Vessel sealer and divider
First Claim
1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
a shaft extending distally from the housing;
first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the first and second jaw members including first and second seal surfaces, respectively, the first and second seal surfaces defining first and second knife channels, respectively, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other from a open position to a closed position to grasp tissue between the first and second seal surfaces, the first and second seal surfaces adaptable to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the first and second seal surfaces are capable of conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween;
a drive rod extending from the housing and through the shaft, the drive rod operably coupled with at least one of the first or second jaw members such that proximal translation of the drive rod moves the at least one of the first or second jaw members relative to the other to the closed position;
a drive linkage including at least a first end portion and a second end portion;
a movable handle coupled to the housing and movable proximally relative to a fixed handle portion of the housing from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position, the movable handle pivotably connected to the first end portion of the drive linkage;
a spring disposed within the housing, wherein a first end portion of the spring is operably coupled to the second end portion of drive linkage and wherein a second end portion of the spring is operably coupled to the drive rod, wherein movement of the drive linkage, in response to proximal movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position moves the spring proximally to translate the drive rod proximally to thereby move the at least one of the first or second jaw members relative to the other to the closed position to maintain a compressive force between the first and second jaw members about tissue grasped between the first and second seal surfaces;
at least one stop member disposed on at least one of the first or second jaw members, the at least one stop member configured to regulate a gap distance between the first and second sealing surfaces in the closed position, wherein the gap distance and the compressive force facilitate sealing tissue grasped between the first and second sealing surfaces; and
a knife configured to translate through the first and second knife channels to cut sealed tissue.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A 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.
1570 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; a shaft extending distally from the housing; first and second jaw members disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the first and second jaw members including first and second seal surfaces, respectively, the first and second seal surfaces defining first and second knife channels, respectively, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other from a open position to a closed position to grasp tissue between the first and second seal surfaces, the first and second seal surfaces adaptable to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the first and second seal surfaces are capable of conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween; a drive rod extending from the housing and through the shaft, the drive rod operably coupled with at least one of the first or second jaw members such that proximal translation of the drive rod moves the at least one of the first or second jaw members relative to the other to the closed position; a drive linkage including at least a first end portion and a second end portion; a movable handle coupled to the housing and movable proximally relative to a fixed handle portion of the housing from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position, the movable handle pivotably connected to the first end portion of the drive linkage; a spring disposed within the housing, wherein a first end portion of the spring is operably coupled to the second end portion of drive linkage and wherein a second end portion of the spring is operably coupled to the drive rod, wherein movement of the drive linkage, in response to proximal movement of the movable handle from the spaced-apart position towards the approximated position moves the spring proximally to translate the drive rod proximally to thereby move the at least one of the first or second jaw members relative to the other to the closed position to maintain a compressive force between the first and second jaw members about tissue grasped between the first and second seal surfaces; at least one stop member disposed on at least one of the first or second jaw members, the at least one stop member configured to regulate a gap distance between the first and second sealing surfaces in the closed position, wherein the gap distance and the compressive force facilitate sealing tissue grasped between the first and second sealing surfaces; and a knife configured to translate through the first and second knife channels to cut sealed tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification