Vessel sealer and divider
First Claim
1. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface having a non-stick coating disposed thereon to reduce tissue adherence;
each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces;
a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
a bifurcated knife bar attached to the knife at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue, wherein the bifurcated knife bar is closed at the distal end and open at the proximal end thereof; and
at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue which includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first spaced position to a second closed position to grasp tissue. Each jaw member is adapted to couple to a generator for conducting energy to effect a seal. The forceps also includes a handle assembly and a longitudinally reciprocating knife assembly which is translatable to sever tissue. The knife assembly includes a bifurcated knife bar having two forks which ride about the pivot during translation of the knife. One or more non-conductive stop members are operatively associated with the jaw members to regulate the distance between the jaw members when closed.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
-
an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface having a non-stick coating disposed thereon to reduce tissue adherence; each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal; a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces; a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal; a bifurcated knife bar attached to the knife at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue, wherein the bifurcated knife bar is closed at the distal end and open at the proximal end thereof; and at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
-
an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable about a pivot relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface made from a material designed to reduce tissue adherence; a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal; a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal; a bifurcated knife bar attached to the knife at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue; and a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
-
an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable about a pivot relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface made from a material designed to reduce tissue adherence; each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal; a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal; a bifurcated knife bar attached to the knife at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue; and at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.
-
Specification