Bipolar electrosurgical scissors for fine or delicate surgical dissection

• US 6,283,963 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Regula, Donald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/167,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/46, 606/48-52
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00119 with metal oxide nitride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical scissors having a first cutting blade which has a first cutting portion, the first cutting portion having a corresponding first cutting edge; a second cutting blade which has a second cutting portion, the second cutting portion having a corresponding second cutting edge in cutting cooperation with the first cutting edge; and electrical insulation disposed on portions of the first and second cutting blades, the electrical insulation extending into the first and second cutting portions except for the corresponding cutting edges for preventing electrical conduction from the electrically insulated portions of the cutting blades. In a first embodiment of the bipolar electrosurgical scissors of the present invention, the electrical insulation extends into the first and second cutting blades such that ⅓ of their distal tip is uninsulated. In a second embodiment of the bipolar electrosurgical scissors of the present invention, the electrical insulation extends into the first and second cutting members such that they are entirely insulated except for their corresponding cutting edges.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors comprising:

a first cutting blade having a first cutting portion, the first cutting portion having a corresponding first cutting edge;

a second cutting blade having a second cutting portion, the second cutting portion having a corresponding second cutting edge in cutting cooperation with the first cutting edge; and

electrical insulation disposed on portions of the first and second cutting blades, the electrical insulation extending into the first and second cutting portions except for the corresponding cutting edges for preventing electrical conduction from the electrically insulated portions of the cutting blades;

wherein the electrical insulation extends into the first and second cutting blades such that ⅓

of a distal tip of the first and second cutting blades are uninsulated.

2. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical insulation extends into the first and second cutting blades such that they are entirely insulated except for their corresponding cutting edges.

3. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical insulation is a thermoplastic.

5. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scissors in a Tenotomy scissor.

7. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scissors is a Metzenbaum scissor.

9. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scissors is a Mayo scissor.

4. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic is nylon 11.

6. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 6, wherein the Tenotomy scissor has a fine tip for fine or delicate surgical dissection.

8. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 8, wherein the Metzenbaum scissor has a fine tip for fine or delicate surgical dissection.

10. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 10, wherein the Mayo scissor has a fine tip for fine or delicate surgical dissection.

11. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors comprising:

a fine tip for fine or delicate surgical dissection, the fine tip comprising a first cutting blade having a first cutting portion, the first cutting portion having a corresponding first cutting edge and a second cutting blade having a second cutting portion, the second cutting portion having a corresponding second cutting edge in cutting cooperation with the first cutting edge; and

electrical insulation disposed on portions of the first and second cutting blades, the electrical insulation extending into the first and second cutting portions except for the corresponding cutting edges for preventing electrical conduction from the electrically insulated portions of the cutting blades.

12. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical insulation extends into the first and second cutting blades such that ⅓

of a distal portion of the fine tip is uninsulated.

13. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical insulation extends into the first and second cutting blades such that they are entirely insulated except for their corresponding cutting edges.

14. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical insulation is a thermoplastic.

15. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 14, wherein the thermoplastic is nylon 11.

16. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 11, wherein the scissors is a Tenotomy scissor.

17. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 11, wherein the scissors is a Metzenbaum scissor.

18. The bipolar electrosurgical scissors as claimed in claim 11, wherein the scissors is a Mayo scissor.