Flexible endoscopic catheter with ligasure

• US 7,819,872 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Arts, Gene H., Johnson, Kristin D., Sartor, Joe D., Frazier, Randel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/540,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 52, 606205-207
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• 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 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• 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 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop

Abstract

An endoscopic forceps is disclosed including an end effector assembly having two jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members is connectable to an electrosurgical energy source for conducting energy through tissue held therebetween. The jaw members are biased to the first position. The end effector assembly of the endoscopic forceps further includes a wire snare having a proximal end connectable to an electrosurgical energy source and a distal end translatably extending out of one of the jaw members and operatively associated with the other of the jaw members. In use, withdrawal of the proximal end of the wire snare results in movement of the jaw members from the first position to a second position and clamping of the tissue between the jaws.

Claims

1. An endoscopic forceps for vessel sealing, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft extending from the housing and including a distal end configured and adapted to support an end effector assembly;

an end effector assembly operatively supported on the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including;

a pair of jaw members each pivotally connected about a pivot pin, the pair of jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that the pair of jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to affect a tissue seal;

an outer sleeve translatably disposed about the shaft, wherein the sleeve has a first position in which the sleeve does not cover the pair of jaw members about the pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin is disposed beyond a distal end of the outer sleeve to thereby permit selective movement of both jaw members to a substantially orthogonal orientation relative to the shaft, and at least one second position in which the sleeve covers at least a portion of the pair of jaw members about the pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin is disposed within the outer sleeve to thereby align the jaw members within the shaft; and

a linkage operatively connected to at least one of the pair of jaw members, the linkage being actuatable to initially move the jaw members to a substantially orthogonal position relative to the shaft and subsequently movable to pivot each jaw member relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween; and

a movable handle operatively associated with the housing, wherein actuation of the movable handle relative to the housing results in movement of the jaw members to advance the jaw members relative to the outer sleeve and to pivot the jaw members about the pivot pin when disposed at a position beyond the distal end of the outer sleeve.

2. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the pair of jaw members are biased to the first position.

3. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 2, wherein the pair of jaw members operate unilaterally.

4. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 2, wherein the pair of jaw members operate bilaterally.

5. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 4, wherein the end effector assembly includes at least one stop member disposed on an inner facing surface of at least one of the pair of jaw members.

6. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 5, wherein the end effector assembly delivers a working pressure of from about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm².

7. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 5, wherein the end effector assembly delivers a working pressure of from about 7 kg/cm² to about 13 kg/cm².

8. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 4, wherein the pair of jaw members are pivotable to a substantially orthogonal orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

9. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the shaft and outer sleeve are at least partially flexible.