Electrically-insulative hinge for electrosurgical jaw assembly, bipolar forceps including same, and methods of jaw-assembly alignment using fastened electrically-insulative hinge

• US 9,381,059 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Garrison, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/080,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 52, 606/208, 29825-861
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• 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 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

An end effector assembly suitable for use with a forceps includes opposing first and second jaw members pivotably mounted with respect to one another. The first jaw member includes one or more pivot holes defined therein configured to receive a portion of a pivot pin therein. The end effector assembly also includes an electrically-insulative hinge configured to electrically isolate the first and second jaw members from one another including one or more pivot-hole locators having an aperture defined therein. The electrically-insulative hinge is attached to the first jaw member such that the one or more pivot-hole locators align with the one or more pivot holes of the second jaw member.

Claims

1. An end effector assembly suitable for use with a forceps, comprising:

opposing first and second jaw members pivotably mounted with respect to one another, wherein the first jaw member defines at least one pivot hole configured to receive a portion of a pivot pin therein; and

an electrically-insulative hinge defining at least one pivot-hole locator, wherein the electrically-insulative hinge is fixedly bonded to the second jaw member such that the at least one pivot-hole locator aligns with the at least one pivot hole defined in the first jaw member, wherein the electrically-insulative hinge electrically isolates the jaw members from one another and includes a U-shaped body member having an entirely closed proximal end and an open distal end.

2. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first jaw member is a fixed jaw member and the second jaw member is a movable jaw member.

3. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically-insulative hinge includes first and second end portions disposed at opposite ends of the U-shaped body member.

4. The end effector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first end portion includes an aperture defined therein configured to receive the pivot pin therethrough and the second end portion includes an aperture defined therein configured to receive the pivot pin therethrough.

5. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped body member includes a proximal backspan and a leg extending distally from each end of the proximal backspan.

6. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein a proximal backspan closes the proximal end of the U-shaped body member.

7. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft extending from the housing and including a distal end configured to support an end effector assembly;

the end effector assembly including;

opposing jaw members pivotably mounted with respect to one another, each of the jaw members including a sealing surface associated therewith, the jaw members moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing surfaces cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; and

an electrically-insulative hinge including at least one pivot-hole locator having an aperture defined therein, the electrically-insulative hinge fixedly bonded to one of the jaw members such that the aperture of the at least one pivot-hole locator aligns with a pivot hole defined in the opposing jaw member, wherein the electrically-insulative electrically isolates the jaw members from one another and includes a U-shaped body member having a closed proximal end and two legs extending from the proximal end to an open distal end, the distal end of each leg disconnected from the other leg.

8. The bipolar forceps of claim 7, wherein each jaw member is adapted to connect the sealing surface associated therewith to an electrosurgical generator such that the sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue grasped therebetween.

9. The bipolar forceps of claim 7, wherein the opposing jaw members of the end effector assembly include a fixed jaw member mounted in fixed relation to the shaft and a movable jaw member mounted about a pivot pin coupled to the stationary jaw member.

10. The bipolar forceps of claim 9, wherein the fixed jaw member includes a pair of proximal, upwardly extending flanges that define a cavity configured to receive a flange of the movable jaw member therein.

11. The bipolar forceps of claim 7, wherein the electrically-insulative hinge includes first and second end portions disposed at opposite ends of the U-shaped body member.

12. The bipolar forceps of claim 11, wherein the first end portion includes an aperture defined therein configured to receive a portion of the pivot pin therein.

13. The bipolar forceps of claim 12, wherein the second end portion includes an aperture defined therein configured to receive a portion of the pivot pin therein.

14. An end effector assembly suitable for use with a forceps, comprising:

opposing first and second jaw members pivotably mounted with respect to one another, the first jaw member being a fixed jaw member and the second jaw member being a movable jaw member, the first jaw member defining a pivot hole configured to receive a portion of a pivot pin therein; and

an electrically-insulative hinge defining a pivot-hole locator, the electrically-insulative hinge fixedly bonded to the second jaw member such that the pivot-hole locator aligns with the pivot hole defined in the first jaw member, the electrically-insulative hinge electrically isolating the first and second jaw members from one another, the electrically insulative hinge having an entirely closed proximal end and an open distal end.