Method of fusing biomaterials with radiofrequency energy

• US 7,655,007 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Baily, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muro; Samantha
• Application Number:
  US11/640,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27, 606/28, 606/41, 606 32- 34, 606 51- 52, 606213-216, 606219-220, 128/898, 424/423, 600/36
• 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 biomaterials, comprising the steps of:

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

providing a non-collagen biomaterial;

everting an end of a segment of non-collagen biomaterial;

positioning the evened end of the non-collagen biomaterial in abutting relation to an everted end of at least one other tissue such that the respective intimae of the everted non-collagen biomaterial and the at least one other tissue oppose one another, the at least one other tissue selected from the group consisting of collagen biomaterial, non-collagen biomaterial and elastin biomaterials;

compressing the non-collagen biomaterial and the at least one other tissue between the support member and the anvil;

energizing the support member and the anvil with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the non-collagen biomaterial and the at least one other tissue such that the at least one other tissue and the non-collagen biomaterial reform into a single, fused mass; and

actuating the circular stapling instrument to fire the staples through the non-collagen biomaterial and the at least one other tissue and against the anvil.

2. A method of fusing biomaterials according to claim 1 wherein compressing the non-collagen biomaterial and the at least one other tissue between the support member and the anvil comprises compressing under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm².

3. A method of fusing biomaterials according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the support member and the anvil include at least one the stop member that regulates the distance between opposing jaw members within the range of about 0.004 inches to about 0.010 inches.