Multi-function bi-polar forceps

• US 10,881,449 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Issued: 01/05/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Voegele, Aaron C., Scheib, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fowler, Daniel W
• Application Number:
  US15/151,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20160270843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• 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 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00428 Severing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

An end effector is disclosed. The end effector includes a first jaw member. The first jaw member comprises a first electrode. The first jaw member defines a first aperture at a distal end. The end effector includes a second jaw member. The second jaw member comprises a second electrode. The second jaw member defines a second aperture at a distal end. The second jaw member is operatively coupled to the first jaw member. The first and second apertures are configured to define a single aperture when the first and second jaw members are in a closed position. The first and second electrodes are configured to deliver energy.

Claims

1. An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw member, comprising;

a proximal portion;

a distal portion;

a first tissue-contacting surface extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion that defines a first aperture at the distal portion of the first jaw member, and defines a first channel running longitudinally from the proximal portion to the first aperture such that the first channel connects with the first aperture;

a first electrode positioned on a first side of the first tissue-contacting surface relative to the first channel; and

a second electrode positioned on a second side of the first tissue-contacting surface opposite the first side, relative to the first channel;

wherein the first aperture is defined distal to the first and second electrodes such that a distal end of the first electrode and a distal end of the second electrode are both proximal to a proximal end of the first aperture and a non-electrode space of the first tissue-contacting surface is defined between the first aperture and the first and second electrodes; and

a second jaw member operably coupled to the first jaw member, wherein the second jaw member comprises;

a proximal portion;

a distal portion; and

a second tissue-contacting surface extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the second tissue-contacting surface defines a second aperture at the distal portion of the second jaw member, and defines a second channel running longitudinally from the proximal portion of the second jaw member to the second aperture such that the second channel connects with the second aperture;

wherein;

the first jaw member and second jaw member are actuatable to a closed position, the first aperture and the second aperture define a common aperture in the closed position,

the first and second jaw members define a longitudinal channel in the closed position formed by the first and second channels,

the first aperture is bounded at a distal end of the first aperture at three bounding portions and intersects the longitudinal channel at the proximal end of the first aperture;

the second aperture is bounded at a distal end of the second aperture at three bounding portions and intersects the longitudinal channel at a proximal end of the second aperture;

the common aperture extends through the first jaw member, from the first tissue-contacting surface to a surface opposite the first tissue-contacting surface, and the second jaw member, from the second tissue-contacting surface to a surface opposite the second tissue-contacting surface, in a direction that the first jaw member and the second jaw member actuate in,

the defined longitudinal channel is proximal to the defined common aperture, and

the defined longitudinal channel is configured to slideably receive a cutting member.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to deliver at least one of monopolar electrosurgical energy, bipolar electrosurgical energy, ultrasonic energy, or any combination thereof.

3. The end effector of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to deliver bipolar electrosurgical energy and the second jaw member further comprises an energy return path surface electrically coupled to a return conductor.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the defined common aperture is configured to grip tissue.

5. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an actuator; and

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first tissue-contact surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the first jaw, wherein the first tissue-contact surface comprises a first electrode and defines at least one opening at the distal end of the first jaw, and defines a first channel running longitudinally from the proximal end to the at least one opening such that the first channel connects with the at least one opening; and

a second jaw movably coupled to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a second tissue-contact surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the second jaw, wherein the second tissue-contact surface comprises a second electrode and defines an opening at the distal end of the second jaw, and defines a second channel running longitudinally from the proximal end of the second jaw to the opening such that the second channel connects with the opening;

wherein;

the actuator is configured to transition the first jaw and the second jaw to a closed position,

the at least one opening at the distal end of the first jaw interfaces with the opening at the distal end of the second jaw to define a mutual aperture in the closed position,

the first and second jaw define a longitudinal channel in the closed position formed by the first and second channels,

the at least one opening of the first jaw is defined distal to the first electrode such that a distal end of the first electrode is proximal to a proximal end of the at least one opening of the first jaw and a non-electrode space of the first tissue-contact surface is defined between the at least one opening of the first jaw and the first electrode;

the opening of the second jaw is defined distal to the second electrode such that a distal end of the second electrode is proximal to a proximal end of the opening of the second jaw and a non-electrode space of the second tissue-contact surface is defined between the opening of the second jaw and the second electrode;

the at least one opening of the first jaw is bounded at a distal end of the at least one opening at three bounding portions, the distal end of the at least one opening is narrower in width than the proximal end of the at least one opening, and the at least one opening intersects the longitudinal channel at the proximal end of the at least one opening;

the opening of the second jaw is bounded at a distal end of the opening at three bounding portions, the distal end of the opening is narrower in width than the proximal end of the opening, and the opening intersects the longitudinal channel at the proximal end of the opening;

the mutual aperture extends through the first jaw, from the first tissue-contact surface to a surface opposite the first tissue-contact surface, and the second jaw, from the second tissue-contact surface to a surface opposite the second tissue-contact surface, in a direction that the first jaw and the second jaw actuate in,

the defined longitudinal channel is proximal to the defined mutual aperture, and

the defined longitudinal channel is configured to slideably receive a cutting member.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode comprises a conductive-resistive matrix.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to deliver monopolar electrosurgical energy, bipolar electrosurgical energy, ultrasonic energy, or a combination thereof.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the defined mutual aperture is configured to grip tissue.

9. An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw, comprising;

a proximal portion;

a distal portion; and

a first engagement surface comprising a first energy contact surface and defines a first aperture at the distal portion of the first jaw, and defines a first channel running longitudinally from the proximal portion to the first aperture such that the first channel connects with the first aperture; and

a second jaw coupled to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw comprises;

a proximal portion;

a distal portion; and

a second engagement surface comprising a second energy contact surface and defines a second aperture at the distal portion of the second jaw, and defines a second channel running longitudinally from the proximal portion of the second jaw to the second aperture such that the second channel connects with the second aperture;

wherein;

the first and second jaw are actuatable to a closed position,

the first and second jaw define a longitudinal channel in the closed position that is formed by the first and second channels, and the first and second aperture define a common aperture in the closed position,

the first aperture is defined distal to the first energy contact surface such that a distal end of the first energy contact surface is proximal to a proximal end of the first aperture and a non-energy contact space of the first engagement surface is defined between the first aperture and the first energy contact surface;

the second aperture is defined distal to the second energy contact surface such that a distal end of the second energy contact surface is proximal to a proximal end of the second aperture and a non-energy contact space of the second engagement surface is defined between the second aperture and the second energy contact surface;

the first aperture is bounded at a distal end of the first aperture at three bounding portions defining sides of a trapezoidal shape together with the proximal end of the first aperture defining a base of the trapezoidal shape, and the first aperture intersects the longitudinal channel at the proximal end of the first aperture;

the second aperture is bounded at a distal end of the second aperture at three bounding portions defining sides of a trapezoidal shape together with the proximal end of the second aperture defining a base of the trapezoidal shape, and the second aperture intersects the longitudinal channel at the proximal end of the second aperture;

the common aperture extends through the first jaw, from the first engagement surface to a surface opposite the first engagement surface, and the second jaw, from the second engagement surface to a surface opposite the second engagement surface, in a direction that the first jaw and the second jaw actuate in,

the defined longitudinal channel is proximal to the defined common aperture, and

the defined longitudinal channel is configured to slideably receive a cutting member.