Energy-based surgical instruments and systems configured to minimize thermal spread

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11534231-B2
Application number	US-201716070003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Aug 22, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second grasping components each defining a tissue-contacting portion. One or both of the grasping components is movable relative to the other to a closed position wherein the tissue-contacting portions cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween. One or both of the grasping components is configured to apply energy from the tissue-contacting portion thereof to tissue disposed within the grasping area to treat tissue. The tissue-contacting portion of the first grasping component defines a first opening disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a first lumen defined at least partially through the first grasping component. The first lumen is adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector assembly including a first grasping component defining a first tissue-contacting portion and a second grasping component defining a second tissue-contacting portion, at least one of the first or second grasping components movable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the closed position, the first and second tissue-contacting portions cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween, at least one of the first or second tissue-contacting portions configured to apply energy to tissue disposed within the grasping area to treat tissue,
wherein the first tissue-contacting portion defines a step including first and second surfaces offset relative to one another with a wall extending generally perpendicularly therebetween, the wall defining a first opening therethrough, the first opening disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a first lumen defined at least partially through the first grasping component, the first lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the second tissue-contacting portion defines a second opening therethrough, the second opening disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a second lumen defined at least partially through the second grasping component, the second lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the second opening.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first tissue-contacting portion is configured to conduct radiofrequency (RF) energy through tissue disposed within the grasping area and to the second tissue-contacting portion.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing; and
at least one shaft extending distally from the housing, the at least one shaft supporting the end effector assembly at a distal end portion thereof,
wherein the first lumen communicates with a shaft lumen extending through the at least one shaft, the shaft lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second shafts pivotably coupled to one another, the first and second shafts supporting the end effector assembly at distal end portions thereof,
wherein the first lumen communicates with a first shaft lumen extending through the first shaft, the first shaft lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

6. A radiofrequency (RF) surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector assembly including a first jaw member defining a first tissue-contacting portion and a second jaw member defining a second tissue-contacting portion, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the closed position, the first and second tissue-contacting portions cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween, the first and second jaw members adapted to connect to a source of RF energy to conduct RF energy between the first and second tissue-contacting portions and through tissue grasped within the grasping area to treat tissue,
wherein the first tissue-contacting portion defines a step including first and second surfaces offset relative to one another with a wall extending generally perpendicularly therebetween, the wall defining a first opening therethrough, the first opening disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a first lumen defined at least partially through the first jaw member, the first lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

7. The RF surgical instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the second tissue-contacting portion defines a second opening therethrough, the second opening disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a second lumen defined at least partially through the second jaw member, the second lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the second opening.

8. The RF surgical instrument according to claim 6 , further comprising:
first and second shafts pivotably coupled to one another, the first and second shafts supporting the first and second jaw members, respectively, at respective distal end portions thereof,
wherein the first lumen communicates with a first shaft lumen extending through the first shaft, the first shaft lumen adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

9. The RF surgical instrument according to claim 8 , wherein one of the first or second shafts supports a housing thereon at a proximal end portion thereof, the housing including an activation button, the activation button selectively activatable to supply RF energy to the first and second jaw members.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector assembly defining first and second opposite lateral sides and including first and second jaw members extending longitudinally between the first and second lateral sides, the first jaw member defining a first tissue-contacting portion and the second jaw member defining a second tissue-contacting portion, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the closed position, the first and second tissue-contacting portions cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween, the first and second tissue-contacting portions configured to cooperate to conduct radiofrequency energy through tissue grasped within the grasping area to treat tissue,
wherein the first tissue-contacting portion defines a first opening therethrough, the first opening disposed within the grasping area and oriented towards the first lateral side of the end effector assembly.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the second tissue-contacting portion defines a second opening therethrough, the second opening disposed within the grasping area and oriented towards the second, lateral side of the end effector assembly.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the first jaw member defines a first lumen at least partially therethrough, and wherein the first opening is disposed in fluid communication with the first lumen.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the first tissue-contacting portion includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the first opening is disposed between the first and second surfaces of the first tissue-contacting portion.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein a wall is defined between the first and second surfaces and extends generally perpendicularly therebetween, and wherein the first opening is defined through the wall.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second surfaces are offset relative to one another.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second surfaces and a wall disposed between the first and second surfaces define a step such that the first and second surfaces are offset relative to one another via the step.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one shaft supporting the end effector assembly at a distal end portion of the at least one shaft.

18. The surgical instrument according

Assignees

• Covidien Lp
• CovidienLP

Inventors

• Ding Weijiang
• Cao Ming
• Li Yuanxun
• Liu Pu

Classifications

• A61B2017/32007

  with suction or vacuum means · 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

• A61B2017/32008

  preventing clogging of suction channel · CPC title

• A61B2018/1452

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

• A61B2218/007

  Aspiration · CPC title