Electrosurgical hemostat

• US 7,083,620 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Podbelski, Adam A., Bilitz, Mark R., Roddy, Stephen J, Lutterman, Alison A., Rothstein, Paul T., Keogh, James R., Jahns, Scott E., Briscoe, Roderick E., Daigle, Tom P., Francischelli, David E., O'Neill, William G., Goodman, Jack, Kim, David J. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/621,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 606/51, 606/52, 606205-207
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter

Abstract

A hemostat-type device for ablative treatment of tissue, particularly for treatment of atrial fibrillation, is constructed with features that provide easy and effective treatment. A swiveling head assembly can allow the jaws to be adjusted in pitch and roll. Malleable jaws can permit curved lesion shapes. A locking detent can secure the jaws in a closed position during the procedure. An illuminated indicator provides confirmation that the device is operating. A fluid delivery system simplifies irrigated ablation procedures.

Claims

1. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

an elongated handle;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue;

means for adjusting roll and pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle, wherein roll is manually adjustable; and

means for retaining a selected roll position such that the jaws can be closed on tissue without changing the selected roll position, wherein the means for retaining the selected roll position includes at least one detent and wherein the means for retaining the selected roll position includes spring means biasing the detent.

2. The device according to claim 1 also comprising means for retaining a selected roll position such that the jaws can be opened from a closed position without changing the selected roll position.

3. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising,

an elongated handle;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue;

means for adjusting roll and pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle, wherein pitch is manually adjustable; and

means for retaining a selected pitch position such that the jaws can be closed on tissue without changing the selected pitch position, wherein the means for retaining the selected pitch position includes at least one detent and wherein the means for retaining the selected pitch position includes spring means biasing the detent.

4. The device according to claim 3 also comprising means for retaining a selected pitch position such that the jaws can be opened from a closed position without changing the selected pitch position.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein the range of adjustment of pitch is at least about 90 degrees.

6. The device according to claim 3 wherein the jaws may be closed on tissue in a pre-selected curved or straight configuration.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

9. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising,

an elongated handle, wherein the handle has a proximal longitudinal axis and a distal longitudinal axis, the distal longitudinal axis laterally offset from the proximal longitudinal axis, and wherein the handle has an “

S”

shape;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue; and

means for adjusting roll and pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a trigger mounted on the handle.

11. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a lock mounted on the handle that holds the jaws in a selected relative position.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the lock is engaged by means of at least one detent.

13. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a means for limiting the force applied to tissue by the jaws.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein the means for limiting force includes spring means coupling the trigger and at least one of the jaws.

15. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a trigger coupled to at least one of the jaws by means providing progressively greater control of jaw movement as the jaws close.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means providing progressively greater control of jaw movement includes a link arm.

17. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes means for closing a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, lower jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein a trigger is operatively coupled to the upper jaw and not the lower jaw.

19. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes a fluid channel.

20. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes an electrode.

21. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising,

an elongated handle;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue; and

means for closing the jaws on tissue, including a movable trigger; and

means for locking the trigger in a selected position, wherein the means for locking the trigger comprises a slide coupled to a trigger lock, wherein the trigger lock comprises at least one detent, wherein the detent comprises a ramped tooth engagable with a series of ramped teeth on the trigger, and wherein the ramped tooth is rotatable into and out of engagement by movement of the slide.

22. The device according to claim 21 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes at least one tensioning cable.

23. The device according to claim 22 wherein the cable resides within a lubricious tube.

24. The device according to claim 21 wherein the means for closing the jaws on tissue includes at least one spring means biasing the jaws into an open position.

25. The device according to claim 21 wherein the trigger pivots upwardly into the handle.

26. The device according to claim 21 wherein the jaws may be closed on tissue in a pre-selected curved or straight configuration.

27. The device according to claim 21 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

28. The device according to claim 27 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

29. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising,

an elongated handle, wherein the handle has a proximal longitudinal axis and a distal longitudinal axis, the distal longitudinal axis laterally offset from the proximal longitudinal axis, and wherein the handle has an “

S”

shape;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue, including a movable trigger; and

means for locking the trigger in a selected position.

30. The device according to claim 29 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a means coupled to the trigger for limiting the force applied to tissue by the jaws.

31. The device according to claim 30 wherein the means for limiting force includes a spring.

32. The device according to claim 29 wherein the trigger is coupled to at least one of the jaws by means providing progressively greater control of jaw movement as the jaws close.

33. The device according to claim 32 wherein the means providing progressively greater control of jaw movement includes a link arm.

34. The device according to claim 29 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes means for closing a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, lower jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

35. The device according to claim 34 wherein a trigger is operatively coupled by means of a cable to the upper jaw and the lower jaw.

36. The device according to claim 29 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes a fluid channel.

37. The device according to claim 29 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes an electrode.

38. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

an elongated handle;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue;

means for manually adjusting roll of the pair of jaws relative to the handle; and

means for retaining a selected roll position such that the jaws can be closed on tissue without changing the selected roll position, wherein the means for retaining the selected roll position includes at least one detent and spring means biasing the detent.

39. The device according to claim 38 wherein the jaws may be closed on tissue in a pre-selected curved or straight configuration.

40. The device according to claim 38 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

41. The device according to claim 40 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

42. The device according to claim 38 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes an electrode.

43. The device according to claim 38 further comprising means for manually adjusting pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle.

44. The device according to claim 38 wherein the handle is an elongated “

S”

shaped handle having a proximal longitudinal axis and a distal longitudinal axis, the distal longitudinal axis laterally offset from the proximal longitudinal axis.

45. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising,

an elongated handle;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue;

means for manually adjusting pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle; and

means for retaining a selected pitch position such that the jaws can be closed on tissue without changing the selected pitch position, wherein the means for retaining the selected pitch position includes at least one detent and spring means biasing the detent.

46. The device according to claim 45 wherein the jaws may be closed on tissue in a pre-selected curved or straight configuration.

47. The device according to claim 45 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

48. The device according to claim 47 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

49. The device according to claim 45 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes an electrode.

50. The device according to claim 45 further comprising means for manually adjusting roll of the pair of jaws relative to the handle.

51. The device according to claim 45 wherein the handle is an elongated “

S”

shaped handle having a proximal longitudinal axis and a distal longitudinal axis, the distal longitudinal axis laterally offset from the proximal longitudinal axis.

52. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising,

an elongated “

S”

shaped handle having a proximal longitudinal axis and a distal longitudinal axis, the distal longitudinal axis laterally offset from the proximal longitudinal axis;

a pair of jaws on a distal portion of the handle, wherein the roll or pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle may be manually adjusted and the pair of jaws may be closed on tissue; and

at least one ablative element on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue.

53. The device according to claim 52 wherein roll is manually adjustable.

54. The device according to claim 52 wherein pitch is manually adjustable.

55. The device according to claim 52 wherein the jaws may be closed on tissue in a pre-selected curved or straight configuration.

56. The device according to claim 52 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

57. The device according to claim 56 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

58. The device according to claim 52 wherein the ablative element includes an electrode.