Vessel sealing wave jaw

• US 6,887,240 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Lukianow, Stephen Wade, Lands, Michael J., Buysse, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/419,592
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 606/207, 606/151, 606/48, 606/50, 606/56, 606/205, 606/206, 606/208, 606/209, 606/51, 606/52, 606/45, 606/49, 606/210, 606/211, 128/751, 814/245, 814/18, 814/26, 81/426.5
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• 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 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A forceps for clamping, grasping, manipulating, coagulating/desiccating and cutting tissue includes a shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal end and first and second jaw members pivotally attached to the distal end of the shaft by a pivot assembly. Each of the jaw members including an opposing inner facing surface having a plurality of wave forms disposed thereon for engaging tissue therebetween. The wave forms disposed on the inner facing surface of the second jaw member being complimentary to the wave forms on the inner facing surface of first jaw member. A handle portion having an actuating assembly is attached to the proximal end of the shaft for imparting movement of the first and second jaw members from a first open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. One embodiment of the forceps includes a pair of electrodes clamped on the inner facing surface of each jaw member for imparting electrosurgical energy to the tissue grasped therebetween.

Claims

1. In an electrosurgical forceps having first and second jaw members operatively attached adjacent a distal end thereof and a handle assembly adjacent a proximal end thereof, the jaw members being movable between an open position and a closed position, the improvement comprising opposing inner facing surfaces each having a plurality of separate and different wave forms disposed thereon, the first of said plurality of different wave forms including large undulating wave forms with substantially large radiuses of curvature and substantially smooth complementary surfaces and the second of said plurality of different wave forms including small teeth-like wave forms with filleted peaks disposed thereon configured to reduce areas of high current concentration during electrical activation.

2. A forceps according to claim 1 wherein a clamping portion of each of the jaw members is wider than a manipulating portion of each of the jaw members.

3. A forceps according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wave forms of each of the first and the second jaw members are longitudinally disposed on the inner facing surface of each jaw member.

4. A bipolar electrosurgical forceps, comprising:

a shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end;

first and second jaw members pivotally attached to the distal end of the shaft by a pivot assembly, each of the jaw members comprising an opposing inner facing surface having a plurality of separate and different wave forms disposed thereon, the opposing inner facing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween;

the plurality of wave forms disposed on the inner facing surface of the second jaw member being complimentary to the plurality of wave forms disposed on the inner facing surface of the first jaw member;

the inner facing surface of at least one of the jaw members having at least one fenestrated portion disposed therethrough; and

a handle portion attached to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle portion having an activator assembly disposed therein for imparting movement of the first and second jaw members from a first open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween,

wherein the first of said plurality of different wave forms including large undulating wave forms with substantially large radiuses of curvature and substantially smooth complementary surfaces and the second of said plurality of different wave forms including small teeth-like wave forms with filleted peaks disposed thereon configured to reduce areas of high current concentration during electrical activation.

5. A forceps according to claim 4 wherein the inner facing surfaces of both of the jaw members have at least one fenestrated portion disposed therethrough.

6. A forceps according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the fenestrated portions of the inner facing surface of the first jaw member is vertically aligned with at least one of the fenestrated portions of the inner facing surface of the second jaw member.

7. A forceps according to claim 4 wherein at least one portion of the inner facing surface of each of the jaw members is coated with a non-stick coating.

8. A forceps according to claim 4 wherein at least one portion of each of the inner facing surfaces of each of the jaw members is nonconductive.

9. A forceps according to claim 4 wherein at least one portion of each of the inner facing surfaces of each of the jaw members is semi-conductive.