SURGICAL END EFFECTORS HAVING ANGLED TISSUE-CONTACTING SURFACES

• US 20180140368A1
• Filed: 11/10/2017
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Baxter, III, Chester O., Yates, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery

Abstract

Surgical end effectors are disclosed having angled tissue-contacting surfaces. The end effectors may have a first jaw member that is movable relative to a second jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The first jaw member may have a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface. The second jaw member may have a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface. At least one of the jaw members may have at least one active electrode configured to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when in the closed position.

Claims

1. An end effector comprising:

a first jaw member comprising a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and

a second jaw member comprising a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface;

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

wherein at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member comprises at least one active electrode disposed on the jaw member adjacent to the positively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and

wherein the at least one active electrode is configured to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when in the closed position.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the at least one active electrode is disposed on the second jaw member, and further comprising at least one return electrode disposed on the first jaw member, wherein the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode are in a bipolar configuration.

3. The end effector of claim 1, wherein:

the first jaw member comprises the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and

the second jaw member comprises the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a second-negatively angled tissue-contacting surface;

wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position, and wherein the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface independently form angles relative to respective clamping planes, the angles ranging from 25 degrees to 50 degrees.

5. The end effector of claim 4, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface form the same angle relative to respective clamping planes.

6. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface is disposed along substantially an entire length of the first jaw member, and wherein the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface is disposed along substantially an entire length of the second jaw member.

7. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface is disposed along a first proximal tissue-contacting portion of the first jaw member, and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface is disposed along a second proximal tissue-contacting portion of the second jaw member.

8. The end effector of claim 7, wherein the first jaw member comprises a first distal textured portion adjacent to the first proximal tissue-contacting portion, and wherein the second jaw member comprises a second distal textured portion adjacent to a second proximal tissue-contacting portion.

9. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising an I-beam member configured to operably translate within opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member.

10. The end effector of claim 9, wherein the I-beam member comprises a cutting member, and wherein the I-beam member is configured to translate within the opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member from a proximally retracted position to a distally advanced position to transect tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position.

11. An end effector comprising:

a first jaw member comprising a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and

a second jaw member comprising a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a second-negatively angled tissue-contacting surface;

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

wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position, and wherein the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position.

12. The end effector of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one active electrode disposed on the second jaw member between the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and

at least one return electrode disposed on the first jaw member;

wherein the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode are in a bipolar configuration to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position.

13. The end effector of claim 11, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface independently form angles relative to respective clamping planes, the angles ranging from 25 degrees to 50 degrees.

14. The end effector of claim 13, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface form the same angle relative to respective clamping planes.

15. The end effector of claim 11, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface are disposed along substantially an entire length of the first jaw member, and wherein the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface are disposed along substantially an entire length of the second jaw member.

16. The end effector of claim 11, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface is disposed along a first proximal tissue-contacting portion of the first jaw member, and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface is disposed along a second proximal tissue-contacting portion of a length of the second jaw member.

17. The end effector of claim 16, wherein the first jaw member comprises a first distal textured portion adjacent to the first proximal tissue-contacting portion, and wherein the second jaw member comprises a second distal textured portion adjacent to the second proximal tissue-contacting portion.

18. The end effector of claim 11, further comprising an I-beam member configured to operably translate within opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member.

19. The end effector of claim 18, wherein the I-beam member comprises a cutting member, and wherein the I-beam member is configured to translate within the opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member from a proximally retracted position to a distally advanced position to transect tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member.

20. An end effector comprising:

a first jaw member comprising;

a first proximal tissue-contacting portion;

a first distal textured portion adjacent to the first proximal tissue-contacting portion;

a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface disposed along the first proximal tissue-contacting portion; and

at least one first electrode located in the first proximal tissue-contacting portion adjacent to the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and

a second jaw member comprising;

a second proximal tissue-contacting portion;

a second distal textured portion adjacent to the second proximal tissue-contacting portion;

a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface disposed along the second proximal tissue-contacting portion; and

at least one second electrode located in the second proximal tissue-contacting portion adjacent to the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface;

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

wherein the at least one first electrode and second electrode are in a bipolar configuration to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when in the closed position.