Vessel sealer and divider for use with small trocars and cannulas

• US 7,597,693 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Garrison, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/461,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 606/46, 606 50- 52, 606205-207
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• 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 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto. The shaft includes first and second jaw members attached to the distal end thereof which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue. At least one of the jaw members includes a knife channel disposed substantially along the length thereof. The knife channel has a depth, a width and an aspect ratio which is defined as the depth of the knife channel divided by the width of the knife channel. Preferably the aspect ratio of the knife channel is at least 1.3. The forceps is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy and also includes an actuator for moving the jaw members relative to one another. A knife assembly is included which allows a user to selectively move a knife to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

Claims

1. A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:

a housing having a shaft affixed thereto, the shaft including first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;

an actuator operable to move the jaw members 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, the actuator being operable to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 7 kg/cm² to about 11 kg/cm² between the jaw members;

at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined substantially along the length thereof, the knife channel including a depth, a width and an aspect ratio wherein the aspect ratio is defined as the depth of the knife channel divided by the width of the knife channel, the aspect ratio being about 1.9 such that the knife channel controls the influx of tissue therein to partially fill the knife channel under the closure pressure of about 7 kg/cm² to about 11 kg/cm² to facilitate cutting tissue; and

a knife assembly that is selectively moveable within the knife channel to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members, the knife assembly including;

a knife blade having a leading edge; and

a knife bar configured to extend from the leading edge of the knife blade and configured to ride in the knife channel, the knife bar ensuring that tissue is lifted from the knife channel in advance of the leading edge of the knife blade.

2. A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes at least one non-conductive stop member disposed thereon which controls the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween.

3. A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is selectively lockable to maintain the closure pressure in the range of about 7 kg/cm² to about 11 kg/cm² between the jaw members.

4. A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member and the second jaw member is substantially fixed.

5. A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating assembly for rotating the jaw members about a longitudinal axis defined through the shaft.

6. The bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the knife bar is configured to extend from the leading edge of the knife blade by a distance of about 0.010 inches to about 0.100 inches (about 0.254 millimeters to about 2.54 millimeters).

7. A bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:

a housing having a shaft affixed thereto, the shaft including first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;

an actuator operable to move the jaw members 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, the actuator being operable to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 7 kg/cm² to about 11 kg/cm² between the jaw members,

the first jaw member including a knife channel defined substantially along the length thereof, the knife channel including a depth, a width and an aspect ratio wherein the aspect ratio is defined as the depth of the knife channel divided by the width of the knife channel, the aspect ratio being about 1.9 such that the knife channel controls the influx of tissue therein to partially fill the knife channel under the closure pressure of about 7 kg/cm² to about 11 kg/cm² to facilitate cutting tissue,

the second jaw member including a knife channel defined substantially along the length thereof; and

a knife assembly that is selectively moveable within the knife channel of the second jaw member to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members,

the knife assembly including;

a knife blade having a leading edge; and

a knife bar configured to extend from the leading edge of the knife blade and configured to ride in the knife channel, the knife bar ensuring that tissue is lifted from the knife channel in advance of the leading edge of the knife blade.

8. The bipolar forceps according to claim 7, wherein the knife bar is configured to extend from the leading edge of the knife blade by a distance of about 0.010 inches to about 0.100 inches (about 0.254 millimeters to about 2.54 millimeters).