Electrosurgical cutting and sealing instrument

• US 9,192,431 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Woodruff, Scott A., Weizman, Patrick A., Payne, Gwendolyn P., Korvick, Donna L., Norvell, David K., Zingman, Aron O.
• Primary Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US12/842,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 606 50- 52, 606205-209
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00309 passive, e.g. palpable click when activating a button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• 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 2018/00773 Sensed parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue can comprise a jaw member comprising an electrode, wherein the electrode is configured to supply energy from a power source to captured tissue. The surgical instrument comprises a tissue-cutting element to transect the captured tissue. The rate of distal translation of the tissue-cutting element during the operational stroke may be regulated by a damper. The damper may have barrel and a plunger.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

a trigger moveable between a first trigger position and a second trigger position;

an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is moveable relative to the second jaw member between an open position and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element configured to translate with respect to the first jaw member and the second law member; and

an electrode configured to seal tissue during a sealing interval;

an axially moveable cutting member configured to open and close the first and second jaw members, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially moveable cutting member;

a spring; and

a cutting speed restraint comprising a damper, wherein the cutting speed restraint is configured to receive an input velocity from the trigger and reduce an output velocity applied to the tissue-cutting element while the tissue-cutting element translates distally;

wherein the damper comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein an outer diameter of the plunger is in sealing engagement with an inner diameter of the barrel, and wherein the plunger is moveable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position;

wherein the barrel defines at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice; and

wherein the electrosurgical instrument further comprises a check valve positioned proximate the at least one inlet orifice.

2. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

a trigger moveable between a first trigger position and a second trigger position;

an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is moveable relative to the second jaw member between an open position and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element configured to translate with respect to the first jaw member and the second jaw member; and

an electrode;

an axially moveable cutting member configured to open and close the first and second jaw members, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially moveable cutting member; and

a damper coupled to the trigger and the axially moveable cutting member, wherein the damper comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein an outer diameter of the plunger is in sealing engagement with an inner diameter of the barrel, wherein the plunger is moveable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position, wherein the barrel comprises;

an inlet orifice; and

an outlet orifice defining a cross-sectional area that is variable.

3. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

a trigger moveable between a first trigger position and a second trigger position;

an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is moveable relative to the second jaw member between an open position and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element configured to translate with respect to the first jaw member and the second jaw member; and

an electrode;

an axially moveable cutting member configured to open and close the first and second jaw members, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially moveable cutting member; and

a damper coupled to the trigger and the axially moveable cutting member, wherein the damper comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein an outer diameter of the plunger is in sealing engagement with an inner diameter of the barrel, wherein the plunger is moveable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position, wherein the barrel defines at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the at least one inlet orifice is less than a cross-sectional area of the at least one outlet orifice.

4. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is moveable relative to the second jaw member between an open position and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element;

a tissue-sealing electrode, wherein the tissue-cutting element is configured to translate relative to the tissue-sealing electrode;

an axially moveable member configured to open and close the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially moveable member;

a trigger moveable between a first position and a second position;

a spring; and

a tissue-cutting velocity limiter comprising a damper configured to reduce a velocity of the axially moveable member while the axially moveable member moves distally, wherein the damper comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein the plunger is directly coupled to the axially moveable member and the trigger.

5. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the spring is positioned internal to the barrel and intermediate the plunger and a distal end of the barrel.

6. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the barrel defines an outlet orifice.