Bipolar forceps having monopolar extension

• US 8,597,296 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lawes, Kate, Dycus, Sean T., Cosgriff, Ned
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US13/600,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 606 50- 52
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1246 characterised by the output polarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar

Abstract

An endoscopic forceps for treating tissue includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto which has first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof. The forceps also includes an actuator for moving jaw members 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. Each of the jaw members is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are selectively capable of operating in a bipolar mode which enables the jaw members to conduct bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to treat tissue. The forceps also includes a monopolar element housed within the first jaw member which is selectively movable from a first position within the first jaw member to a second position distal to the first jaw member. The monopolar element is connected to the source of electrosurgical energy and is selectively activateable independent of the bipolar mode.

Claims

1. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft affixed thereto, the shaft including first and second jaw members attached to a distal end thereof, each of the first and second jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the first and second jaw members are selectively capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to treat the tissue;

a first actuator operably associated with the housing and configured to move the first and second jaw members relative to one another from a first condition wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second condition wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp the tissue therebetween;

a monopolar element housed within at least the first jaw member and selectively movable from a first position within the first jaw member to a second position extending from a distal end of the first jaw member;

a second actuator operatively associated with the housing and configured to extend the monopolar element from the first position to the second position; and

a knife that is selectively movable within a knife channel defined within at least one of the first and second jaw members to cut the tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members, the knife being selectively movable to cut the tissue at least when the monopolar element is in the first position within the first jaw member.

2. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger configured to move from an initial position to a cutting position to selectively divide the tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members and to move to an energized position to selectively supply energy to the monopolar element from the source of electrosurgical energy.

3. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the endoscopic forceps is a vessel sealing forceps and at least one of the first and second jaw members includes at least one non-conductive stop member disposed thereon configured to control a distance between the first and second jaw members when tissue is held therebetween.

4. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger operably associated with the housing and configured to move the knife to divide the tissue between the first and second jaw members and to extend the monopolar element from the first position to the second position.

5. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 2, wherein when the monopolar element is moved to the second position, the supply of electrosurgical energy to the first and second jaw members is deactivated and the supply of electrosurgical energy to the monopolar element is activated.

6. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1, wherein the monopolar element includes a safety that only allows electrical activation of the monopolar element when the monopolar element is in the second position.