are constructed so that an entire length of one of said cutting edges simultaneously contacts an entire length of the other of said cutting edges when said cutting edges are brought toward one another with no tissue disposed therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said corresponding segments is adjacent a respective cutting edge.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes a closed condition wherein said confronting surfaces form overlapping surfaces, said overlapping surfaces defining said corresponding segments.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cutting blades further comprise tips having facing surfaces, said facing surfaces being thermally and electrically conductive and cooperating to compress tissue disposed therebetween and to coagulate said tissue therebetween.

9. An apparatus for cutting and coagulating tissue during open surgery while minimizing electrical and thermal contact of said apparatus with surrounding tissue, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of opposing electrically conductive cutting blades pivotally connected to allow for cutting of any tissue confined between opposed cutting edge of said cutting blades, said pair of opposing cutting blades abutting each other during cutting, said pair of opposing cutting blades being entirely covered with an electrically and thermally insulative material, said cutting blades further comprising tips having facing surfaces, said facing surfaces being thermally and electrically conductive and cooperating to compress tissue disposed therebetween and to coagulate said tissue therebetween;

said pair of opposing cutting blades being constructed so that an entire length of one of said cutting edges simultaneously contacts an entire length of the other of said cutting edges when said cutting edges are brought toward one another with no tissue disposed therebetween; and

a power source having a power side that is electrically coupled to one of said pair of opposing cutting blades and having a ground side that is electrically coupled to the other of said pair of opposing cutting blades for electrically and thermally energizing said one of said pair of blades.

10. An apparatus for cutting and coagulating tissue during surgery while minimizing electrical and thermal contact of said apparatus with surrounding tissue, said apparatus comprising:

a pair of opposing, electrically conductive cutting blades pivotally connected to cut any tissue confined between cutting edges of said cutting blades, said pair of opposing cutting blades being entirely covered with an electrically and thermally insulative material except on minor tissue-contacting portions of confronting surfaces of said cutting blades; and

a power source coupled to at least one of said pair of opposing cutting blades for electrically and thermally energizing at least one of said pair of blades.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said minor tissue-contacting portions are facing surfaces of cutting blade tips, said facing surfaces being thermally and electrically conductive and cooperating to compress tissue disposed therebetween and to coagulate said tissue therebetween.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cutting blades are constructed to nip any tissue confined between said cutting edges, and so that an entire length of one of said cutting edges simultaneously contacts an entire length of the other of said cutting edges when said cutting edges are brought toward one another with no tissue disposed therebetween.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cutting edges of said cutting blades abut each other during cutting.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said pair of opposing cutting blades are pivotally connected to allow for shearing action of any tissue confined between the cutting edges thereof.