Electrosurgical instrument and method of use
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical working end jaw structure for performing high strength welding of tissue, the working end comprising:
- a body having a tissue contacting surface, the body including pixel portions and non-pixel portions distributed within the tissue contacting surface, the pixel portions comprising a first positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) material and the non-pixel portions comprise a second material having a second positive temperature coefficient of resistance and at least one pixel portion configured to switch Rf current on and off through the at least one pixel portion in response to tissue temperature adjacent the at least one pixel portion, the pixel portions configured to be coupled to an Rf current source and being adapted to deform a different amount in response to tissue applied force than the non-pixel portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A particular embodiment of the invention provides an electrosurgical working end for performing high strength welding of tissue comprising a body having a tissue contacting energy delivery surface. The body includes pixel portions and non-pixel portions distributed within the tissue contacting surface. The pixel portions comprise a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) material with at least one pixel portion configured to switch Rf current on and off in the at least one pixel portion responsive to tissue temperature adjacent the at least one pixel portion. The pixel portions can be configured to be coupled to an Rf current source such as an Rf generator. The pixelated energy delivery surfaces are capable of highly localized modulation of Rf energy application to the engaged tissue to create high strength tissue welds.
590 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical working end jaw structure for performing high strength welding of tissue, the working end comprising:
a body having a tissue contacting surface, the body including pixel portions and non-pixel portions distributed within the tissue contacting surface, the pixel portions comprising a first positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) material and the non-pixel portions comprise a second material having a second positive temperature coefficient of resistance and at least one pixel portion configured to switch Rf current on and off through the at least one pixel portion in response to tissue temperature adjacent the at least one pixel portion, the pixel portions configured to be coupled to an Rf current source and being adapted to deform a different amount in response to tissue applied force than the non-pixel portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A working end of a surgical instrument for performing high strength welding of tissue, the working end comprising:
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paired first and second jaw members moveable between an open position and a closed position; and at least one jaw member including a tissue-contacting body having spaced apart regions of a first polymeric material exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) for responding to adjacent tissue temperature to thereby switch Rf current on and off at each region; and wherein the spaced apart regions of the first polymeric material are distributed within a second polymeric material, and wherein the spaced apart region of the first polymeric material are adapted to deform a different amount in response to tissue applied force than the second polymeric material to produce recesses in the second polymeric material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for welding tissue using Rf energy the method comprising:
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engaging tissue with an energy delivery surface having current switchable regions dispersed within non-switchable regions, the switchable regions comprising a positive temperature coefficient of resistance material; delivering Rf energy to the tissue so as to ohmically heat tissue, switching RF current flow to tissue through at least one switchable region responsive to the temperature of ohmically heated tissue adjacent the at least one switchable region; and producing a substantially uniform thermal effect in tissue, wherein the non-switching regions deform a different amount in response to tissue applied force than the switching regions; and creating recesses in at least a portion of the non-switching regions by engaging the energy delivery surface with tissue; capturing migrated tissue fluid in at least a portion of the recesses; and hydrating engaged tissue during the delivery of Rf energy, utilizing the captured fluid. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification