Compressible jaw configuration with bipolar RF output electrodes for soft tissue fusion
First Claim
1. A tissue or vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
- a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and
an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto made from a substantially rigid material, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween;
each of the jaw members including an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof, the elastomeric material of the first jaw member completely surrounding a first electrode associated therewith, each of the electrodes including a planar tissue-contacting surface disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the first electrode and the second electrode being offset a distance X relative to one another, wherein the distance X is variable, wherein the distance X is transverse to the longitudinal axis, such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to tissue contacting surfaces and generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the elastomeric material being adapted to compress or deflect about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi; and
wherein the substantially rigid material of the jaw members resists deformation when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical instruments for use in sealing various tissues. The instrument includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members attached thereto. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members have an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof with the elastomeric materials including an electrode disposed therein. The electrodes are offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces.
922 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tissue or vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
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a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto made from a substantially rigid material, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween; each of the jaw members including an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof, the elastomeric material of the first jaw member completely surrounding a first electrode associated therewith, each of the electrodes including a planar tissue-contacting surface disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the first electrode and the second electrode being offset a distance X relative to one another, wherein the distance X is variable, wherein the distance X is transverse to the longitudinal axis, such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to tissue contacting surfaces and generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the elastomeric material being adapted to compress or deflect about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi; and wherein the substantially rigid material of the jaw members resists deformation when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A tissue or vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
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a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto made from a substantially rigid material, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween; each of the jaw members including an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof, the electrodes being offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, wherein the distance X is variable, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces and transversely perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of at least one of the following materials;
silicone, polyurethane, santoprene, nylon, syndiotactic polystyrene, Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyphthalamide (PPA), Polymide, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyamide-imide (PAI), Acrylic (PMMA), Polystyrene (PS and HIPS), Polyether Sulfone (PES), Aliphatic Polyketone, Acetal (POM) Copolymer, Polyurethane (PU and TPU), Nylon with Polyphenylene-oxide dispersion and Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate, the elastomeric material being adapted to compress or deflect about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi; andwherein the substantially rigid material of the jaw members resists deformation when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi.
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18. A tissue or vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
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a housing having a shaft attached thereto; and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto made from a substantially rigid material, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween; each of the jaw members including an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof, the elastomeric material being adapted to compress or deflect about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi, each of the elastomeric materials including a pocket disposed therein, and each pocket including an electrode disposed therein, the electrodes being offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces, wherein the offset distance X is in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.200 inches, wherein the distance X is variable, wherein the offset distance X is configured to result in a substantially uniform temperature distribution between the electrodes after activation of the electrodes; and wherein the substantially rigid material of the jaw members resists deformation when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi.
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19. A tissue or vessel sealing instrument, comprising:
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a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto made from a substantially rigid material, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween; each of the jaw members including an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof, the electrodes being substantially longitudinally aligned and being offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces, the distance X being variable depending on the thickness of the tissue between the jaw members, the elastomeric material being adapted to compress or deflect about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi; and wherein the substantially rigid material of the jaw members resists deformation when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi.
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Specification