Surgical system for connecting body tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10772679-B2
Application number	US-201615345622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2009
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A surgical system for connecting body tissue is provided. The surgical system includes a surgical instrument having two tool elements movable relative to each other, each of which comprises a high-frequency electrode. The high-frequency electrodes, in an approach position of the tool elements, define a minimum distance from each other, lying opposite each other and facing each other. The instrument has a shaft at the distal end of which at least a first one of the tool elements is arranged or formed. A second tool element is movable from an operating position, in which it is adapted for movement into the approach position, into a removal position and/or vice versa. A surface area of a perpendicular projection of the second tool element onto a projection plane extending perpendicularly to a shaft direction in a region of the second tool element is smaller in the removal position than in the operating position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Surgical system for connecting tubular parts of body tissue, for end-to-end, side-to-end or side-to-side anastomosis, comprising:
a surgical instrument comprising:
a first ring-shaped or plate-shaped tool element and a second ring-shaped or plate-shaped tool element movable relative to each other, each of which forms a ring-shaped, self-contained high-frequency electrode element, at least one of the high-frequency electrode elements comprising more than two arc-shaped strip electrodes electrically insulated from each other which extend in a circumferential direction, the high-frequency electrode elements, in an approach position of the tool elements, defining a minimum distance from each other, lying opposite each other and facing each other, and
a shaft at a distal end of which at least the first tool element is arranged or formed,

wherein:
portions of adjacent arc-shaped strip electrodes of the more than two arc-shaped strip electrodes overlap one another,
a sum of lengths of the more than two arc-shaped strip electrodes exceeds a length of the at least one high-frequency electrode element, and
the second tool element is adapted to be moved from an operating position, in which it is adapted for movement into the approach position, into a removal position and/or vice versa, such that a surface area of a perpendicular projection of the second tool element onto a projection plane extending perpendicularly to a shaft direction in a region of the second tool element being smaller in the removal position than in the operating position.

2. Surgical system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second tool element is mounted for movement on a holding member.

3. Surgical system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the second tool element is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which extends perpendicularly to a holding member longitudinal axis defined by the holding member.

4. Surgical system in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising a folding mechanism for transferring the second tool element from the operating position into the removal position.

5. Surgical system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the folding mechanism comprises a force transmitting element for transmitting an actuating force onto the second tool element to transfer the second tool element from the operating position into the removal position and/or vice versa.

6. Surgical system in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the force transmitting element and the holding member are configured for at least one of displacement, rotation, and screwing relative to each other.

7. Surgical system in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising an actuating mechanism coupled with at least one of the folding mechanism, the force transmitting element, and the holding member for at least one of actuating the folding mechanism and moving the force transmitting element and/or the holding member relative to the shaft.

8. Surgical system in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the second tool element and the force transmitting element are articulatedly coupled to each other by at least one articulation member.

9. Surgical system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second tool element is of two-part or multi-part configuration.

10. Surgical system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second tool element comprises at least two tool element parts which are movable relative to each other during a transition from the operating position to the removal position.

11. Surgical system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electrode element of the second tool element is movable in the shaft direction and movable in a direction towards and away from the first tool element.

12. Surgical system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the instrument further comprises an actuating device for moving the tool elements relative to each other.

13. Surgical system for connecting tubular parts of body tissue, for end-to-end, side-to-end or side-to-side anastomosis, comprising:
a surgical instrument comprising:
a first ring-shaped or plate-shaped tool element and a second ring-shaped or plate-shaped tool element movable relative to each other, each of which forms a ring-shaped, self-contained high-frequency electrode element, at least one of the high-frequency electrode elements comprising a plurality of arc-shaped electrode segments electrically insulated from each other which extend in a circumferential direction, the high-frequency electrode elements, in an approach position of the tool elements, defining a minimum distance from each other, lying opposite each other and facing each other, and
a shaft at a distal end of which at least the first tool element is arranged or formed, wherein:

portions of the arc-shaped electrode segments overlap one another,
the electrode segments define two electrode rows;
each of the electrode rows comprises part of each electrode segment;
each of the electrode segments comprises a first electrode segment section forming part of the first electrode row, a second electrode segment section forming part of the second electrode row, and a connecting contact arranged in a connection region between the first and second electrode segment sections; and
the second tool element is adapted to be moved from an operating position, in which it is adapted for movement into the approach position, into a removal position and/or vice versa, such that a surface area of a perpendicular projection of the second tool element onto a projection plane extending perpendicularly to a shaft direction in a region of the second tool element being smaller in the removal position than in the operating position.

Assignees

• Aesculap Ag

Inventors

• Weisshaupt Dieter
• Keller Anton
• Rothweiler Christoph

Classifications

• A61B2017/1125

  Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis · CPC title

• A61B2017/1135

  End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections · CPC title

• A61B2017/1139

  Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections · CPC title

• A61B2018/00083

  low, i.e. electrically insulating · CPC title

• A61B18/1445

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title