Surgical forceps

• US 9,918,784 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moua, Tony, Heard, David N., Coe, Jonathan A., Kappus, John J., Mueller, Peter M., Sirianne, Raymond A., Artale, Ryan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/591,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1422 Hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1452 including means for cutting A61B2018/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 : Electrodes being detachable from a support structure

Abstract

A forceps includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members is configured to conduct energy between the jaw members and through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue. An insulative tubular member is movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position, wherein the insulative tubular member is positioned proximally of the end effector assembly, and an extended position, wherein the insulative tubular member is disposed about the end effector assembly. A monopolar member is configured to apply energy to tissue to treat tissue when the insulative tubular member is disposed in the extended position.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft extending distally from the housing;

an end effector assembly extending distally from the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, at least one of the first or second jaw members including a distal tip; and

an insulative tubular member disposed about the shaft and movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the insulative tubular member is disposed about the end effector assembly and the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members remains exposed,

wherein, in the retracted position of the insulative tubular member, the first and second jaw members are configured to conduct bipolar energy to tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue, and

wherein, in the extended position of the insulative tubular member, the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members is configured to conduct monopolar energy to tissue to treat tissue.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the insulative tubular member defines a cut-out, and wherein, in the extended position of the insulative tubular member, the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members is exposed through the cut-out.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein, in the extended position of the insulative tubular member, the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members extends at least partially through the cut-out.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members defines a hooked configuration.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein, in the extended position of the insulative tubular member, the distal tip of each of the first and second jaw members remains exposed and is configured to conduct monopolar energy to tissue to treat tissue.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator disposed on the housing and operably coupled to the insulative tubular member, the actuator selectively actuatable from an un-actuated position to an actuated position to move the insulative tubular member from the retracted position to the extended position.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and at least one of the first or second jaw members, the movable handle selectively movable from an initial position to a depressed position to move the at least one of the first or second jaw members relative to the other from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein, the first and second jaw members are energized to different potentials to enable the first and second jaw members to conduct bipolar energy to tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue, and wherein the first and second jaw members are energized to the same potential to enable the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members to conduct monopolar energy to tissue to treat tissue.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a first activation button disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the first and second jaw members, the first activation button selectively activatable to initiate the supply of bipolar energy to the first and second jaw members.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a second activation button disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the at least one of the first or second jaw members, the second activation button selectively activatable to initiate the supply of monopolar energy to the at least one of the first or second jaw members.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members each include an opposed electrically-conductive surface, the opposed electrically-conductive surfaces configured to configured to conduct bipolar energy to tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members is electrically-conductive and electrically coupled to the opposed electrically-conductive surface of the corresponding jaw member.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second jaw members is insulative.

14. A method of surgery, comprising:

selecting whether to treat tissue with bipolar energy or monopolar energy;

if treating tissue with bipolar energy is selected;

grasping tissue between first and second jaw members; and

with tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members, conducting bipolar energy between the first and second jaw members to treat the grasped tissue;

if treating tissue with monopolar energy is selected;

extending an insulative tubular member about the first and second jaw members such that only a distal tip of at least one of the first or second jaw members is exposed; and

with the insulative tubular member extended, conducting monopolar energy from the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members to treat adjacent tissue.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein conducting bipolar energy includes energizing the first and second jaw members to different potentials.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein conducting monopolar energy includes energizing the first and second jaw members to the same potential.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein conducting bipolar energy between the first and second jaw members to treat the grasped tissue includes sealing the grasped tissue.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein conducting monopolar energy from the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members to treat the adjacent tissue includes dissecting the adjacent tissue.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein, with the insulative tubular member extended, the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members is exposed through a cut-out defined within the insulative tubular member.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the distal tip of the at least one of the first or second jaw members is configured to extend at least partially through the cut-out when the insulative tubular member is extended.