Method of fusing biomaterials with radiofrequency energy

• US 7,160,299 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Baily, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vrettakos; Pete
• Application Number:
  US10/833,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 606205-221, 606/51, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• 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 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• 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 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy includes the steps of: providing a vessel sealing instrument having opposing jaw members which are movable relative to one another to compress tissue therebetween. The vessel sealing instrument includes at least one stop member affixed thereto for regulating the distance between the opposing jaw members. The method also includes the steps of: providing a biomaterial; positioning the biomaterial in abutting relation to tissue; approximating the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members; compressing the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm²; and energizing the jaw members with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the tissue such that the biomaterial and the tissue reform into a single, fused mass.

Claims

1. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy, comprising the steps of:

providing a vessel sealing instrument having opposing jaw members which are movable relative to one another to compress tissue therebetween, the vessel sealing instrument having at least one stop member affixed thereto for regulating the distance between opposing jaw members;

providing a biomaterial by extracting collagen from the biomaterial and confirming the absence of collagen from the biomaterial;

positioning the biomaterial in abutting relation to tissue;

grasping the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members;

compressing the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm²; and

energizing the jaw members with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the tissue such that the biomaterial and the tissue reform into a single, fused mass.

2. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy according to claim 1 wherein the biomaterial of the providing step is elastin.

3. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy according to claim 1 wherein the stop member of the providing step regulates the distance between opposing jaw members within the range of about 0.004 inches to about 0.010 inches.

4. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy according to claim 1 wherein the biomaterial is fused between two tissue segments.

5. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy according to claim 1 wherein the biomaterial is tubular in shape.

6. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy, comprising the steps of:

providing a circular stapling instrument having a stapler support member which supports an array of staples and an opposing anvil, the support member being movable relative to the anvil to compress tissue therebetween, each of the stapler support member and the anvil having electrically conductive sealing surfaces;

providing a biomaterial by extracting collagen from the biomaterial and confirming the absence of collagen from the biomaterial;

everting an end of a segment of biomaterial;

positioning the everted end of the biomaterial in abutting relation to an everted tissue end such that the respective intimae of the everted biomaterial and the tissue oppose one another;

compressing the biomaterial and tissue between the stapler support member and the anvil under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm²;

energizing the support member and the anvil with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the tissue such that the tissue and the biomaterial reform into a single, fused mass; and

actuating the circular stapling instrument to fire the staples through the biomaterial and tissue and against the anvil.

7. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy according to claim 6 wherein the biomaterial of the providing step is elastin.

8. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy according to claim 6 wherein the stop member of the providing step regulates the distance between opposing jaw members within the range of about 0.004 inches to about 0.010 inches.

9. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy, comprising the steps of:

providing a circular stapling instrument having a stapler support member which supports an array of staples and an opposing anvil, the support member being movable relative to the anvil to compress tissue therebetween, each of the stapler support member and the anvil having electrically conductive sealing surfaces;

providing a biomaterial by extracting collagen from the biomaterial and confirming the absence of collagen from the biomaterial;

everting the ends of two tissue segments to expose tissue intimae;

positioning at least one segment of biomaterial between the everted ends of the two tissue segments;

compressing the two tissue segments and the biomaterial between the stapler support member and the anvil under a working pressure;

energizing the support member and the anvil with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the two tissue segments such that the two tissue segments and the biomaterial reform into a single, fused mass; and

actuating the circular stapling instrument to deform the staple through the biomaterial and tissue and against the anvil.