Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215051 | Laparoscopic Bipolar Electrosurgical Instrument - A laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes a handle having an elongated tube affixed thereto. The tube includes first and second jaw members having electrically conductive sealing surfaces attached to a distal end thereof which are movable from a first position for approximating tissue to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. The handle includes a fixed handle and a handle which is movable relative to the fixed handle to effect movement of the jaw members from the first position to the second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the opposable sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. A stop is included for maintaining a minimum separation distance between opposing sealing surfaces. A ratchet is also included to maintain a closure force in the range of about 7 kg/cm | 09-04-2008 |
20080249527 | Electrosurgical instrument reducing current densities at an insulator conductor junction - An electrosurgical instrument having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another, includes a pair of electrodes each including an electrically conductive surface (e.g., which can be dimensioned for sealing, clamping and/or cutting), an insulating substrate having a first edge, and an insulating layer positioned in a channel formed by the electrically conductive surface within the first edge between the conductive surface and the first edge of the insulating substrate. The insulating layer has a portion proximal to the electrically conductive surface and a portion distal from the electrically conductive surface and a gradient such that the proximal portion has a lower dielectric strength than the distal portion. A coating on one of the pair of electrodes may be disposed in at least partial non-vertical registration with a coating on the opposing one of the pair of electrodes. | 10-09-2008 |
20080312653 | Mechanism for Dividing Tissue in a Hemostat-Style Instrument - Open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue are provided which include first and second shaft portions pivotably associated with one another. Each shaft portion has a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing surface adapted to communicate electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween and a slot formed through the sealing surface thereof. The forceps includes a cutting mechanism operatively associated with the first and second jaw members. The cutting mechanism includes a cutting element disposed within the slot of the at least one jaw member, the cutting element being movable from a first position wherein the cutting element is retracted within the at least one jaw member and a second position in which the cutting element at least partially projects from a sealing surface of the at least one jaw member. | 12-18-2008 |
20100179543 | Vessel Sealing Instrument With Electrical Cutting Mechanism - An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal. | 07-15-2010 |
20110178519 | Vessel Sealing Instrument with Electrical Cutting Mechanism - An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. At least one channel is included in the insulator which is configured to deliver fluid between the jaw members. | 07-21-2011 |
20110301607 | Apparatus and Method for Optimal Tissue Separation - A system and method for optimizing tissue separation using modulated or duty cycle controlled waveforms on desiccated tissue, where the desiccated tissue has a high electrical impedance. In bipolar electrosurgical procedures, tissue separation is separated with the application of an electrical signal. When tissue does not completely separate and becomes desiccated, generator may generate a duty cycle controlled waveform with specified duty cycle and frequency or modulated waveform. Modulated waveform is generated by adding or multiplying one or more waveforms together. Modulated or duty cycle waveforms create power pulses with higher voltages and a low RMS value. Power pulses drive power and create heat in the high impedance tissue. The creation of heat helps to mobilize water content adjacent to the desiccated tissue. The heating and mobilization of water induces motion into the tissue and aids in the complete separation of tissue while keeping the RMS power low. | 12-08-2011 |
20120010614 | Optimal Geometries for Creating Current Densities in a Bipolar Electrode Configuration - An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a first jaw member having a first pair of tissue contacting surfaces and an insulator disposed therebetween. The end effector assembly also has a second jaw member that includes a second pair of tissue contacting surfaces, a pair of insulators disposed between the second pair of tissue contacting surfaces, and a cutting element disposed between the pair of insulators. The relative movement of the first jaw member toward the second jaw member causes the insulator of the first jaw member and the pair of insulators of the second jaw member to pinch tissue disposed between the first jaw member and the second jaw member. | 01-12-2012 |
20120029515 | Local Optimization of Electrode Current Densities - An end effector assembly for use with a bipolar forceps includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members at least one of which being movable relative to the other to grasp tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart, electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces. Each tissue sealing surface is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy to conduct electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. The forceps also includes an insulator disposed between each pair of electrically conductive sealing surfaces and an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within each insulator and defining a geometrical configuration including a plurality of peaks having a period that is a multiple of an operating frequency of the electrosurgical energy. The cutting elements are adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy to conduct electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue cut. | 02-02-2012 |
20120059371 | Dynamic and Static Bipolar Electrical Sealing and Cutting Device - An end effector assembly includes opposed jaws moveable from an open to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw includes an electrically conductive surface adapted to conduct electrosurgical energy through tissue disposed between the jaws. A static bipolar cutting portion including at least one electrically conductive cutting element and at least one insulating element having a first configuration is disposed on at least one of the jaws. The static cutting portion is configured to electrically cut tissue disposed between the jaws upon activation of the cutting element and at least one of an opposing sealing surface and an opposing cutting element. A dynamic cutting portion including at least one electrically conductive cutting element and at least one insulating element having a second configuration is disposed on at least one of the jaws. The dynamic cutting portion electrically transects tissue during movement relative to tissue. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059375 | Asymmetrical Electrodes for Bipolar Vessel Sealing - Bipolar electrosurgical instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes an outer housing, and an inner tissue engaging surface corresponding to the inner tissue engaging surface of the opposing jaw. The instruments includes the ability to move the 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. The jaws include asymmetrical electrodes disposed on the inner tissue engaging surfaces. A first contact region of the electrode has a greater surface area than that of the second contact region. During resection procedures wider electrodes impart improved sealing energy to the patient-side vessel while providing sufficient energy to resected tissue to effect hemostasis. | 03-08-2012 |
20120233844 | VESSEL SEALING INSTRUMENT WITH ELECTRICAL CUTTING MECHANISM - An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein. | 09-20-2012 |
20130190760 | Surgical Tissue Sealer - A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between a first, spaced-apart position and a second position proximate tissue, wherein, in the second position, the jaw members cooperate to define a cavity that is configured to receive tissue between the jaw members and a resilient electrically conductive sealing surface operably coupled to at least one jaw member, the resilient electrically conductive sealing surface selectively positionable from a first unflexed position to a second flexed position. | 07-25-2013 |
20130232753 | Surgical Tissue Sealer - A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly is provided. The method includes grasping a gap-setting gauge between first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second position proximate tissue and setting the first and second jaw members such that in the approximated position the jaw members cooperate to define a gap distance between the jaw members equivalent to the thickness of the gap-setting gauge such that when positioning tissue between the jaw members full approximation of the jaws is limited to the gap distance. | 09-12-2013 |
20130304066 | Apparatus for Activating an Electrosurgical Vessel Sealing Instrument Having an Electrical Cutting Mechanism - An electrosurgical forceps is provided and includes a housing, a shaft and a pair of opposing first and second jaw members. Each jaw member including a pair of spaced apart, electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces 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 to effect a seal. One or both of the first and second jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed thereon. A switch assembly operably disposed on the housing includes an activation member in operable communication with the source of electrosurgical energy for supplying electrosurgical energy to the first and second jaw members. Activation of the activation member provides electrosurgical energy to the tissue sealing surfaces for sealing tissue and electrosurgical energy to the cutting element for cutting the sealed tissue. | 11-14-2013 |
20140163552 | DYNAMIC AND STATIC BIPOLAR ELECTRICAL SEALING AND CUTTING DEVICE - An end effector assembly includes opposed jaws moveable from an open to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw includes an electrically conductive surface adapted to conduct electrosurgical energy through tissue disposed between the jaws. A static bipolar cutting portion including at least one electrically conductive cutting element and at least one insulating element having a first configuration is disposed on at least one of the jaws. The static cutting portion is configured to electrically cut tissue disposed between the jaws upon activation of the cutting element and at least one of an opposing sealing surface and an opposing cutting element. A dynamic cutting portion including at least one electrically conductive cutting element and at least one insulating element having a second configuration is disposed on at least one of the jaws. The dynamic cutting portion electrically transects tissue during movement relative to tissue. | 06-12-2014 |
20140194875 | SURGICAL FORCEPS - A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of energy to treat tissue grasped between the jaw members. The first jaw member includes a cutting electrode adapted to connect to the source of energy to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members, while the second jaw member including a first insulative member positioned to oppose the cutting electrode. The first insulative member is configured to guide the cutting electrode into alignment with the first insulative member upon approximation of the jaw members to thereby align the jaw members relative to one another upon approximation of the jaw members. | 07-10-2014 |
20140243811 | LIMITED USE MEDICAL DEVICES - The present disclosure is directed to a surgical system that may include an end effector assembly configured to conduct energy through tissue to treat tissue, the end effector assembly including at least one limited-use portion, the limited-use portion configured to degrade during use, and a control system configured to monitor degradation of the limited-use portion. | 08-28-2014 |
20140284841 | SURGICAL TISSUE SEALER - A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly includes providing first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second, approximated position. One of the first and second jaw members includes a cavity defined therein and the other of the first and second jaw members includes a stop member configured to be inserted into the cavity. A gap-setting gauge is grasped between the first and second jaw members to define a gap-distance between the jaw members equivalent to a thickness of the gap-setting gauge. The first and second jaw members are set such that the jaw members are prevented from approximation beyond the gap-distance. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288553 | VESSEL SEALING INSTRUMENT WITH ELECTRICAL CUTTING MECHANISM - An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal. | 09-25-2014 |
20150032100 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING AN ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR - The systems and methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure provide optimal tissue effect during an electrosurgical procedure. A system and method for controlling an electrosurgical generator is provided including sensing an impedance of target tissue; generating electrosurgical energy in a first phase at a first power level until the sensed impedance of the target tissue is greater than a first threshold impedance; generating a plurality of pulses of electrosurgical energy in a second phase at a second power level, each pulse being generated until the sensed impedance of the target tissue is greater than a second threshold impedance set for that pulse; and generating at least one high-voltage pulse in a third phase at a third power level for a predetermined duration to divide the target tissue. | 01-29-2015 |
20150088128 | ELECTRODE FOR USE IN A BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A end-effector assembly includes opposing first and second jaw assemblies, at least one of the first and second assemblies movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the jaw assemblies are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another wherein the jaw assemblies cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The first jaw assembly includes a first housing and a first electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure associated with at least a portion of the first housing. The second jaw assembly includes a second housing and a second electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure associated with at least a portion of the second housing. The end-effector assembly includes a dissector electrode coupled along at least a portion of a lateral side portion of either one of the first housing or the second housing. The dissector electrode is electrically-isolated from the first and second electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structures. | 03-26-2015 |