Vessel sealer and divider with stop members

• US 10,251,696 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• 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., Buysse, Steven P., Brown, Dax D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fowler, Daniel W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Demie, Tigist S
• Application Number:
  US15/911,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20180193087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• 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 18/1206 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 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• 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: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

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 jaws members are connected to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. At least one non-conductive and spaced-apart stop member is disposed on an inner-facing surface of the jaw members to regulate the gap distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween. The forceps also includes a longitudinally reciprocating knife which severs the tissue after sealing at a location which is proximate the sealing site.

Claims

1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated shaft extending from the housing;

opposing first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the first and second jaw members are closer to one another, the first and second jaw members including first and second seal surfaces, respectively, extending along a respective length thereof and adaptable to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the first and second seal surfaces are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween;

the first seal surface including a knife channel defined therein and extending along a portion of a length thereof;

a plurality of pairs of first stop members spaced-apart along at least a portion of the length of the first seal surface, each pair of first stop members including one stop member disposed on one side of the knife channel and another stop member disposed on another side of the knife channel;

a second stop member extending from the first seal surface and disposed distally of the knife channel and in longitudinal alignment therewith, wherein the first stop members protrude a first distance above the first seal surface and the second stop member protrudes a second distance above the first seal surface that is greater than the first distance; and

a knife configured to translate through the knife channel.

2. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first stop members are made from a non-conductive material.

3. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first stop members are formed from a first material and wherein the second stop member is formed from a second material that is different from the first material.

4. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first stop members define a first compressibility and wherein the second stop member defines a second compressibility that is different from the first compressibility.

5. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least the plurality of pairs of first stop members are configured to enhance manipulation and gripping of tissue held between the first and second seal surfaces.

6. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least the second stop member is configured to prevent short circuiting of the first and second seal surfaces.

7. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least the second stop member is configured to maintain space between the first and second seal surfaces in the second position of the first and second jaw members.

8. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second seal surfaces includes a knife channel defined therein and extending along a length thereof, the knife channels of the first and second seal surfaces configured to align with one another in the second position of the first and second jaw members to permit translation of the knife therethrough.

9. The bipolar electrosurugical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first stop members define a first diameter and wherein the second stop member defines a second diameter different from the first diameter.

10. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first stop members are configured to maintain space between the first and second seal surfaces in the second position of the first and second jaw members.

11. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second stop member is configured to contact the second seal surface without the plurality of first stop members contacting the second seal surface.

12. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated shaft extending from the housing;

opposing first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the first and second jaw members are closer to one another, the first and second jaw members including first and second seal surfaces, respectively, extending along a respective length thereof and adaptable to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the first and second seal surfaces are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween;

the first seal surface including a knife channel defined therein and extending along a portion of a length thereof;

a plurality of pairs of first stop members spaced-apart along at least a portion of the length of the first seal surface, each pair of first stop members including one stop member disposed on one side of the knife channel and another stop member disposed on another side of the knife channel;

a second stop member extending above the first seal surface, the second stop member distally-spaced from a distal end of the knife channel, proximally-spaced from a distal end of the first seal surface, and disposed in longitudinal alignment with the distal end of the knife channel, wherein the second stop member is different from each of the first stop members;

a knife configured to translate through the knife channel.

13. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first stop members protrude a first distance above the first seal surface and the second stop member protrudes a second distance above the first seal surface that is greater than the first distance.

14. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first stop members are formed from a first material and wherein the second stop member is formed from a second material that is different from the first material.

15. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first stop members define a first compressibility and wherein the second stop member defines a second compressibility that is different from the first compressibility.

16. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein at least the plurality of pairs of first stop members are configured to enhance manipulation and gripping of tissue held between the first and second seal surfaces.

17. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein at least the second stop member is configured to prevent short circuiting of the first and second seal surfaces.

18. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein at least the second stop member is configured to maintain space between the first and second seal surfaces in the second position of the first and second jaw members.

19. The bipolar electrosurugical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first stop members define a first diameter and wherein the second stop member defines a second diameter different from the first diameter.

20. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of first stop members are configured to maintain space between the first and second seal surfaces in the second position of the first and second jaw members.

21. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the second stop member is configured to contact the second seal surface without the plurality of first stop members contacting the second seal surface.

22. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated shaft extending from the housing;

opposing first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the first and second jaw members are closer to one another, the first and second jaw members including first and second seal surfaces, respectively, extending along a respective length thereof and adaptable to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the first and second seal surfaces are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween;

the first seal surface including a knife channel defined therein and extending along a portion of a length thereof to a closed distal end, the knife channel defining a longitudinal axis;

a plurality of first stop members spaced-apart along at least a portion of the length of the first seal surface, at least one of the first stop members disposed on one side of the knife channel and at least one of the first stop members disposed on another side of the knife channel;

a second stop member extending above the first seal surface, the second stop member spaced-apart from a distal end of the first seal surface and the closed distal end of the knife channel in alignment on the longitudinal axis of the knife channel, wherein the second stop member is different from each of the first stop members;

a knife configured to translate through the knife channel.

23. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 22, wherein one of the first stop members disposed on the one side of the knife channel and one of the first stop members disposed on the another side of the knife channel are arranged such that a line segment extending therebetween is disposed in perpendicular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the knife channel.

24. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of first stop members define a first shape and wherein the second stop member defines a second shape different from the first shape.

25. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 24, wherein the first shape is an elongated tab and the second shape is a circle-like tab.

26. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of first stop members and the second stop member are each formed from a non-conductive material.