RF bipolar mesentery takedown device including improved bipolar end effector

• US 6,468,275 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Speeg, Trevor W. V., Dobler, Kendall L., Yates, David C., Wampler, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/602,903
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/46, 606/48-52, 606/206, 606/207
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00008 Vein tendon strippers tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a bipolar electrosurgical instrument suitable for use in mesentery tissue and other suitable tissue structures, including vessels. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention includes an end effector which includes a tissue slot and electrodes arranged on either side of the tissue slot. The opposing electrodes are electrically connected such that tissue passing through the slot is electrically treated with electrosurgical current passing laterally through the tissue. An end effector according to the present invention further includes a tissue separator arranged at the end of the slot to divide tissue as it is passed through the slot and after it is treated.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a handle;

an elongated tube connected to a distal end of said handle;

a jaw assembly connected to a distal end of said elongated tube, said jaw assembly having a bipolar end effector which is electrically connected to said handle by a plurality of conductors, said end effector comprising;

a first tissue surface, wherein said first tissue surface comprises a first side and a second side;

a second tissue surface separated from said first tissue surface by a tissue slot, said tissue slot being defined by a separation distance between said first tissue surface and said second tissue surface, wherein said separation distance is fixed;

a plurality of elongated electrodes, wherein said elongated electrodes are located on at least one of said tissue surfaces and are electrically isolated from each other;

a tissue separator positioned between said first and said second tissue surfaces, wherein said tissue separator comprises;

a dividing edge at the distal end of said tissue separator;

a first tissue guide extending proximally away from said dividing edge toward said first side;

a second tissue guide extending proximally away from said dividing edge toward said second side.

2. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said end effector further comprises:

a first elongated electrode on said first side of said first tissue surface;

a second elongated electrode on said second side of said first tissue surface, wherein said second elongated electrode is substantially parallel to said first electrode;

a first insulated region separating said first electrode from said second electrode.

3. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein said end effector further comprises:

a third elongated electrode on a first side of said second tissue surface;

a fourth elongated electrode on a second side of said second tissue surface, wherein said fourth elongated electrode is substantially parallel to said third elongated electrode;

a second central insulation region separating said third electrode from said fourth electrode.

4. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said tissue separator further comprises a wedge shaped region.

5. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said dividing edge is surgically dull.

6. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said separation distance is substantially constant a long the length of said tissue slot.

7. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said separation distance at a distal end of said tissue slot is larger than said separation distance at a proximal end of said tissue slot.

8. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein said first electrode and said third electrodes are electrically connected and said second electrode and said fourth electrodes are electrically connected.

9. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein said first electrode is positioned substantially directly opposite said third electrode and said second electrode is positioned substantially directly opposite said fourth electrode.

10. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said jaw assembly further comprises a distal end, said distal end comprising:

conical tissue separators; and

ramped tissue input guides.

11. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a handle;

an elongated tube connected to a distal end of said handle;

a jaw assembly connected to a distal end of said elongated tube, said jaw assembly having a bipolar end effector which is electrically connected to said handle by a plurality of conductors, said end effector comprising;

a first elongated electrode on a first side of said end effector;

a second elongated electrode on a second side of said end effector, wherein said second electrode is substantially parallel to said first electrode;

a third elongated electrode on said first side of said end effector, wherein said third electrode is substantially parallel to said first and second electrode;

a fourth elongated electrode on said second side of said end effector, wherein said fourth elongated electrode is substantially parallel to said first, second and third electrode, and wherein said first and second electrodes are separated from said third and fourth electrodes by a substantially constant gap;

a first central insulation region separating said first electrode from said second electrode;

a second central insulation region separating said third electrode from said fourth electrode;

a tissue separator positioned between said first and said second central insulation regions proximal to the distal end of said end effector, wherein said tissue separator comprises;

a dividing edge at the distal end of said tissue separator;

a first tissue guide extending proximally away from said dividing edge toward said first side;

a second tissue guide extending proximally away from said dividing edge toward said second side.

12. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein said first electrode and said third electrode are electrically connected and said second electrode and said fourth electrode are electrically connected.

13. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein said first electrode is positioned substantially directly opposite said third electrode and said second electrode is positioned substantially directly opposite said fourth electrode.

14. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein said tissue separator further comprises a wedge shaped region.

15. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein said dividing edge is surgically dull.

16. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein said jaw assembly further comprises a distal end, said distal end comprising:

conical tissue separators; and

ramped tissue input guides.