Electrosurgical system

• US 8,579,894 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied Medical Corporation)
• Inventors: Falkenstein, Zoran, Cappello, Christopher J., Johnson, Gary M., Gianneschi, Benjamin A., Tran, Olivia J., Wixey, Matthew A., Pravongviengkham, Kennii, Pravong, Boun, Yawata, Haruyasu, Becerra, Matthew M., Brustad, John R., Cohen, Adam J., Hilal, Nabil, Pingleton, Edward D., Hilal, Said S., Hart, Charles C., Wikoff, Chris R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/416,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/49, 606/51, 606/34, 606/33, 606/39
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• 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 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00208 actively driven, e.g. by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00494 Stomach, intestines or bowel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00869 : Phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 : Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 : Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 : with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 : by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 : switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1266 : with DC current output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/144 : Wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 : using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 : located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

An electrosurgical tool can be used to fuse tissue. The electrosurgical tool can include a jaw assembly, an elongate shaft, and a handle assembly. Actuation of the handle assembly can actuate the jaw assembly. The elongate shaft can be rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the jaw assembly. The electrosurgical tool can include a cutting blade to separate fused tissue. The electrosurgical tool can also include a jaw assembly configuration or an exterior cutting electrode to improve surgical access with the tool.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical tool comprising:

a handle assembly comprising;

a stationary handle; and

an actuation handle movably coupled to the stationary handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, the elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end defining a central longitudinal axis therebetween;

a jaw assembly positioned on the distal end of the elongate shaft, the jaw assembly comprising;

a first jaw having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one electrode disposed on the inner surface; and

a second jaw having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one electrode disposed on the inner surface;

wherein the jaw assembly is actuatable by movement of the actuation handle from an open configuration in which the inner surface of the first jaw is spaced apart from the inner surface of the second jaw to a closed configuration in which the inner surface of the first jaw is proximate the inner surface of the second jaw; and

a force regulation mechanism coupling the handle assembly to the jaw assembly, the force regulation mechanism configured such that in the closed configuration, the jaw assembly delivers a gripping force between the first jaw and the second jaw between a predetermined minimum force and a predetermined maximum force;

wherein the force regulation mechanism comprises;

a first pivot point coupling the actuation handle to the stationary handle, the first pivot point positioned longitudinally slidable relative to the stationary handle;

a second pivot point coupling the actuation handle to the stationary handle, the second pivot point being slidable relative to the stationary handle; and

an actuator spring biasing the second pivot point with a predetermined preload, wherein the second pivot point is positioned above the central longitudinal axis and the first pivot point is positioned in line with the longitudinal axis.

2. The electrosurgical tool of claim 1, wherein the force regulation mechanism further comprises an actuation member and an actuation rod longitudinally movable with respect to the elongate shaft and coupling the handle assembly to the jaw assembly.

3. The electrosurgical tool of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly comprises at least one guide defining an actuation path of the second pivot point.

4. The electrosurgical tool of claim 1, wherein the force regulation mechanism is configured such that the jaw assembly delivers a gripping force to develop a pressure between the first and second jaws of between 3 kg/cm^2 and 39 kg/cm^2.

5. The electrosurgical tool of claim 3, wherein the force regulation mechanism is configured such that the jaw assembly delivers a gripping force to develop an average pressure between the jaws of approximately 23 kg/cm^2.

6. The electrosurgical tool of claim 3, wherein the jaw assembly has a proximal end and a distal end, and the pressure between the jaws has a first pressure at the proximal end of the jaw assembly and a second pressure at the distal end of the jaw assembly, the second pressure less than the first pressure, and wherein both the first pressure and the second pressure are between 3 kg/cm^2 and 39 kg/cm^2.

7. The electrosurgical tool of claim 1, wherein the jaw assembly further comprises a cutting blade positioned in one of the first jaw and the second jaw and advanceable from a proximal position within the elongate shaft between the first and second jaws to a distal position within the first and second jaws away from the distal end of the elongate shaft.

8. The electrosurgical tool of claim 7, wherein the handle assembly further comprises a trigger movable with respect to the stationary handle, the trigger coupled to the cutting blade such that movement of the trigger moves the cutting blade longitudinally only between the proximal position and the distal position.

9. The electrosurgical tool of claim 1, wherein the first jaw has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the second jaw has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the distal end of the second jaw extends further distally than the distal end of the first jaw when the jaw assembly is in the closed configuration.

10. The electrosurgical tool of claim 9, further comprising a cutting electrode positioned on the outer surface of the distal end of the second jaw.

11. The electrosurgical tool of claim 1, wherein the actuator spring is positioned above and parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

12. The electrosurgical tool of claim 2, wherein the actuation member comprises a pull block aligned with the actuation rod, the pull block being generally rectangular having open top and bottom faces, a distal end and a substantially closed proximal end, the distal end of the pull block being connected to the actuation rod.

13. The electrosurgical tool of claim 12, wherein the actuation handle extends through the top and bottom faces of the pull block.

14. The electrosurgical tool of claim 12, wherein the distal end of the pull block is connected to the actuation rod.