Vessel sealing instrument with reduced thermal spread and method of manufacture therefor

• US 9,468,491 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brandt, Kim V., Aquino, Allan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US14/887,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• 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 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/14 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/78 Moulding material on one side only of the preformed part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/88 characterised primarily by possessing specific properties, e.g. electrically conductive or locally reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7546 Surgical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49986 Subsequent to metal working

Abstract

An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw housing, a seal plate having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall, and an insulating region disposed on the side wall of the seal plate. The instrument includes the ability to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. The insulating region enables precision overmolding of the jaw housing to the seal plate, while advantageously reducing thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures.

Claims

1. An end effector of an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

first and second jaw members, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members including;

an electrode, including;

a planar tissue contacting surface having a peripheral edge; and

a side wall extending from the peripheral edge of the tissue contacting surface, the side wall including a plurality of spaced-apart ribs extending therefrom, each pair of adjacent ribs defining an area therebetween; and

an insulator engaging the side wall of the electrode and at least partially filling the area between each pair of adjacent ribs.

2. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the electrode defines an inverted U-shaped cross-section.

3. The end effector according to claim 2, wherein the electrode is stamped.

4. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the tissue-contacting surface of the electrode further comprises a longitudinally-extending knife channel defined therethrough.

5. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the electrode and the insulator are overmolded to one another.

6. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein a distance between adjacent ribs is greater than a width of each of the ribs.

7. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the ribs define different widths.

8. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the ribs define similar widths.

9. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein a transition from the peripheral edge of the tissue contacting surface to the side wall is radiused.

10. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one jaw member further comprises a jaw housing configured to support the electrode and the insulator.

11. The end effector according to claim 10, wherein the jaw housing further includes a hinge plate extending from a proximal end thereof, the hinge plate configured to facilitate movably coupling of the first and second jaw members with one another.

12. The end effector according to claim 11, wherein the hinge plate defines a pivot aperture therethrough, the pivot aperture configured to receive a pivot pin for pivotably coupling the first and second jaw members with one another.

13. The end effector according to claim 11, wherein the at least one jaw member further comprises a wire electromechanically joined to the electrode and configured to supply electrosurgical energy thereto.

14. The end effector according to claim 13, wherein the wire is welded to the electrode.

15. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the area between each pair of adjacent ribs defines a valley, and wherein the insulator at least partially fills the valley.

16. The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the area between each pair of adjacent ribs defines a notch, and wherein the insulator at least partially fills the notch.