Incorporating rapid cooling in tissue fusion heating processes
First Claim
1. An electrode sealing assembly designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:
- first and second jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, the jaw members including;
electrically conductive sealing plates disposed in opposing relation to one another,at least one jaw member including;
a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate including first and second electrical connections disposed on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first connection configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate,wherein the electrically conductive seal plates each include inward lateral side edges, the inward lateral side edges and the first surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate configured to form a knife slot therebetween dimensioned to receive a knife blade therein, the knife blade disposed substantially adjacent and in proximity to the thermoelectric cooling plate to enable heat transfer from the knife blade to the thermoelectric cooling plate,and wherein the at least one jaw member further includes a first heat sink disposed in contact with a second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate,the first heat sink made from a thermally conductive, electrically insulative cool polymer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode sealing assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes first and second jaw members which are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members include electrically conductive sealing plates designed to selectively transmit electrosurgical energy to tissue disposed between the sealing plates. The jaw members also include a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second electrical connections on opposite sides of the jaw member. The first connection is configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection is configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate.
1144 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrode sealing assembly designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:
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first and second jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, the jaw members including; electrically conductive sealing plates disposed in opposing relation to one another, at least one jaw member including; a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate including first and second electrical connections disposed on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first connection configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate, wherein the electrically conductive seal plates each include inward lateral side edges, the inward lateral side edges and the first surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate configured to form a knife slot therebetween dimensioned to receive a knife blade therein, the knife blade disposed substantially adjacent and in proximity to the thermoelectric cooling plate to enable heat transfer from the knife blade to the thermoelectric cooling plate, and wherein the at least one jaw member further includes a first heat sink disposed in contact with a second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first heat sink made from a thermally conductive, electrically insulative cool polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrode sealing assembly, comprising:
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first and second jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, the jaw members including; electrically conductive sealing plates disposed in opposing relation to one another; a coolant line embedded in the electrically conductive sealing plate of at least one of the first and second jaw members; a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the electrically conductive sealing plate having the coolant line embedded therein, the thermoelectric cooling plate including first and second electrical connections disposed on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first connection configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plate is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate; and a heat sink disposed in contact with the thermoelectric cooling plate, the heat sink made from a thermally conductive, electrically insulating cool polymer.
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17. An electrode sealing assembly designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:
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first and second jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, the jaw members including; electrically conductive sealing plates disposed in opposing relation to one another, at least one jaw member including; a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate including first and second electrical connections disposed on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first connection configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate, wherein the electrically conductive seal plates each include inward lateral side edges, the inward lateral side edges and the first surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate configured to form a knife slot therebetween dimensioned to receive a knife blade therein, the knife blade disposed substantially adjacent and in proximity to the thermoelectric cooling plate to enable heat transfer from the knife blade to the thermoelectric cooling plate wherein the at least one jaw member further includes a first heat sink disposed in contact with a second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first heat sink configured to be coupled to a second heat sink for transferring heat from the jaw member, the second heat sink made from a thermally conductive, electrically insulative cool polymer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification