Electrosurgical instrument with a longitudinal element for conducting RF energy and moving a cutting element
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:
- a handle;
a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor mounted to the handle;
a first jaw and a second jaw operatively connected to the handle, the first jaw and the second jaw movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue-grasping region;
a first electrode electrically connected to the first conductor, the first electrode having a first conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first and second jaws, the first conducting surface having a first electrical polarity; and
a member slidably mounted to the handle, the member comprising a second electrode having a second conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first and second jaw members.
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Abstract
A bipolar electrosurgical 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. The central cutting element has an electrode surface.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a handle;
a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor mounted to the handle;
a first jaw and a second jaw operatively connected to the handle, the first jaw and the second jaw movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue-grasping region;
a first electrode electrically connected to the first conductor, the first electrode having a first conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first and second jaws, the first conducting surface having a first electrical polarity; and
a member slidably mounted to the handle, the member comprising a second electrode having a second conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first and second jaw members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:
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a handle;
a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor mounted to the handle;
a first jaw and a second jaw operatively connected to the handle, the first jaw and the second jaw movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for approximating tissue therebetween in a tissue-grasping region;
a first electrode electrically connected to the first conductor, the first electrode having a first conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first and second jaws, the first conducting surface having a first electrical polarity; and
a first member slidably mounted to the handle, the first member comprising a second electrode having a second conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first and second jaw, wherein the first conducting surface and the second conducting surface are configured to permit electrical energy to be conducted through tissue disposed between the first conducting surface and the second conducting surface, and are further configured to prevent electrical energy from passing through tissue not disposed between the first jaw and the second jaw when the jaws are in the closed position, and wherein the first member is slidable at least partially within the first and second jaws between at least a proximal position and a distal position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification