End effector coatings for electrosurgical instruments
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of clamping on tissue and receiving RF bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising:
- a) a first pole electrode having a first tissue contact surface;
b) a second pole electrode having a second tissue contact surface with at least one pocket recessed therein; and
c) a dielectric coating placed on said second pole electrode across said second tissue contact surface and into said at least one pocket, said dielectric coating having at least one open channel recessed deep into said at least one open pocket and extending through said dielectric coating to provide passage of radio frequency energy between said first and second pole electrodes, wherein when the end effector is clamped without tissue therein, said first and said second pole electrodes are configured to prevent shorting contact therebetween, wherein when the end effector is clamped with at least one electrically conducting object therein, said first and second pole electrodes and said dielectric coating are configured to prevent said at least one electrically conducting object from directly shorting said first and second pole electrodes together.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical stapling instrument includes an end effector capable of applying bipolar RF energy into tissue. The end effector has a first pole electrode and a second pole electrode for forming an RF contact circuit with tissue. At least one of the electrodes may have a dielectric coating thereon to create a RF circuit with tissue. The dielectric coating can cover one of the electrodes to create a capacitive coupling circuit with tissue, or can have at least one open passageway extending through the dielectric coating to enable tissue contact with the electrode and the passage of RF energy therethrough. The dielectric coating on the electrode can be masked to create passageways through the dielectric, or the dielectric coating can be locally removed with a variety of techniques to form passageways. The dielectric coating may provide a barrier to prevent shorting between the dielectrically coated electrode and a conductive fastener embedded within tissue. Alternately, a cartridge coating can be used to reduce an electric surface sheet charge on the cartridge thermoplastic that can occur during the application of RF energy to tissue.
1589 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of clamping on tissue and receiving RF bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising:
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a) a first pole electrode having a first tissue contact surface; b) a second pole electrode having a second tissue contact surface with at least one pocket recessed therein; and c) a dielectric coating placed on said second pole electrode across said second tissue contact surface and into said at least one pocket, said dielectric coating having at least one open channel recessed deep into said at least one open pocket and extending through said dielectric coating to provide passage of radio frequency energy between said first and second pole electrodes, wherein when the end effector is clamped without tissue therein, said first and said second pole electrodes are configured to prevent shorting contact therebetween, wherein when the end effector is clamped with at least one electrically conducting object therein, said first and second pole electrodes and said dielectric coating are configured to prevent said at least one electrically conducting object from directly shorting said first and second pole electrodes together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector for clamping and coagulating tissue with bipolar energy, said end effector comprising:
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a) a first clamping member; b) a second clamping member, wherein the second clamping member is movable toward the first clamping member to clamp tissue between the first clamping member and the second clamping member, wherein the second clamping member comprises; i) a first pole electrode having a first contact surface configured to provide a contact for tissue, and ii) a second pole electrode having a second contact surface configured to provide a contact for tissue, said second pole electrode having at least one pocket recessed therein; and c) a dielectric coating entirely covering the second pole electrode of the second clamping member, said dielectric coating having at least one open channel recessed into said at least one pocket and extending through said dielectric coating to provide passage of radio frequency energy between said first and second pole electrodes, said dielectric coating placing a non-conducting barrier between said first pole electrode of the second clamping member and said second pole electrode of the second clamping member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of applying bipolar energy and placing at least one staple into tissue compressed therein, said end effector comprising;
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a) a first pole electrode having a first tissue contact surface; b) a second pole electrode, wherein the second pole electrode has a second tissue contact surface defining a recess, wherein the recess is positioned opposite one of the at least one staple positioned for ejection from within the end effector, wherein the recess is configured to secure the one of at least one staple into tissue as the staple is ejected; and c) a dielectric coating on the second pole electrode, wherein the dielectric coating extends across at least a portion of the second tissue contact surface, wherein the dielectric coating further defines an opening at the recess providing a passageway through the recess for radio frequency energy to be communicated between the first pole electrode and the second pole electrode, wherein the end effector is configured to clamp tissue such that the first and second pole electrodes and the dielectric coating are configured to prevent the tissue from directly shorting the first and second pole electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of applying bipolar energy and placing at least one fastener into tissue compressed therein, said end effector comprising;
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a) a first pole electrode having a first tissue contact surface; b) a second pole electrode, wherein the second pole electrode has a second tissue contact surface defining a staple forming pocket; and c) a dielectric coating on the second pole electrode, wherein the dielectric coating extends across at least a portion of the second tissue contact surface, wherein the dielectric coating further defines an opening at the staple forming pocket providing a passageway through the staple forming pocket for radio frequency energy to be communicated between the first pole electrode and the second pole electrode. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification