Surgical forceps and latching system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016051273-A1
Application number	US-201514829725-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	Aug 20, 2014
Publication date	Feb 25, 2016
Grant date	—

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; an electromagnetic latching system; 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 an 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 an 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.

2 . The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the force applied is based upon a measurement of impedance of tissue held between the first working arm and the second working arm.

3 . The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic latching system includes one or more electromagnetic latches that are located in or on the first working arm, the second working arm, or both.

4 . The surgical forceps of claim 3 , wherein the one or more electromagnetic latches are only located on the first working arm and a magnetic material is located on the second working arm.

5 . The surgical forceps of claim 3 , wherein the one or more electromagnetic latches are connected to power so that when power is applied each of the one or more electromagnetic latches create 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.

6 . The surgical forceps of claim 5 , wherein the one or more electromagnetic latches are two electromagnetic latches on the first working arm, the second working arm, or both.

7 . The surgical forceps of claim 6 , wherein the two electromagnetic latches are located on the first working arm, the second working arm, or both and a first electromagnetic latch has a constant magnetic field and the second electromagnetic latch has a variable magnetic field so that an amount of force required to move the first working arm and second working arm apart, together, or both is variable by a user.

8 . The surgical forceps of claim 3 , wherein the one or more electromagnetic latches are located on the first working arm and a magnetic material is located on the second working arm, wherein the electromagnetic latches are connected to power so that when power is applied the electromagnetic latches create the force that biases the first working arm and the second working arm.

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

10 . 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.

11 . 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 be retained in a closed position.

12 . 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 latch 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 latch is activated and energized.

13 . The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable force is adjusted by an adjustment knob on the surgical forceps.

14 . The surgical forceps of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable force is controlled by activating two or more electromagnetic latches.

15 . 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.

16 . The surgical forceps of claim 15 , wherein the force by the electromagnetic latching system opposes the closing of the forceps.

17 . The surgical forceps of claim 15 , wherein the force by the electromagnetic latching system is in the direction aligned with the closing of the forceps.

18 . The surgical forceps of claim 15 , wherein the force created by the electromagnetic latching system is adjustable.

Assignees

• Gyrus Acmi Inc Dba Olympus Surgical Technologies America

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61B2018/00958

  for switching between different working modes of the main function · CPC title

• A61B2018/126

  bipolar · CPC title

• A61B18/1442 Primary

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

• A61B17/2812

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

• A61B2018/1412

  Blade · CPC title