Method of sealing tissue using radiofrequency energy

• US 8,486,107 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hinton, Kristel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US12/254,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 606/205, 606/207
• US Class Current: 606/207
• 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 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A forceps for sealing tissue includes a housing having one or more shafts that extend therefrom configured to support an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members each having a sealing plate with tissue engaging surfaces adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the sealing plates includes a predetermined surface geometry defined thereon that imprints a corresponding surface geometry onto the tissue seal to facilitate sealing the tissue with a foreign material when electrosurgical energy is applied to the forceps.

Claims

1. A forceps for sealing tissue, comprising:

a housing having at least one shaft that extends therefrom for supporting an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members each including a sealing plate, the sealing plates configured to grasp tissue and a foreign material therebetween, at least one of the sealing plates adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for applying electrosurgical energy to tissue and the foreign material to form a tissue seal, at least one of the sealing plates including a predetermined surface geometry defined thereon that is non-complementary relative to the other sealing plate such that a corresponding surface geometry is imprinted onto the tissue seal to facilitate sealing tissue with the foreign material when electrosurgical energy is applied to the at least one sealing plate.

2. A forceps according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined surface geometry defined on the at least one sealing plate is selected from the group consisting of geometric protrusions, geometric recesses and combinations thereof.

3. A forceps according to claim 1 wherein the foreign material is selected from the group consisting of biomaterials, mesh materials, collagen, elastin and synthetic materials.