Electrothermal instrument for sealing and joining or cutting tissue
First Claim
1. A tissue cutting and sealing instrument comprising two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein at least one working surface has an electrically resistant heating element thereon, the electrically resistant heating element being operable independent of contact with body tissue, the working surfaces being dimensioned to securely hold tissue therebetween during tissue cutting and sealing, wherein both of the working surfaces are dimensioned wider than the heating element such that a zone of tissue adjacent to the heating element may be cut while a zone of tissue on either side of the cut tissue may be sealed, and wherein the zone where the tissue is cut and the zones where the tissue is sealed are disposed between the working surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument and method are provided for sealing and joining or hemostatically dividing tissue, which is particularly suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. The instrument makes use of the controlled application of a combination of heat and pressure to seal adjacent tissues, to join adjacent tissues, or to anastomose tissues, whereby tissue is heated for an optimal time and at an optimal temperature under optimal pressure to maximize tissue seal strength while minimizing collateral tissue damage. The instrument of the present invention is lightweight and therefore portable, and is particularly useful in field conditions where a source of external power may not be readily available.
734 Citations
70 Claims
- 1. A tissue cutting and sealing instrument comprising two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein at least one working surface has an electrically resistant heating element thereon, the electrically resistant heating element being operable independent of contact with body tissue, the working surfaces being dimensioned to securely hold tissue therebetween during tissue cutting and sealing, wherein both of the working surfaces are dimensioned wider than the heating element such that a zone of tissue adjacent to the heating element may be cut while a zone of tissue on either side of the cut tissue may be sealed, and wherein the zone where the tissue is cut and the zones where the tissue is sealed are disposed between the working surfaces.
- 23. A tissue cutting and sealing instrument which comprises two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein at least one working surface has a heating element comprising an electrically resistant wire positioned on top of the working surface, such that the to and sides of the heating element are positioned to contact tissue held between the working members.
- 43. A surgical instrument which comprises two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein at least one working surface has a heating element comprising an electrically resistant wire, and wherein the working surfaces are dimensioned such that when tissue is held therebetween, a zone of the tissue positioned adjacent to the wire may be cut while a zone of the tissue on either side of the cut tissue may be sealed, and wherein the working surfaces are dimensioned such that mechanical pressure may be exerted to the tissue both in the zone where tissue is cut and the zones where tissue is sealed.
- 62. A surgical instrument comprising two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, wherein at least one working surface has an electrically resistant heating element thereon, and a heating element actuator that is responsive to a pre-determined pressure to activate the heating element.
Specification