Electrosurgical hemostat

• US 7,963,963 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ross, Brian, Christian, Steve, Lutterman, Alison, Kim, David Jin Sung, Skarda, James, Roddy, Stephen J., Francischelli, David E., Podbeliski, Adam A., Rothstein, Paul T., Keogh, James R., Jahns, Scott E., Briscoe, Roderick E., Daigle, Tom P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/040,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/46, 606/51, 606/52, 606205-208
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter

Abstract

A hemostat-type device for ablative treatment of tissue, particularly for treatment of atrial fibrillation, is constructed with features that provide easy and effective treatment. The device may include a swiveling head assembly that allows the jaws to be adjusted in pitch and/or roll. The device may include a malleable or articulating handle shaft, as well as, malleable or curved rigid jaws that can permit curved lesion shapes. A locking detent can secure the jaws in a closed position during the procedure. The device may include one or more remote actuators making the hemostat-type device useful for minimally invasive procedures.

Claims

1. A device for performing a surgical procedure, comprising

a handle comprising a malleable shaft;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the malleable shaft;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue

means for adjusting roll of the pair of jaws relative to the malleable shaft; and

means for retaining a selected roll position of the pair of jaws relative to the handle in one of a limited number of selectable predetermined positions such that the jaws can be closed without changing the selected roll position.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein roll is manually adjustable.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein each of the jaws are rigid.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein each of the jaws are curved.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a trigger mounted on the handle.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws includes a pivot.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes means for closing a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, lower jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein a trigger is operatively coupled to the upper jaw and not the lower jaw.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes means for closing a first, lower jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, upper jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein a trigger is operatively coupled to the lower jaw and not the upper jaw.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes a fluid channel.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes an electrode.

15. A device for performing a surgical procedure within the body of a patient, comprising

a handle including an elongated housing wherein the elongated housing rotates with the handle and not relative to the handle;

a pair of closeable jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

means on at least one of the jaws for ablative treatment of tissue;

means for closing the jaws on tissue;

means for adjusting pitch of the pair of jaws relative to the handle from outside the body of the patient while the jaws are located within the body of the patient; and

means for retaining a selected roll position of the pair of jaws relative to the handle in one of a limited number of selectable predetermined positions such that the jaws can be closed without changing the selected roll position.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein pitch is manually adjustable.

17. The device according to claim 15 also comprising means for retaining a selected pitch position such that the jaws can be closed on tissue without changing the selected pitch position.

18. The device according to claim 15 also comprising means for retaining a selected pitch position such that the jaws can be opened from a closed position without changing the selected pitch position.

19. The device according to claim 15 wherein the jaws may be closed on tissue in a pre-selected curved or straight configuration.

20. The device according to claim 15 wherein each of the jaws are manually shapeable.

21. The device according to claim 15 wherein each of the jaws include at least one malleable component.

22. The device according to claim 15 wherein each of the jaws are rigid.

23. The device according to claim 15 wherein each of the jaws are curved.

24. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes a trigger mounted on the handle.

25. The device according to claim 15 wherein a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws includes a pivot.

26. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes means for closing a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, lower jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

27. The device according to claim 26 wherein a trigger is operatively coupled to the upper jaw and not the lower jaw.

28. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for closing the jaws includes means for closing a first, lower jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, upper jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

29. The device according to claim 28 wherein a trigger is operatively coupled to the lower jaw and not the upper jaw.

30. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes a fluid channel.

31. The device according to claim 15 wherein the means for ablative treatment of tissue includes an electrode.

32. The device according to claim 15 wherein the handle includes at least one malleable component.

33. A method for performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

providing a device having an elongated shapeable handle and a pair of jaws on a distal portion of the handle;

shaping the handle into a selected configuration;

adjusting roll of the pair of jaws to a selected roll position relative to the elongated shapeable handle;

retaining the selected roll position in one of a limited number of selectable predetermined positions relative to the handle such that the jaws can be closed without changing the selected roll position;

introducing the distal portion of the device into a surgical incision;

placing a portion of tissue between the pair of open jaws;

closing the jaws into contact with the portion of tissue;

performing an ablative treatment on the portion of tissue; and

opening the jaws.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein adjusting roll of the pair of jaws is performed manually.

35. The method according to claim 33 wherein shaping the handle is performed manually.

36. The method according to claim 33 wherein closing the jaws includes closing a first, upper jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, lower jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein the first jaw is substantially parallel to the second jaw in an open configuration and a closed configuration.

38. The method according to claim 33 wherein closing the jaws includes closing a first, lower jaw of the pair of jaws while maintaining the second, upper jaw of the pair of jaws in a stationary position.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein the first jaw is substantially parallel to the second jaw in an open configuration and a closed configuration.

40. The method according to claim 38 wherein first and second jaws of the pair of jaws are substantially parallel to each other when the jaws are open and when the jaws are closed.

41. The method according to claim 33 wherein shaping the handle is performed remotely.

42. The method according to claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the handle is malleable.