Vessel sealer and divider with blade deployment alarm
First Claim
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1. A forceps, comprising:
- a housing;
a trigger movable along a travel path relative to the housing between an untranslated position and a translated position;
a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source;
a cutting blade configured to selectively translate within a blade channel defined within at least one jaw member in response to movement of the trigger; and
an alarm including at least a portion extending along a plane into the travel path of the trigger, the alarm emitting a signal when the trigger crosses the plane as the trigger moves between the untranslated position and the translated position, the signal indicative of the cutting blade being deployed into the blade channel, wherein the emission of the signal is independent of the activation of the electrosurgical energy source.
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Abstract
An electrosurgical forceps includes a selectively advanceable knife and a knife deployment alarm configured to emit a signal under predetermined conditions. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel. A series of resistances are arranged so that a shorting of each resistor is indicative of a predetermined operating condition triggering the alarm to emit a signal. Pressure sensors, optical measurement devices, and electrical contacts are envisioned for determining blade or trigger actuation or translation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A forceps, comprising:
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a housing; a trigger movable along a travel path relative to the housing between an untranslated position and a translated position; a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source; a cutting blade configured to selectively translate within a blade channel defined within at least one jaw member in response to movement of the trigger; and an alarm including at least a portion extending along a plane into the travel path of the trigger, the alarm emitting a signal when the trigger crosses the plane as the trigger moves between the untranslated position and the translated position, the signal indicative of the cutting blade being deployed into the blade channel, wherein the emission of the signal is independent of the activation of the electrosurgical energy source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification