Thermal cautery surgical forceps

• US 6,533,778 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garrett D. Herzon
• Original Assignee: Garrett D. Herzon
• Inventors: Herzon, Garrett D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAM, JOCELYN DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US09/842,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 606/51, 606/27, 606/28, 606/29, 606/30, 606/31, 606/41, 606/42, 606/49, 606/52
• US Class Current: 606/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization

Abstract

A portable, thermal cauterizing forceps device for use in surgery. The device incorporates a pair of ceramic heater elements mounted within the tips of the tines of a forceps. The forceps is used to grasp tissue or blood vessels and apply heat to effect cauterization. In the case of the first embodiment of the invention, the forceps instrument incorporates a battery and control electronics. The thermal-forceps is of a self-contained wireless, handheld disposable design. In a second embodiment of the invention, the forceps handpiece is connected to an external power source. Both embodiments of the forceps incorporate set of rapidly heating ceramic heater elements that may be composed of silicon nitride. An LED provides the operator feedback as to the operating level of the heaters and/or battery reserve. Enhancements to the second embodiment include a rechargeable power supply, variable control of the heater temperature, as well as a, digital display of the tip temperature.

Claims

1. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements.

2. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements;

wherein said indicator comprises a speaker.

3. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements;

wherein said indicator comprises a visual indicator.

4. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a level of battery power reserve.

5. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements;

wherein said indicator is configured to indicate when said heaters reach a predetermined operational temperature.

6. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements;

wherein said indicator is configured to indicate a temperature of said heaters.

7. A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:

a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;

said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and

the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces;

further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements;

wherein said indicator is configured to indicate an internal resistance of said heaters.