Vessel sealer and divider for large tissue structures

• US 9,539,053 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hixson, David, James, Jeremy S., Unger, Jeffrey R., Shields, Chelsea
• Primary Examiner(s): FOWLER, DANIEL WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US14/274,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• 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 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter

Abstract

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto, the shaft including jaw members at a distal end thereof. The shaft includes jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. The forceps include a drive assembly that moves the jaw members relative to one another from a first position to a second position for manipulating tissue. A movable handle is included that is rotatable about a pivot. A knife assembly is also included having a movable knife rod to operatively engage a knife blade, the knife rod having a first longitudinal section having a first predetermined shape, and a second longitudinal section having a second predetermined shape. The first predetermined shape is different than the second predetermined shape.

Claims

1. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft affixed to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof;

a drive assembly that moves 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 are closer to one another for manipulating tissue;

a movable handle rotatable about a pivot to force the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions;

a knife assembly having a movable knife rod that translates a knife blade between the jaw members when the jaw members are disposed in the second position; and

a knife activating assembly in communication with the knife rod and configured to translate the knife blade upon actuation thereof, the knife activating assembly including first, second and third levers, the first lever actuatable by a user, the third lever in communication with the knife rod, and the second lever being the intermediary lever therebetween, wherein the second and third levers are pivotally coupled to the knife rod.

2. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first lever is a thumb lever.

3. The forceps according to claim 2, wherein a portion of the thumb lever is disposed exterior of the housing.

4. The forceps according to claim 2, wherein, when a force is applied to the thumb lever, the knife rod moves distally to actuate the knife blade.

5. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first lever is substantially parallel with respect to the knife rod.

6. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein the second and third levers form a substantially inverted V-shaped configuration.

7. The forceps according to claim 1, wherein a length of the second lever is equal to a length of the third lever.

8. The forceps according to claim 7, wherein a length of the first lever is greater than the lengths of the second and third levers.