Bipolar surgical instruments having focused electrical fields
First Claim
1. A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
a pair of opposed jaws at the distal end of the shaft;
a first electrode member on one of the jaws;
a second electrode member on one of the jaws, wherein the first and second electrode members are electrically isolated from each other; and
an actuating mechanism for moving the jaws between an opened and closed configuration, wherein electrode members lie parallel to and laterally spaced-apart from each other when the jaws are closed and wherein at least one of the electrode members comprises a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which project toward the opposed jaw.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bipolar surgical device includes a pair of actuable jaws. A first electrode member which optionally includes a line of electrically coupled tissue-penetrating elements is formed on one of the jaws, and a second electrode member which optionally includes a line of electrically coupled tissue-penetrating elements is formed on the same or the other jaw. The electrode members are laterally spaced-apart and arranged in a parallel, usually linear manner so that the lateral distance therebetween remains generally constant. In operation, tissue may be grasped between the jaws so that the electrode members contact and/or the tissue-penetrating elements enter into the tissue. By energizing the electrode members at opposite polarities using a high frequency energy source, tissue between the jaws will be heated, coagulated, and/or necrosed, while heating of tissue outside of the lines will be minimized.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a pair of opposed jaws at the distal end of the shaft; a first electrode member on one of the jaws; a second electrode member on one of the jaws, wherein the first and second electrode members are electrically isolated from each other; and an actuating mechanism for moving the jaws between an opened and closed configuration, wherein electrode members lie parallel to and laterally spaced-apart from each other when the jaws are closed and wherein at least one of the electrode members comprises a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which project toward the opposed jaw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for applying high frequency electrical energy to tissue, said method comprising:
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grasping tissue between first jaw and a second jaw; applying high frequency energy between a first electrode member on one of said jaws and a second electrode member on one of said jaws, wherein said lines of tissue-penetrating elements are parallel to and laterally spaced-apart from each other when grasping the tissue wherein at least one of the electrode members comprises a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which project toward the opposed jaw. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31)
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26. A bipolar surgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a pair of opposed jaws at the distal end of the shaft; at least two laterally spaced-apart elongate surface electrodes on the jaws; at least a first line of tissue-penetrating elements on the jaws, wherein the first line of electrodes is arranged to lie between the surface electrodes when the jaws are closed; and an actuator for opening and closing the jaws. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 32)
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33. A method for applying high frequency energy to tissue, said method comprising:
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contacting a tissue region with at least two laterally spaced-apart elongate surface electrodes; penetrating at least a first line of tissue-penetrating elements through a surface over the tissue region between the laterally spaced-apart surface electrodes; and applying bipolar high frequency electrical energy between the surface electrodes and the tissue-penetrating elements. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification