Bipolar electrosurgical instrument with coagulation feature

• US 5,921,984 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sutcu, Maz, Gentelia, John
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US08/904,615
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 606/48, 606/50, 606/51, 606/46, 606/174
• US Class Current: 606/46
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for using the bipolar electrosurgical instrument. The instrument includes particular patterns of electrically conductive portions and electrically non-conductive portions on the interior surfaces of the shearing members such that the electrical current is localized in the tissue to be treated without causing a short circuit in the instrument. Other advantages of the device include an improved cutting ability aided by the localized electrical current and reduced manufacturing costs as compared to similar, prior art devices.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue which comprises:

(a) first and second shearing members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces of said shearing members being disposed in opposed relationship and each including a cutting surface comprising an electrically conductive portion and an electrically non-conductive portion, said portions being positioned such that said electrically conductive portions of the opposed interior surfaces of the shearing members do not contact with each other through the full range of a scissors-like motion of at least one of said shearing members;

(b) means for pivotally joining said first and second shearing members, said means for pivotally joining comprising;

a pivot pin which extends axially through said first and second shearing members; and

an electrically non-conductive support having first and second sides and which is located between said first and second shearing members and affixed thereto by said pivot pin, said support comprising at least one curved channel in one of said first and second sides;

(c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second shearing members for imparting said scissors-like motion to said at least one of said shearing members relative to the other of said shearing members, said means for imparting a scissors-like motion further comprising a ridge adapted to fit into said curved channel and positioned such that said ridge rides in said curved channel through the full range of scissors-like motion of said shearing members; and

(d) means for applying a voltage across said electrically conductive portions of said interior surfaces of said first and second shearing members.

2. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support is adapted for connection to a distal end of a laparoscope or endoscope.