ELECTROSURGICAL CUTTING AND SEALING INSTRUMENT

• US 20120022527A1
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Woodruff, Scott A., Weizman, Patrick A., Payne, Gwendolyn P., Korvick, Donna L., Norvell, David K., Zingman, Aron O.
• Granted Patent: US 9,192,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• 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 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors
• 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 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00309 passive, e.g. palpable click when activating a button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00773 Sensed parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue can comprise a jaw member comprising an electrode, wherein the electrode is configured to supply energy from a power source to captured tissue. The surgical instrument comprises a tissue-cutting element to transect the captured tissue. The rate of distal translation of the tissue-cutting element during the operational stroke may be regulated by a damper. The damper may have barrel and a plunger.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

a trigger moveable between a first position and a second position;

an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between an open and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element configured to translate with respect to the first jaw and the second jaw; and

an electrode;

an axially moveable cutting member configured to open and close the jaws, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially movable member; and

a damper coupled to the trigger and the axially moveable cutting member.

2. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the axially moveable cutting member is configured to move distally when the trigger is moved between the first and second position.

3. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the damper comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein an outer diameter of the plunger is in sealing engagement with an inner diameter of the barrel, wherein the plunger is movable between a first and second position.

4. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the barrel defines at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice.

5. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 4, further comprises a check valve positioned proximate the inlet orifice.

6. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 4, wherein a cross-sectional area of the outlet orifice is variable.

7. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 4, wherein a cross-sectional area of the at least one inlet orifice is less than the cross-sectional area of the at least one outlet orifice.

8. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the trigger is coupled to the plunger.

9. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the barrel defines a variable volume cavity.

10. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the damper further comprises a biasing element opposing the movement of the plunger from the first position to the second position.

11. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the axially moveable cutting member extends through an orifice in the barrel.

12. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising

an electrical input;

a switch movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein the electrical input is electronically coupled to the electrode when the switch is in the actuated position.

13. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between an open and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element configured to translate with respect to the first jaw and the second jaw; and

an electrode;

an axially moveable cutting member configured to open and close the jaws, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially movable member;

a trigger moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger is coupled to the axially moveable cutting member; and

a damper positioned in the handle, wherein the damper is positioned to engage the trigger and oppose movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position.

14. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 13, wherein damper comprises a sealed cavity holding a viscous fluid.

15. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the damper comprises a piston and a piston cylinder, and wherein the piston is movable between a first position and a second position.

16. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising

an electrical input;

and

a switch movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein the electrical input is electronically coupled to the electrode when the switch is in the actuated position.

17. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the damper is a hydraulic damper.

18. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle;

an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft, comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between an open and a closed position;

a tissue-cutting element configured to translate with respect to the first jaw and the second jaw; and

an electrode;

an axially moveable cutting member configured to open and close the jaws, the tissue-cutting element positioned at a distal end of the axially movable member;

a trigger moveable between a first position and a second position; and

a damper, wherein the damper comprises a barrel and a plunger, wherein the plunger is coupled to the axially moveable cutting member and the trigger.

19. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the damper further comprises a spring positioned internal to the barrel intermediate the plunger and a distal end of the barrel.

20. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the barrel defines an outlet orifice.