Medical device with a bilateral jaw configuration for nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a first jaw handle and a second jaw handle pivotally coupled about a joint;
the first jaw handle comprising a first jaw at a distal end of the first jaw handle;
the second jaw handle comprising a second jaw at a distal end of the second jaw handle;
the first and second jaws configured to grasp tissue therebetween when the first and second jaw handles are pivotally rotated about the joint into a closed position;
an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of either the first jaw handle or the second jaw handle and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws;
at least one of the first and second jaws configured to deliver therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site; and
at least one of the first and second jaws configured to deliver nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.
2547 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a first jaw handle and a second jaw handle pivotally coupled about a joint; the first jaw handle comprising a first jaw at a distal end of the first jaw handle; the second jaw handle comprising a second jaw at a distal end of the second jaw handle; the first and second jaws configured to grasp tissue therebetween when the first and second jaw handles are pivotally rotated about the joint into a closed position; an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of either the first jaw handle or the second jaw handle and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws; at least one of the first and second jaws configured to deliver therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site; and at least one of the first and second jaws configured to deliver nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle assembly; and an end effector communicatively coupled to the handle assembly and comprising; a first and second jaw; and an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of the end effector and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws; the handle assembly configured to manipulate the first and second jaws to define an open position and a closed position; and the end effector configured to; deliver, through the first and second laws, therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site; and deliver, through the electrical stimulation probe, nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical system, comprising:
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a handle assembly; a power generator electrically coupled to the handle assembly; and an end effector communicatively coupled to the handle assembly and electrically coupled to the power generator and comprising; a first and second jaw; and an electrical stimulation probe physically coupled to a proximal portion of the end effector and positioned physically separate from the first and second jaws such that a distal end of the electrical stimulation probe does not touch the first and the second jaws; the handle assembly configured to manipulate the first and second jaws to define an open position and a closed position; the end effector configured to; selectively deliver, through the first and second jaws, therapeutic energy at a higher energy level for sealing or cutting tissue at a surgical site; and selectively deliver, through the electrical stimulation probe, nontherapeutic energy at a lower energy level for providing electrical stimulation to nerve tissue at the surgical site; the power generator configured to; generate the therapeutic energy at the higher energy level to be transmitted to the end effector; and generate the nontherapeutic energy at the lower energy level to be transmitted to the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification