Electrothermal device for coagulating, sealing and cutting tissue during surgery

• US 6,908,463 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Hermann, George D., Mollenauer, Kenneth H., Treat, Michael R., Howell, Thomas A., Kucklick, Theodore R., Monfort, Michelle Y., Co, Fred H.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/839,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 31, 606/51, 606/52
• US Class Current: 606/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• 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 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open 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 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 : using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1266 : with DC current output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 : with a battery

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.

Claims

1. A body tissue cutting device comprising:

a handle section and a first and second grasping arms extending from the handle section, said first and second grasping arms being resiliently mounted to the handle section to allow closure of the grasping arms by hand, said first and second grasping arms each having a proximal end and a distal end with a grasping face disposed on the grasping end of each grasping arm, said grasping face on each grasping arm aligned to meet the grasping face of the other grasping arm upon closure of the grasping arms; and

a wire disposed upon the grasping face of the first grasping arm so that it lies between the grasping face of the first grasping arm and the grasping face of the second grasping arm upon closure of the grasping arms, said wire being operably connected to a source of electrical power, said wire being secured to the distal end of the first grasping arm and extending proximally over the grasping face of the first grasping arm toward the proximal end of the first grasping arm,

wherein the grasping face of the first grasping arm has a resilient surface between the wire and the grasping face of the arm.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve covering the distal end of the first grasping arm, thereby forming a surface on the grasping face of the first grasping arm, said sleeve being separated from the distal end of the first grasping arm by a small fluid-filled gap.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a resilient sleeve covering the distal end of the second grasping arm, thereby forming a resilient surface on the grasping face of the second grasping arm.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a resilient surface on the grasping face of each of the first and second grasping arms.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve covering the distal end of the first grasping arm, thereby forming a surface on the grasping face of the first grasping arm, between the wire and the grasping face of the arm, said sleeve being distanced from the distal end by a small fluid-filled gap, and

a resilient sleeve covering the distal end of the second grasping arm, thereby forming a resilient surface on the grasping face of the second grasping arm.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the grasping arms comprise a pair of tweezers.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the grasping arms comprise a forceps.

8. A medical device comprising:

a pair of tweezers characterized by a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said grasping arms having a proximal end and a distal end, said first grasping arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second grasping arm having a second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the tweezers;

a first layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the first grasping arm;

a second layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the second grasping arm; and

a wire disposed between the first and second layers of resilient material so as to be trapped between the gripping faces of the first and second grasping arms upon closing of the tweezers.

9. A medical device comprising:

a pair of forceps characterized by a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said grasping arms having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said grasping arms being rotatably fixed to the other at a midpoint thereof, said first grasping arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second grasping arm having a second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the forceps;

a first layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the first grasping arm;

a second layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the second grasping arm;

a wire disposed between the first and second layers of resilient material so as to be trapped between the gripping faces of the first and second grasping arms upon closing of the forceps.

10. A medical device comprising:

a laparoscopic grasper characterized by a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said grasping arms having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said grasping arms being rotatable relative to the other about a point near the distal end thereof, said grasping arms being adapted to be inserted into the body and to be rotatably opened and closed upon each other within the body, said first grasping arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second grasping arm having a second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, and said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the graspers;

a first layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the first grasping arm;

a second layer of resilient material disposed on the gripping face of the second grasping arm; and

a wire disposed between the first and second layers of resilient material so as to be trapped between the gripping faces of the first and second grasping arms upon closing of the graspers.