Vessel sealer and divider

• US 9,861,430 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dycus, Sean T., Peterson, Darion R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behringer, Luther G
• Application Number:
  US15/146,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• 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 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0013 non-sticking
• 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 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/144 Wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1452 : including means for cutting A61B2018/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself

Abstract

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable 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 therebetween. The forceps also includes a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. A generally tube-like cutter is included which is slidably engaged about the elongated shaft and which is selectively movable about the elongated shaft to engage and cut tissue on at least one side of the jaw members while the tissue is engaged between jaw members.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing;

first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other from an open position to a closed position, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source;

a knife configured for selective advancement between the jaw members;

a trigger operably coupled to the housing and the knife, the trigger movable relative to the housing through a first actuation path and a second actuation path different from the first actuation path; and

at least one switch electrically coupled to at least one of the jaw members and disposed within the first actuation path of the trigger,

wherein the trigger is movable along the first actuation path between an initial position and a first actuated position to actuate the at least one switch to supply electrosurgical energy to the at least one of the jaw members, and along the second actuation path between the initial position and a second actuated position to advance the knife between the jaw members.

2. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a knife rod operably coupled between the trigger and the knife, wherein movement of the trigger to the second actuated position translates the knife rod distally to thereby advance the knife between the jaw members.

3. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the trigger is configured to move from the initial position to the first actuated position along the first actuation path in a first direction, and wherein the trigger is configured to move from the initial position to the second actuated position along the second actuation path in a second, different direction.

4. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular relative to one another.

5. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a movable handle operably coupled to the housing, wherein actuation of the movable handle moves the at least one of the jaw members from the open position to the closed position.

6. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a drive rod operably coupled between the movable handle and the at least one of the jaw members, wherein actuation of the movable handle translates the drive rod to thereby move the at least one of the jaw members from the open position to the closed position.

7. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a lockout link configured to inhibit the trigger from being moved to the second actuated position when the jaw members are disposed in the open position.

8. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein actuation of the movable handle moves the lockout link to enable movement of the trigger to the second actuated position.

9. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a knife channel defined within at least one of the jaw members, wherein the knife is configured to reciprocate through the at least one knife channel.

10. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;

first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other from an open position to a closed position, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that electrosurgical energy may be selectively communicated through tissue held between the jaw members;

a knife configured for selective advancement between the jaw members;

a trigger operably coupled to the housing and the knife, the trigger movable relative to the housing through a first actuation path and a second actuation path different from the first actuation path; and

at least one switch electrically coupled to at least one of the jaw members and disposed within the second actuation path of the trigger,

wherein the trigger is movable along the first actuation path in a first direction to advance the knife between the jaw members, and wherein the trigger is movable along the second actuation path in a second, different direction to actuate the at least one switch to supply electrosurgical energy to at least one of the jaw members.

11. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular to one another.

12. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the first direction extends parallel relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second direction extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

14. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising a knife rod operably coupled between the trigger and the knife, wherein movement of the trigger in the second direction translates the knife rod distally to thereby advance the knife between the jaw members.

15. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising a movable handle operably coupled to the housing, wherein actuation of the movable handle moves the at least one of the jaw members from the open position to the closed position.

16. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, further comprising a drive rod operably coupled between the movable handle and the at least one of the jaw members, wherein actuation of the movable handle translates the drive rod to thereby move the at least one of the jaw members from the open position to the closed position.

17. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, further comprising a lockout link configured to inhibit movement of the trigger in the second direction when the jaw members are disposed in the open position.

18. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein actuation of the movable handle moves the lockout link to enable movement of the trigger in the second direction.

19. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising a knife channel defined within at least one of the jaw members, wherein the knife is configured to reciprocate through the at least one knife channel.