Surgical forceps for grasping, treating, and/or cutting tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10779880-B2
Application number	US-201415516711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2014
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

An end effector assembly for a forceps includes first and second jaw members each having an opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. The first jaw member is pivotable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces. The second jaw member includes an electrical cutting element and is translatable relative to the first jaw member between a first position, wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are aligned with one another, and a second position, wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are longitudinally offset relative to one another. Upon translation of the second jaw member between the first and second positions, the electrical cutting element is translated at least partially along the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forceps, comprising:
an end effector assembly, including:
first and second jaw members, each jaw member including an opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface, the first jaw member pivotable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces, the first jaw member pivotally supported by a first proximal flange and a second proximal flange, the second jaw member including an electrical cutting element, wherein when in the approximated position, the second jaw member is translatable relative to the first jaw member between a first position, wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are longitudinally aligned with one another, and a second position, wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are longitudinally offset relative to one another, wherein the second jaw member is translated between the first and second positions between the first proximal flange and the second proximal flange of the first jaw member, wherein, upon translation of the second jaw member between the first and second positions, the electrical cutting element is translated at least partially along the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member.

2. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue.

3. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical cutting element is adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy through the tissue for dynamic electrical tissue cutting.

4. The forceps according to claim 3 , wherein the electrical cutting element is configured for monopolar dynamic electrical tissue cutting.

5. The forceps according to claim 3 , wherein the electrical cutting element and at least one of the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are configured for bipolar dynamic electrical tissue cutting.

6. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members define complementary configurations.

7. The forceps according to claim 6 , wherein the second jaw member defines an oval cross-sectional shape and wherein the first jaw member defines a concave recess having a semi-oval cross-sectional shape, the concave recess of the first jaw member configured to at least partially receive the second jaw member in the approximated position of the first jaw member.

8. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein, in the second position of the second jaw member, between 25% and 75% of the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are disposed in non-overlapping relation relative to one another.

9. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein, in the second position of the second jaw member, 50% of the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are disposed in non-overlapping relation relative to one another.

10. A forceps, comprising:
a housing;
a shaft extending distally from the housing;
an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members, each jaw member including an opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface, the first jaw member pivotable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces, the first jaw member pivotally supported by a first proximal flange and a second proximal flange, the second jaw member including an electrical cutting element, wherein when in the approximated position, the second jaw member translatable relative to the first jaw member between a first position, wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are longitudinally aligned with one another, and a second position, wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are longitudinally offset relative to one another, wherein the second jaw member is translated between the first and second positions between the first proximal flange and the second proximal flange of the first jaw member, wherein, upon translation of the second jaw member between the first and second positions, the electrical cutting element is translated at least partially along the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member;
a first drive assembly coupled to the first jaw member, the first drive assembly selectively operable to pivot the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member between the spaced-apart and approximated positions; and
a second drive assembly coupled to the second jaw member, the second drive assembly selectively operable to translate the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member between the first and second positions.

11. The forceps according to claim 10 , further including a handle assembly associated with the housing and operably coupled to the first drive assembly, the handle assembly including a movable handle movable between an initial position and a compressed position to pivot the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

12. The forceps according to claim 10 , further including a trigger assembly associated with the housing and operably coupled to the second drive assembly, the trigger assembly including a trigger movable between an un-actuated position and an actuated position to translate the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member between the first and second positions.

13. The forceps according to claim 10 , further including a rotating assembly coupled to the first and second drive assemblies and the shaft, the rotating assembly including a rotation wheel selectively rotatable relative to the housing for rotating the shaft and end effector assembly relative to the housing.

14. The forceps according to claim 10 , wherein the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue.

15. The forceps according to claim 14 , further including an activation button disposed on the housing, the activation button selectively actuatable for initiating the supply of energy to the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members.

16. The forceps according to claim 10 , wherein the electrical cutting element is adapted to connect to a source of energy for conducting energy through tissue for dynamic electrical tissue cutting.

17. The forceps according to claim 16 , wherein the electrical cutting element is configured for monopolar dynamic electrical tissue cutting.

18. The forceps according to claim 16 , wherein the electrical cutting element and at least one of the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are configured for bipolar dynamic electrical tissue cutting.

19. The forceps according to claim 10 , wherein, in the second position of the second jaw member, between 25% and 75% of the opposed electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces are disposed in non-overlapping relation relative to one another.

20. The forceps

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Ding Weijiang
• Xu Mingfeng

Classifications

• A61B2017/2936

  Pins in guiding slots · CPC title

• A61B2017/2929

  with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft · CPC title

• A61B17/295 Primary

  combined with cutting implements · CPC title

• A61B18/1445 Primary

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

• A61B2018/1452

  including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence) · CPC title