Electrosurgical instrument with trigger driven cutting function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11540872-B2
Application number	US-201716493665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2017
Priority date	Mar 13, 2017
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument ( 1 ) includes a first shaft member ( 110 ) pivotably coupled to a second shaft member ( 120 ), and a trigger ( 184 ) disposed on the second shaft member ( 120 ). The first and second shaft members ( 110,120 ) respectively include first and second handle members ( 130,140 ), and first and second jaw members ( 150,160 ). The first and second shaft members ( 110,120 ) define a longitudinal axis extending through a pivot, and first and second pivot axes that are substantially orthogonal to each other and the longitudinal axis. At least one of the first or second handle members ( 130,140 ) is pivotable about the first pivot axis to move the first and second jaw members ( 150,160 ) to an open position, a grasping position, or a sealing position. The trigger ( 184 ) is movable to pivot at least one of the first or second shaft members ( 110,120 ) about the second pivot axis to laterally displace the first and second jaw members ( 150,160 ) relative to each other to a cutting position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a first shaft member including a proximal portion having a first handle member and a distal portion including a first jaw member;
a second shaft member coupled to the first shaft member about a pivot, the second shaft member including a proximal portion having a second handle member and a distal portion including a second jaw member; and
a trigger assembly disposed on the second shaft member, the trigger assembly including a housing supporting a trigger movable relative to the housing,
the first and second shaft members defining a longitudinal axis extending through the pivot, and first and second pivot axes that are substantially orthogonal to each other and the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the first or second handle members is pivotable about the first pivot axis to move the first and second jaw members, which are disposed in opposed and aligned relation to each other, to an open position, a grasping position, or a sealing position, and the trigger is movable to pivot at least one of the first or second shaft members about the second pivot axis to laterally displace the first and second jaw members relative to each other to a cutting position.

2. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger is longitudinally slidable relative to the housing between a proximal position and a distal position.

3. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the trigger is biased in the distal position.

4. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the trigger assembly includes a longitudinal bar disposed within the housing and secured to the trigger such that longitudinal movement of the trigger causes a corresponding longitudinal movement of the longitudinal bar.

5. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal bar includes a distal end portion movable in and out of engagement with intersection portions of the first and second shaft members.

6. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein when the trigger is disposed in the distal position, the distal end portion of the longitudinal bar is disposed between the intersection portions of the first and second shaft members such that the first and second shaft members are only pivotable about the first pivot axis.

7. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein when the trigger is disposed in the proximal position, the distal end portion of the longitudinal bar is proximal to the intersection portions of the first and second shaft members such that the first and second shaft members are pivotable about the first and second pivot axes.

8. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 4 , where the first shaft member includes a first guide member, and the longitudinal bar of the trigger assembly includes a proximal end portion having a second guide member movable in and out of engagement with the first guide member.

9. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second guide members each have an angled wall having complementary slopes, the angled walls disposed in opposed spaced relation relative to each other when the first and second jaw members are disposed in the sealing position and the trigger is disposed in the distal position.

10. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9 , wherein when the trigger is actuated to the proximal position, the angled walls of the first and second guide members slidably engage each other and a force produced by proximal movement of the second guide member against the first guide member moves the first shaft member about the second pivot axis.

11. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second guide members each include a body portion and a leg portion having complementary L-shaped configurations, the leg portions of the first and second guide members configured to engage each other and limit movement of the first shaft member about the first pivot axis when the trigger is actuated to the proximal position.

12. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a connector assembly including a housing selectively engageable with the second elongated shaft member, the connector assembly configured to communicate electrosurgical energy between the first and second jaw members when in the sealing position.

13. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members each include a tissue contacting surface having a shear edge.

14. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot extends through intersection portions of the first and second shaft members, the intersection portions each including a substantially flat distal portion that is substantially flush with one another when the at least one of the first or second handle members is pivoted about the first pivot axis.

15. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the intersection portion of the first shaft member includes an angled proximal portion defining a gap between the intersections portions, and wherein when the at least one of the first or second shaft members is pivoted about the second pivot axis the gap is closed.

16. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15 , wherein the intersection portion of the second shaft member includes an insulative shim.

17. A method of treating tissue, comprising:
pivoting at least one of first or second handle members of respective first or second shaft members of an electrosurgical instrument about a first pivot axis that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis defined through a pivot of the electrosurgical instrument to effect movement of first and second jaw members of the electrosurgical instrument to a sealing position in which the first and second jaw members are opposed and aligned with one another; and
actuating a trigger supported on a housing of a trigger assembly disposed on the second shaft member of the electrosurgical instrument to pivot at least one of the first or second shaft members about a second pivot axis that is transverse to the first pivot axis and the longitudinal axis to effect movement of the first and second jaw members from the sealing position to a cutting position in which the first and second jaw members are laterally displaced with respect to one another.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Ding Weijiang
• Liu Kai
• Zhou Zaifeng

Classifications

• A61B2018/0063

  Sealing · 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

• A61B2018/00916

  with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device · CPC title

• A61B2018/1452

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

• A61B2018/1457

  having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers · CPC title