Surgical forceps and latching system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11344361-B2
Application number	US-201916572898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	Aug 20, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A surgical forceps comprising: a first working arm and a second working arm configured to move towards and away from each other; and an electromagnetic latching system; wherein the electromagnetic latching system is configured to create a force that is in a direction aligned with closing of the forceps or opposite to the closing of the forceps when an electromagnetic activation button is depressed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A surgical forceps comprising:
a first working arm and a second working arm configured to move in a direction that is towards and away from each other in a manner that creates a resilient moving force; and
an electromagnetic latching system located in or on the first working arm, the second working arm, or both;
wherein a first electromagnetic latch of the electromagnetic latching system has a constant magnetic field, and a second electromagnetic latch of the electromagnetic latching system has a variable magnetic field.

2. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein both the first electromagnetic latch and the second electromagnetic latch are connected to power so that when the power is applied, each of the first and second electromagnetic latches creates a force that biases the first working arm and the second working arm towards each other, a force that biases the first working arm and the second working arm apart, or both.

3. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein an amount of force required to move the first working arm and second working arm apart, together, or both is variable by a user.

4. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the surgical forceps are an electrosurgical device.

5. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the first working arm and the second working arm include a neutral position and when the first working arm and second working arm are moved towards each other the resilient moving force is created by the first working arm and the second working arm storing energy so that the first working arm and second working arm return to the neutral position.

6. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein a mechanical latch is located in or on the first working arm, the second working arm, or both and the mechanical latch connects the first working arm and the second working arm together so that the electromagnetic latching system can be turned off and the surgical forceps can be retained in a closed position.

7. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the first working arm and second working arm are free to move in a direction towards each other so as to grasp tissue therebetween when the electromagnetic latching system is not activated and energized, and the first working arm and second working arm are biased towards each other by a force when the electromagnetic latching system is activated and energized.

8. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment knob on the surgical forceps operable to control an adjustable force.

9. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the surgical forceps is configured to provide an adjustable force by activating the first and second electromagnetic latches.

10. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic latching system is configured to create one or more of the following:
(i) a force that is superimposed upon the resilient moving force so that the force biases the first working arm, the second working arm, or both in a direction of the resilient moving force when an electromagnetic activation button is depressed;
(ii) an adjustable force that is superimposed upon the resilient moving force when the electromagnetic activation button is depressed;
(iii) a force that is superimposed upon the resilient moving force so that the force biases the first working arm, the second working arm, or both in an opposite direction as the resilient moving force when the electromagnetic activation button is depressed; or
(iv) a force that latches the first working arm and second working arm together and a bipolar current that extends between the first working arm and the second working arm when a first activation button is energized.

11. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the surgical forceps comprise a pivot point, and
wherein the first electromagnetic latch is located distal of the pivot point, and the second electromagnetic latching latch is located proximal to the pivot point.

12. The surgical forceps of claim 11 , wherein the first electromagnetic latch is configured to bias the first and second working arms towards and away from each other, and the second electromagnetic latch is configured to allow for an amount of force required to be increased or decreased.

13. The surgical forceps of claim 12 , wherein a bias device is located proximal to the second electromagnetic latch.

14. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the surgical forceps comprise an activation button, and the electromagnetic latching system is configured to move the forceps in a closing direction and/or an open direction when the activation button is depressed.

15. The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic latching system is configured to create a force that is superimposed upon the resilient moving force, wherein the force comprises one or more of the following:
(i) the force biases the first working arm, the second working arm, or both in a direction of the resilient moving force; or
(ii) the force biases the first working arm, the second working arm, or both in an opposite direction as the resilient moving force.

16. The surgical forceps of claim 14 , wherein when the first working arm and second working arm are moved towards each other, the resilient moving force is created by the first working arm and the second working arm storing energy so that the first working arm and second working arm return to a neutral position.

17. A surgical forceps comprising:
a first working arm and a second working arm configured to move towards and away from each other; and
an electromagnetic latching system;
wherein the electromagnetic latching system is configured to create a force that is in a direction aligned with closing of the forceps or opposite to the closing of the forceps when an electromagnetic activation button is depressed, and
wherein two electromagnetic latches of the electromagnetic latching system are located on the first working arm, the second working arm, or both and a first of the two electromagnetic latches has a constant magnetic field and a second of the two electromagnetic latches has a variable magnetic field so that an amount of the force required to move the first working arm and second working arm apart, together, or both is variable by a user.

18. The surgical forceps of claim 17 , wherein the force applied is based upon a measurement of impedance of tissue held between the first working arm and the second working arm.

19. The surgical forceps of claim 17 , wherein the force by the electromagnetic latching system opposes the closing of the forceps.

20. The surgical forceps of claim 17 , wherein the force by the electromagnetic latching system is in the direction aligned with the closing of the forceps.

Assignees

• Gyrus Acmi Inc
• Gyms Acmi Inc

Inventors

• Batchelor Kester J
• Curtis Richard J
• Windgassen Ryan J

Classifications

• A61B17/2812

  with a single pivotal connection (A61B17/29 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2018/1455

  having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws · CPC title

• A61B2018/00946

  slidable · CPC title

• A61B18/14

  Probes or electrodes therefor · CPC title

• A61B2018/00607

  Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument · CPC title