Electro-surgical bipolar forceps

• US 6,860,882 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integra Lifesciences Corporation (Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gutelius, Patrick, Mulligan, Sharon A., Battles, Christopher Austin, Ferriera, Daniel Paul, Stevens, Richard Barry, Coelho, Donald A. Jr., DiCesare, Paul, Buonanno, John
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/457,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606 48- 52, 606205-207
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1462 Tweezers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure

Abstract

In accordance with a currently preferred exemplary embodiment, the present invention involves an electro-surgical bipolar forceps having a first member, a second member, and a tip assembly. The first member has a first insert tube extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof. The second member has a second insert tube extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof. At least one of the first and second insert tube has an inner surface, a portion of which is covered with an electrically insulating material. The first tip assembly has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the first tip assembly is selectively engageable with one of the first and second insert tubes. The first tip assembly includes an electrically conductive tip disposed at the distal end of the first tip assembly.

Claims

1. An electro-surgical bipolar forceps comprising:

a first member having a first insert tube extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof, the first insert tube having a distal end, a radial thickness of the distal end of the first insert tube being reduced to a predetermined dimension; and

a first tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first tip assembly being selectively engageable with the first insert tube, the first tip assembly including a first oversheath sleeve disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, a first spacer sleeve disposed about the first oversheath sleeve, a first distal seal disposed about the first oversheath sleeve and adjacent to a proximal end of the first spacer sleeve, the first distal seal comprising of an inner seal and an outer seal, the outer seal having a longitudinal length that is greater than a length of the inner seal, the outer seal having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve by approximately the same predetermined dimension as the radial thickness of the distal end of the first insert tube;

wherein in the selectively engaged position, the inner seal portion of the first distal seal is disposed in contact with and is compressed between the first spacer sleeve and the first insert tube, thereby applying a separating force between the first spacer sleeve and the first insert tube, and the portion of the outer seal that is spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve is disposed about the distal end of the first insert tube.

2. The electro-surgical bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first insert tube has an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface of the first insert tube is covered with an electrically insulating material.

3. The electro-surgical bipolar forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a heat shrinkable tube disposed about the outer seal portion of the first distal seal such that when the first tip assembly is subject to heat exceeding a predetermined temperature, the heat shrinkable tube compresses the portion of the outer seal that is originally spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve into contact with the first oversheath sleeve.

4. An electro-surgical bipolar forceps comprising:

a first member having a first insert tube extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof, the first insert tube having a distal end, a radial thickness of the distal end of the first insert tube being reduced to a predetermined dimension;

a second member having a second insert tube extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof, the second insert tube having a distal end, a radial thickness of the distal end of the second insert tube being reduced to the predetermined dimension;

a first tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first tip assembly being selectively engageable with the first insert tube, the first tip assembly including a first oversheath sleeve disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, a first spacer sleeve disposed about the first oversheath sleeve, a first distal seal disposed about the first oversheath sleeve and adjacent to a proximal end of the first spacer sleeve, the first distal seal comprising of an inner seal and an outer seal, the outer seal having a longitudinal length that is greater than a length of the inner seal, the outer seal having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the oversheath sleeve by approximately the same predetermined dimension as the radial thickness of the distal end of the first insert tube;

a second tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second tip assembly being selectively engageable with the second insert tube, the second tip assembly including a second oversheath sleeve disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, a second spacer sleeve disposed about the second oversheath sleeve, a second distal seal disposed about the second oversheath sleeve and adjacent to a proximal end of the second spacer sleeve, the second distal seal comprising of an inner seal and an outer seal, the outer seal having a longitudinal length that is greater than a length of the inner seal, the outer seal having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the second oversheath sleeve by approximately the same predetermined dimension as the radial thickness of the distal end of the second insert tube;

wherein in the selectively engaged position, the inner seal portion of the first distal seal is disposed in contact with and is compressed between the first spacer sleeve and the first insert tube, thereby applying a separating force between the first spacer sleeve and the first insert tube, and the portion of the outer seal that is spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve is disposed about the distal end of the first insert tube, and the inner seal portion of the second distal seal is disposed in contact with and is compressed between the second spacer sleeve and the second insert tube, thereby applying a separating force between the second spacer sleeve and the second insert tube, and the portion of the outer seal that is spaced radially outwardly from the second oversheath sleeve is disposed about the distal end of the second insert tube.

5. The electro-surgical bipolar forceps according to claim 4, wherein the first insert tube and the second insert tube each has an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface of the first insert tube and the second insert tube is covered with an electrically insulating material.

6. The electro-surgical bipolar forceps according to claim 4, further comprising

a first heat shrinkable tube disposed about the outer seal portion of the first distal seal such that when the first tip assembly is subject to heat exceeding a predetermined temperature, the first heat shrinkable tube compresses the portion of the outer seal that is originally spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve into contact with the first oversheath sleeve, and

a second heat shrinkable tube disposed about the outer seal portion of the second distal seal such that when the second tip assembly is subject to heat exceeding a predetermined temperature, the second heat shrinkable tube compresses the portion of the outer seal that is originally spaced radially outwardly from the second oversheath sleeve into contact with the second oversheath sleeve.

7. An electro-surgical bipolar forceps comprising:

a first member having a first insert tube extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof, the first insert tube having a distal end, a radial thickness of the distal end of the first insert tube being reduced to a predetermined dimension; and

a first tip assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first tip assembly being selectively engageable with the first insert tube, the first tip assembly including a first oversheath sleeve disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, a first tip disposed about the first oversheath sleeve, a first distal seal disposed about the first oversheath sleeve and adjacent to a proximal end of the first spacer sleeve, the first distal seal comprising of an inner seal and an outer seal, the outer seal having a longitudinal length that is greater than a length of the inner seal, the outer seal having a portion spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve by approximately the same predetermined dimension as the radial thickness of the distal end of the first insert tube;

wherein in the selectively engaged position, the inner seal portion of the first distal seal is disposed in contact with and is compressed between the first tip and the first insert tube, thereby applying a separating force between the first tip and the first insert tube, and the portion of the outer seal that is spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve is disposed about the distal end of the first insert tube.

8. The electro-surgical bipolar forceps according to claim 7, wherein the first insert tube has an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface of the first insert tube is covered with an electrically insulating material.

9. The electro-surgical bipolar forceps according to claim 7, further comprising a heat shrinkable tube disposed about the outer seal portion of the first distal seal such that when the first tip assembly is subject to heat exceeding a predetermined temperature, the heat shrinkable tube compresses the portion of the outer seal that is originally spaced radially outwardly from the first oversheath sleeve into contact with the first oversheath sleeve.