Medical coagulation instrument

• US 8,974,455 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Bacher, Uwe, Hermle, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAHDAT, KHADIJEH A
• Application Number:
  US12/816,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 606 21- 52
• US Class Current: 606/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 for smoke evacuation

Abstract

A medical coagulation instrument having a shaft as well as at least one electrode tip that extends beyond the distal end of the shaft. To create a coagulation instrument whose electrodes are of simple structure and ensure an atraumatic and safe handling, at least one electrode tip should be widened or be configured as widening in the distal direction.

Claims

1. A medical coagulation instrument comprising:

a shaft;

two electrode tips extending beyond a distal end of the shaft, at least one of said two electrode tips widening in the distal direction; and

at least one small plate affixed to one of an outer surface, an inner surface, or both an outer and an inner surface of at least one of said two electrode tips, wherein the at least one small plate is electrically conductive;

said two electrode tips being oriented essentially parallel to one another, the inner surface of each of said two electrode tips facing towards each other and the outer surface of each of said two electrode tips facing away from one another;

wherein the at least one small plate has a thickness, said thickness of the at least one small plate increases in the distal direction.

2. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein each of said two electrode tips extend beyond the distal end of the shaft are electrically insulated with respect to one another, and widen in the distal direction.

3. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein the two electrode tips are configured as thickening in the distal direction.

4. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein the two electrode tips are configured as widening conically in the distal direction.

5. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein the two electrode tips are configured as widening in fan shape in the distal direction.

6. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein the two electrode tips are configured as widening in stages in the distal direction.

7. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 6, wherein the two electrode tips comprise sections of constant thickness in the distal direction.

8. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one small plate has a wideness, said wideness of the at least one small plate increases in the outward direction.

9. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said at least one small plate is essentially equal to a thickness at least one of said two electrode tips.

10. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of at least one of said two electrode tips is configured as rounded.

11. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 1 wherein said at least one small plate is at least two small plates and each of said two electrode tips has one of said two small plates affixed thereto.

12. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 11, wherein each of the at least one small plate has a wideness, said wideness of the at least one small plate varies, and in particular increases in the outward direction.

13. The medical coagulation instrument according to claim 11, wherein the thickness of each of the at least one small plate is essentially equal to the thickness of at least one of said two electrode tips.