Dual durometer insulating boot for electrosurgical forceps

• US 8,241,283 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Guerra, Paul, Hammill, Curt D., Cunningham, James S., Schryver, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Application Number:
  US12/212,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 606/46, 606/47, 606/48, 606/49, 606/50, 606/51, 606/206, 606/207, 606/52, 606/205
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 2018/00053 Mechanical features of the instrument of device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference

Abstract

An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot, and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising:

a shaft having an outer periphery and a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable about a pivot 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 grasping tissue, each of the jaw members including a proximal flange;

a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another;

at least one of the jaw members including at least one mechanical interface and at least one jaw member being adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the at least one jaw member is capable of conducting energy to tissue held therebetween;

a flexible insulating boot disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot, the flexible boot including a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material, the low durometer material being aligned to encapsulate the proximal flanges of the jaw members to facilitate rotation of the flanges beyond the outer periphery of the shaft.

2. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1 wherein each jaw member defines a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the flexible insulating boot defines a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the high durometer material is configured to operably retain the distal end of the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.

3. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1 wherein the low durometer material stretches to allow the proximal flange of each jaw member to rotate beyond the outer periphery of the shaft.