High-frequency treatment tool

• US 6,736,813 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Iida, Koji, Yamauchi, Koji, Sekino, Naomi
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/884,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/46, 606/48, 606/50-52, 606/39, 606/40, 606/37
• 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 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors

Abstract

The present invention provides a bipolar high-frequency treatment tool for coagulating and incising the vital tissue, comprising a pair of jaws provided at a distal end portion of an elongated member such that they can be closed and opened between a closed position and an open position, an operation unit having a handle provided at a proximal end portion of the elongated member, the operation unit closing and opening the jaws when the handle is operated, a first electrode portion provided at one of the jaws, and a second electrode portion provided at the other of the jaws. When vital tissue is gripped between the jaws, the effective electrode surface of the second electrode portion, which is to be brought into contact with the vital tissue, is smaller than that of the second electrode portion.

Claims

1. A bipolar high-frequency treatment tool comprising:

(i) an elongated member;

(ii) a pair of jaws provided adjacent to a distal portion of the elongated member so as to grip vital tissue, wherein the pair of jaws are movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position;

(iii) a handle assembly provided adjacent to a proximal portion of the elongated member, wherein the handle assembly is coupled operatively with at least one of the jaws, and the pair of jaws are movable relative to each other between the closed position and the open position so as to grip the vital tissue between the jaws in accordance with an operation of the handle assembly;

wherein one of the jaws comprises a first conductive member, and the first conductive member includes a first electrode portion that can be brought into contact with vital tissue when the jaws are operated to grip the vital tissue between the jaws, and the first electrode portion defines a first area;

wherein the other of the jaws comprises a second conductive member, and the second conductive member comprises a second electrode portion that can be brought into contact with vital tissue when the jaws are operated to grip the vital tissue between the jaws, and the second electrode portion defines a second area which is made smaller than the first area such that a treatment high-frequency current for coagulation/incision of the vital tissue is concentrated to the second electrode portion when a bipolar high-frequency treatment is carried out; and

(iv) a power supply unit electrically connected to the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion such that the treatment high-frequency current is allowed to flow between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, wherein the power supply unit is operable in a constant power output mode in which a constant power is maintained even if an impedance is increased such that the treatment high-frequency current for the coagulation/incision of the vital tissue is allowed to flow between the first and second electrode portions.

2. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode portion comprises a projection formed of a conductive material member projecting from one of the jaws toward the other jaw.

3. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 2, wherein the second electrode portion is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the elongated member.

4. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode portion comprises a blade-shaped member having a transverse cross section that is elongated in a direction of incision.

5. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the one of the jaws has a gripping surface provided with a groove to be engaged with a distal end of the second electrode portion when the jaws are closed.

6. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the one of the jaws has a gripping surface in an area other than an area provided with the first electrode portion, and the gripping surface is used for gripping the vital tissue.

7. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, further comprising a short circuit preventing unit for determining closure termination positions of the jaws to prevent the first and second electrode portions from coming into contact with each other when the jaws are closed.

8. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 7, wherein the short circuit preventing unit includes an electrically insulating member provided on the one of the jaws on which the first electrode portion is formed, wherein the second electrode portion is struck against the electrically insulating member, thereby determining the closure termination positions of the jaws and preventing the first and second electrode portions from coming into contact with each other.

9. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein outer surfaces of the jaws except the first and second electrode portions are electrically insulated.

10. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode portion has a sharp distal end that constitutes the second area.

11. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode portion comprises a projection projecting from the other jaw toward the one jaw, the projection comprises a sharp distal end having a substantially V-shaped transverse cross section, and the sharp distal end constituting the second area.

12. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the jaws each have a width that gradually reduces toward a distal end thereof.

13. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 12, wherein the jaws each have a height that gradually reduces toward a distal end thereof.

14. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the jaws each have a height that gradually reduces toward a distal end thereof.

15. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein said one of the jaws has a gripping surface for gripping vital tissue.

16. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 15, wherein the gripping surface includes two surface parts, between which the second electrode portion is provided.

17. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 15, wherein a treatment portion including the first and second electrode portions is provided over substantially an entire length of the jaws.

18. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein said other of the jaws includes a blade member formed from a conductive material, and the blade member has a cross section elongated in a direction in which said other of the jaws is opened and closed.

19. A bipolar high-frequency treatment tool comprising:

a first jaw including a first grip member for gripping a vital tissue, wherein the first grip member is made of a conductive material and has a first contact portion that is brought into contact with the vital tissue when the vital tissue is gripped;

a second jaw including a second grip member for gripping the vital tissue between the first grip member and the second grip member, wherein the second grip member is made of a conductive material and has a second contact portion that is brought into contact with the vital tissue when the vital tissue is gripped with the first grip member, wherein the second contact portion is larger than the first contact portion such that a treatment high-frequency current for coagulation/incision of the vital tissue is concentrated to the first electrode portion when a bipolar high-frequency treatment is carried out, wherein the second contact portion has an insulation member at a position which is located to face the first contact portion when the vital tissue is gripped between the first grip member and the second grip member, and wherein the insulation member insulates the first contact portion and the second contact portion from each other;

a power source, which is electrically connected to the first grip member and the second grip member, for providing a high-frequency current to be passed to the vital tissue, wherein the power source supplies currents to the first grip member and the second grip member so that the first grip member and the second grip member function as bipolar electrodes, and wherein the power source is operable in a constant power output mode in which a power is maintained even if an impedance is increased such that the treatment high-frequency current for the coagulation/incision of the vital tissue is allowed to flow between the first and second electrode portions;

a support member for supporting the first jaw and the second jaw to be insulated from each other such that the first jaw and the second jaw are movable relative to each other to be openable/closable between an open position and closed position, wherein the first contact portion is brought into contact with the insulation member when the first jaw and the second jaw are set at the closed position; and

an operation unit having a handle for moving the first jaw and the second jaw relative to each other to open/close the jaws.

20. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein an insulation layer covers the first jaw except at least the first contact portion.

21. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 20, wherein the jaws each have a height that gradually reduces toward a distal end thereof.

22. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second jaws is curved.

23. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the handle of the operation unit is connected to a rod that is movable in accordance with manipulation of the handle to open and close the first and second jaws.

24. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the support member comprises a first jaw rotation axis and a second jaw rotation axis via which the first and second jaws are supported.

25. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the support member comprises a rod and support arms via which the first and second jaws are supported.

26. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the first grip member comprises a projection projecting from the first jaw toward the second jaw.

27. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 26, wherein the first grip member is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the first jaw.

28. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the first grip member comprises a blade-shaped member having a transverse cross section that is elongated in a direction of incision.

29. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the second grip member is divided into a plurality of electrode components, and each of the electrode components is provided on the one of the jaws.

30. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein outer surfaces of the jaws other than the first and second grip members are electrically insulated.

31. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the first grip member comprises a projection projecting from the first jaw toward the second jaw, and the projection includes a sharp distal end having a substantially V-shaped transverse cross section, and the sharp distal end constitutes the first contact portion.

32. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the jaws each have a width that gradually reduces toward a distal end thereof.

33. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein the jaws each have a height that gradually reduces toward a distal end thereof.

34. The high-frequency treatment tool according to claim 19, wherein each of the first and second grip members comprises a blade member formed from a conductive material, and the blade members have a cross section that is elongated in a direction in which the jaws are opened and closed.