Electrosurgical end effector assemblies and electrosurgical forceps configured to reduce thermal spread

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10987159-B2
Application number	US-201515752957-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

An end effector assembly (100, 200) of an electrosurgical forceps (10, 10′) includes first and second jaw members (110, 120, 210, 220). At least one of the jaw members (110, 120, 210, 220) is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. At least one of the jaw members (110, 120, 210, 220) includes an electrically-conductive inner member (115, 125) defining an outer surface, a first electrically-insulative layer (116, 126) disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the electrically-conductive inner member (115, 125), a second electrically-insulative layer (117, 127) disposed on another portion of the outer surface of the electrically-conductive inner member (115, 125), and an electrode (118, 128) disposed on the second electrically-insulative layer (117, 127) and electrically coupled to the electrically-conductive inner member (115, 125). The electrode (118, 128) defines a tissue-treating surface of the corresponding jaw member (110, 120, 210, 220). The first electrically-insulative layer (116, 126) has a thermal conductivity greater than that of the second electrically-insulative layer (117, 127).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An end effector assembly of an electrosurgical forceps, comprising:
first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position, at least one of the first or second jaw members including:
an electrically-conductive inner member defining an outer surface;
a first electrically-insulative layer disposed on at least a first portion of the outer surface of the electrically-conductive inner member;
a second electrically-insulative layer disposed on at least a second portion of the outer surface of the electrically-conductive inner member, the first electrically-insulative layer having a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the second electrically-insulative layer; and
an electrode disposed on the second electrically-insulative layer and electrically coupled to the electrically-conductive inner member, the electrode defining a tissue-treating surface of the at least one of the first or second jaw members,
wherein the electrically-conductive inner member includes a proximal flange and a distal body, wherein the first electrically-insulative layer is disposed only on a first portion of the distal body, and wherein the second electrically-insulative layer is disposed on the proximal flange and a second portion of the distal body.

2. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically-insulative layer includes diamond-like carbon.

3. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second electrically-insulative layer includes titanium dioxide.

4. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second electrically-insulative layer has a thermal conductivity value less than 50 W/(m K).

5. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically-insulative layer has a thermal conductivity value greater than 500 W/(m K).

6. The end effector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second electrically-insulative layer defines a window, and wherein the electrode is electrically coupled to the electrically-conductive inner member through the window.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Ding Weijiang
• Liu Kai
• Chen Jianjiang

Classifications

• A61B2018/00101

  low, i.e. thermally insulating · CPC title

• A61B2018/00089

  Thermal conductivity · CPC title

• A61B18/12 Primary

  by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current · CPC title

• A61B18/1442

  Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps · CPC title

• A61B2018/00589

  Coagulation · CPC title