Vessel sealing instrument with multiple electrode configurations

• US 20080058802A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Couture, Gary M., Weinberg, Craig, Sharp, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening

Abstract

An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and cutting vessels and/or tissue is provided. The assembly includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members. Each jaw member includes at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces extending along a length thereof. Each tissue sealing surface is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy to effect a tissue seal. An insulator is disposed adjacent to the at least one the electrically conductive sealing surfaces. The jaw members include an electrically conductive cutting element which effectively cuts tissue within pre-defined cutting zone between the jaw members. The polarity of the cutting element and electrically conductive sealing surfaces may be manipulated depending upon whether tissue sealing or tissue cutting is desired.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and/or cutting tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:

a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween;

an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces;

the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces and the cutting element;

wherein the cutting element and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a first potential during a sealing process and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a different potential from the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal; and

the cutting element being configured to maintain the same potential during a cutting process and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member being energized to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effectively cut tissue.

2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting and sealing processes are automatically controlled by an electrosurgical energy source.

3. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the potential of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the potential of the cutting element are independently activatable by a surgeon.

4. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for determining seal quality prior to the cutting process.

5. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element is substantially dull and only capable of cutting tissue through electrosurgical activation.

6. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrically conductive cutting element operatively connected to the second jaw member, the second cutting element polarized to the same potential as the cutting element of the first jaw member.

7. The electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the second cutting element is disposed within the insulator of the second jaw member.

8. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the potentials of the cutting element and the electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces are selectively alterable.

9. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein each jaw member includes only one electrically conductive sealing surface.

10. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein each jaw member includes only one electrically conductive sealing surface and only one of the jaw members includes the electrically conductive cutting element.

11. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and/or cutting tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:

a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween;

an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces;

the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the cutting element;

wherein the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface includes at least one sealing section operatively connected to at least one flange, the at least one flange configured to control a gap distance between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the second jaw member; and

a second insulator adjacent the at least one flange dimensioned to reduce stray currents and heat dissipation inwardly towards the at least one cutting zone.

12. The electrode assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one flange is L-shaped.

13. The electrode assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one sealing section is U-shaped.

14. The electrode assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one flange and the cutting element define the cutting zone disposed inwardly of the at least one flange.

15. The electrode assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cutting element and the electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a potential during a sealing process and the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a different potential from the corresponding at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal.

16. An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and cutting vessels and/or tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:

a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween;

an insulator having a first portion which extends between at least one flange and an electrically conductive cutting element to a point in general horizontal registration with the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces;

the first jaw member including an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator of the first jaw member, the electrically conductive cutting element disposed in general vertical registration to the insulator on the second jaw member defining at least one cutting zone between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces and the cutting element;

wherein the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface includes at least one sealing section operatively connected to at least one flange, the at least one flange extending from an inner leg of the at least one sealing section, the at least one flange configured to control a gap distance between the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the second jaw member;

wherein the cutting element and the electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a potential during a sealing process and the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the first jaw member are energized to a different potential from the corresponding at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal; and

the cutting element being configured to maintain the same potential during a cutting stage and the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces on the second jaw member being energized to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue cut.

17. The electrode assembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one flange is L-shaped.

18. The electrode assembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sealing section is U-shaped.

19. The electrode assembly according to claim 16, further comprising an insulator dimensioned to reduce stray currents and heat dissipation inwardly towards the at least one cutting zone.

20. The electrode assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a second portion of the insulator disposed between the cutting element and the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces, the insulator being recessed with respect to the at least one electrically conductive sealing surfaces.

21. A method for sealing and cutting tissue comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, each jaw member including at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween;

providing an insulator disposed adjacent to each of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces;

energizing a cutting element and the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member to a potential during a sealing process, the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member being energized to a different potential from the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effect a tissue seal;

configuring the cutting element to maintain the same potential during a cutting process; and

energizing the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the first jaw member and the corresponding at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces on the second jaw member to a different potential than the cutting element such that electrosurgical energy can be transferred through the tissue to effectively cut tissue.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of

providing a second electrically conductive cutting element operatively connected to the second jaw member, the second cutting element being polarized to the same potential as the cutting element of the first jaw member.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein during the second iteration of the energizing step, the potential of the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surface of the first jaw member and the potential of the cutting element are independently activatable by a surgeon.