Vessel sealing cutting assemblies

• US 8,241,282 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Unger, Jeffrey R., Hixson, David W., Sharp, Robert M., Allen, James D. IV, Olson, Jessica E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOWLER, DANIEL WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US12/205,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 606/51, 606/52
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32006 with a cutting strip, band or chain, e.g. like a chainsaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto the shaft including jaw members at a distal end thereof. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and the jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. A movable handle is included that is rotatable about a pivot to force a drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions. The pivot is located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis. A cutting assembly is included having at least one blade element disposed within one of the jaw members. The blade element is selectively moveable from a first recessed position within the jaw member to a second extended position for cutting tissue. The cutting assembly also includes a remote actuator which reciprocates a camming element to move the blade element between the first and second positions.

Claims

1. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft affixed to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;

a drive assembly that moves the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue;

a movable handle being rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions; and

a cutting assembly including at least one blade element disposed within one of said jaw members, said blade element being selectively moveable from a first recessed position within said jaw member to a second extended position for cutting tissue, said cutting assembly including a remote actuator that reciprocates a camming element to move said at least one blade element between the first and second positions, wherein said actuator includes a sleeve that is selectively movable over said jaw members to cam said at least one blade element into tissue.

2. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 wherein said cutting assembly includes a spring that biases the at least one blade element in a recessed configuration.

3. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 further comprising a hand switch disposed within the housing and adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, the hand switch allowing a user to selectively supply bipolar energy to the jaw members to effect a tissue seal.

4. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the jaw members includes a series of stop members disposed thereon that are configured to regulate the distance between the jaw members during sealing.