Electrosurgical instrument with an operational sequencing element
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a) a handle having a distal end;
b) a first actuator and a second actuator operably mounted to the handle;
c) a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and having a lumen therethrough, the proximal end of the shaft mounted to the distal end of the handle;
d) a first jaw and a second jaw mounted to the distal end of the shaft, the jaws each having distal ends being spaced apart when the first actuator is in an open position and being closer together for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue grasping region when the first actuator is in a closed position;
e) a cutting element operably connected to the second actuator and slidably disposed within the shaft, the cutting element comprising a first blade configured to cut tissue when the cutting element is moved proximally and a second blade configured to cut tissue when the cutting element is moved distally f) a sequencing element operationally engaged with the first and second actuators to prevent the second actuator from moving proximally when the first actuator is in the open position.
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Abstract
A surgical instrument useful in harvesting blood vessels such as veins and arteries. The instrument has a pair of jaws and a central cutting element displaceable distally and proximally to dissect tissue contained between the jaws. A sequencing element prevents the cutting element from being engaged when the jaws are in the open configuration.
1199 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a) a handle having a distal end;
b) a first actuator and a second actuator operably mounted to the handle;
c) a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and having a lumen therethrough, the proximal end of the shaft mounted to the distal end of the handle;
d) a first jaw and a second jaw mounted to the distal end of the shaft, the jaws each having distal ends being spaced apart when the first actuator is in an open position and being closer together for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue grasping region when the first actuator is in a closed position;
e) a cutting element operably connected to the second actuator and slidably disposed within the shaft, the cutting element comprising a first blade configured to cut tissue when the cutting element is moved proximally and a second blade configured to cut tissue when the cutting element is moved distally f) a sequencing element operationally engaged with the first and second actuators to prevent the second actuator from moving proximally when the first actuator is in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle;
a first actuator and a second actuator operably mounted to the handle;
a first jaw and a second jaw operably connected to the first actuator, the jaws each having a distal end, the distal ends of the jaws being spaced apart when the first actuator is in an open position and the distal ends of the jaws being closer together for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue grasping region when the first actuator is in a closed position;
a tube mounted to the handle;
a cutting element operably connected to the second actuator and slidably disposed within the tube; and
a sequencing element operationally engaged with the first and second actuators, wherein the sequencing element prevents the cutting element from moving proximally when the first actuator is in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of grasping and cutting tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a surgical instrument comprising;
a handle;
a first actuator and a second actuator operably mounted to the handle;
a first jaw and a second jaw operably connected to the first actuator, the jaws each having a distal end, the distal ends of the jaws being spaced apart when the first actuator is in an open position and the distal ends of the jaws being closer together for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue grasping region when the first actuator is in a closed position;
a tube mounted to the handle;
a cutting element operably connected to the second actuator and slidably disposed within the tube, the cutting element having a first blade configured to cut tissue when me cutting element is moved proximally and a second blade configured to cut tissue when the cutting element is moved distally; and
a sequencing element operationally engaged with the first and second actuators, wherein the sequencing element prevents the second actuator from moving proximally and permits the second actuator to move distally when the first actuator is in the open position;
b. cutting tissue at a location distal to the first jaw and the second jaw by moving the second actuator to a distal position to expose the second blade;
c. grasping tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw by positioning tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw and actuating the first actuator to grasp the tissue by approximating the first jaw and the second jaw; and
d. cutting tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw by moving the second actuator proximally. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification