Electrosurgical instrument employing a plurality of electrodes
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle;
an end effector, comprising;
a first jaw;
a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable relative to other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a longitudinal channel comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
a cutting member at least partially positioned within said longitudinal channel, wherein said cutting member is movable between a first position, a second position, and a distal position to transect tissue positioned intermediate said first jaw and said second jaw;
a first electrode positioned within said second jaw;
a second electrode positioned within said second jaw, wherein said second electrode is positioned distally with respect to said first electrode;
a third electrode comprised of a positive temperature coefficient material positioned within said first jaw, wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a first electrical resistance when the temperature of said third electrode is below a switching temperature, and wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a second electrical resistance higher than said first resistance when the temperature of said third electrode is above said switching temperature; and
a controller configured to selectively electrically couple said first electrode and said second electrode with a power source, wherein said controller is configured to electrically couple said first electrode with the power source when said cutting member is positioned in said first position, and wherein said controller is configured to electrically couple said second electrode with the power source when said cutting member is positioned in said second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical surgical instrument can comprise a handle and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise first and second jaws which can be opened and closed to capture tissue therebetween. The second jaw can comprise a first electrode and a second electrode while the first jaw can comprise an opposing electrode positioned opposite the first electrode and the second electrode when the jaws are in their closed position. The first and second electrodes can be independently and/or sequentially operated in order to conduct current between the first and second electrodes and opposing electrode in order to draw the tissue positioned between the first and second jaws toward the center of the first and second jaws and weld the tissue. In various other embodiments, other firing sequences of the electrodes are contemplated. During and/or after such tissue welding processes, a cutting member can be advanced to cut the tissue.
1554 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; an end effector, comprising; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable relative to other of said first jaw and said second jaw; a longitudinal channel comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting member at least partially positioned within said longitudinal channel, wherein said cutting member is movable between a first position, a second position, and a distal position to transect tissue positioned intermediate said first jaw and said second jaw; a first electrode positioned within said second jaw; a second electrode positioned within said second jaw, wherein said second electrode is positioned distally with respect to said first electrode; a third electrode comprised of a positive temperature coefficient material positioned within said first jaw, wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a first electrical resistance when the temperature of said third electrode is below a switching temperature, and wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a second electrical resistance higher than said first resistance when the temperature of said third electrode is above said switching temperature; and a controller configured to selectively electrically couple said first electrode and said second electrode with a power source, wherein said controller is configured to electrically couple said first electrode with the power source when said cutting member is positioned in said first position, and wherein said controller is configured to electrically couple said second electrode with the power source when said cutting member is positioned in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating an electrosurgical instrument, comprising the steps of:
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moving one of a first jaw and a second jaw toward the other in order to capture tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein said second electrode is positioned distally with respect to said first electrode, and wherein the first jaw comprises an opposing electrode positioned opposite the first electrode and the second electrode; applying a first voltage potential to the first electrode such that current can flow between the first electrode and the opposing electrode and can contract the tissue positioned between the first electrode and the opposing electrode; applying a second voltage potential to the second electrode after the first voltage potential has been at least initially applied to the first electrode; and advancing a cutting member relative to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein said cutting member is movable between a first position, a second position, and a distal position, wherein said first voltage potential is applied when said cutting member is in said first position, and wherein said second voltage potential is applied when said cutting member is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification