Compressible jaw configuration with bipolar RF output electrodes for soft tissue fusion

• US 8,945,125 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schechter, David A., Johnson, Kristin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US12/879,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/46, 606/51, 606/52
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 2017/00265 Hand assisted surgery, i.e. minimally invasive surgery with at least part of an assisting hand inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• 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 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• 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 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical instruments for use in sealing various tissues. The instrument includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members attached thereto. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members have an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof with the elastomeric materials including an electrode disposed therein. The electrodes are offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:

a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto, at least one jaw member movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween; and

an insulative material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface of each of the jaw members and an elastomeric material disposed between each jaw member and the respective insulative material, each of the insulative materials includes an electrode disposed therein, the electrodes being offset a variable distance X relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces.

2. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the offset distance X is in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.200 inches.

3. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor that provides information to a feedback circuit for regulating the electrosurgical energy through the tissue.

4. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the sensor measures at least one of tissue impedance, tissue temperature and tissue thickness.

5. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes a plurality of electrodes that extend across a width thereof and the electrosurgical instrument is adapted to connect to a feedback circuit that selects one of the plurality of electrodes for electrically opposing the electrode disposed on the other of the jaw members, wherein the control circuit includes a sensor that measures at least one of tissue impedance, tissue temperature and tissue thickness.

6. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the insulative material on each of the jaw members includes an electrode that is partially disposed therein.

7. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the electrodes are recessed within the insulative material.