Electrosurgical instrument with closing tube for conducting RF energy and moving jaws

• US 6,773,435 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sorin Group USA Incorporated (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nobis, Rudolph H., Schulze, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/222,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/49, 606/50-52, 606/205, 606/210
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• 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 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

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 instrument has offset electrodes.

Claims

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 operably 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 closing tube operably connected to the handle, the closing tube comprising a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductor, the second electrode having at least one second conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first jaw and the second jaw.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the second electrode surface has a second electrical polarity that is opposite of the first electrical polarity.

3. The instrument of claim 2, 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.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first electrode conducting surface is laterally offset with respect to the second electrode conducting surface.

5. The instrument of claim 1, where the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the closing tube is configured to be slidable relative to the first jaw and the second jaw.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the closing tube is configured to move the first jaw and the second jaw from the open position to the closed position.

8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the second electrode has two surfaces for contacting tissue approximated between the first jaw and the second jaw.

9. The instrument of claim 1, comprising a first actuator mounted to the handle, said first actuator connected to the closing tube, wherein movement of the first actuator causes the sliding tube to move longitudinally.

10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first jaw has a first channel and the second jaw are configured to form a cutting path when the jaws are in the closed position.

11. The instrument of claim 10, wherein the first jaw has a first channel and the second jaw has a second channel, and the first channel and the second channel form the cutting path when the jaws are in the closed position.

12. The instrument of claim 10, comprising a member operably mounted to the handle and configured to slide within the cutting path, the member comprising the first electrode.

13. The instrument of claim 12, wherein the member comprises a cutting member having a blade for cutting tissue approximated between the first jaw and the second jaw when the blade is moved within the cutting path.

14. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first electrode surface contacts tissue approximated between the first jaw and the second jaw when the first jaw and second jaw are in the closed position.

15. The instrument of claim 1, wherein closing member substantially encloses the first jaw and the second jaw when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the closed position.

16. A method of coagulating tissue, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing an 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 operably 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 closing tube operably connected to the handle, the closing tube comprising a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductor, the second electrode having at least one second conducting surface for contacting tissue approximated between the first jaw and the second jaw

b. engaging tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;

c. moving the first jaw and the second jaw to the closed position such that the tissue is engaged by the inner surfaces of the first jaw and the second jaw; and

d. permitting a sufficient amount of electrically energy to pass through the tissue between the first and second electrode surfaces effective to coagulate the tissue.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step b comprises moving the closing member to cause the first jaw and the second jaw to move to the closed position.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein step b comprises contacting the second jaw with the closing member to cause the first jaw and the second jaw to move to the closed position.