Surgical instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9655673-B2
Application number	US-201414196066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing including an elongated shaft. A stationary actuation member is axially disposed within the elongated shaft and includes a cam pin. An actuating mechanism is operably coupled to the elongated shaft and is moveable relative to the housing to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft. An end effector includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled about a common pivot. One or both of the jaw members includes a camming slot configured to engage the cam pin. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A knife blade is supported in the elongated shaft and moveable in a longitudinal direction to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members. A switch is configured to be engaged by the actuating mechanism to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy to tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing including an elongated shaft having distal and proximal portions, the proximal portion coupled to the housing, the elongated shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
a stationary actuation member axially disposed within the elongated shaft, the stationary actuation member including a cam pin mechanically coupled to a distal end thereof;
an actuating mechanism operably coupled to the proximal portion of the elongated shaft and moveable relative to the housing to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis relative to the stationary actuation member;
an end effector including a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled about a common pivot such that at least one of the jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the first or second jaw members including a camming slot configured to engage the cam pin to move the at least one movable jaw member between the first position and the second position upon movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis;
each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal;
a knife blade supported in the elongated shaft and moveable in a longitudinal direction through a knife channel defined along a length of at least one of the jaw members to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members; and
a switch supported by the housing and configured to be engaged by the actuating mechanism to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical energy source to the end effector to treat tissue.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is operably coupled to a depressible button extending from the housing and configured to be selectively engaged by the actuating mechanism.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is mechanically coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft and the first jaw member is configured to move relative to the second jaw member.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the stationary actuation member includes a longitudinal recess formed along a length thereof, the longitudinal recess configured to permit movement of the pivot pin in a longitudinal direction upon movement of the elongated shaft.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to engage a mechanical interface disposed within the housing, the mechanical interface configured to generate a response to engagement with the actuation mechanism upon movement thereof relative to the housing.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanical interface is constructed of a plastic film.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanical interface is constructed of sheet metal.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the response corresponds to the second position of the at least one jaw member.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the response indicates a position of the actuation mechanism relative to the switch.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the response is at least one of tactile and audible.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism includes a handle moveable relative to the housing between a distal position to move the at least one jaw member to the first position and a proximal position to move the at least one jaw member to the second position.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the handle engages the switch upon movement thereof to the proximal position.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein movement of the knife blade in a longitudinal direction is prevented when the handle is in the distal position.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the jaw members includes an insulator coupled thereto, the insulator configured to electrically insulate the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface from the jaw member.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the insulator forms at least one knife blade guide configured to guide the knife into the knife channel.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the insulator is configured to control splay of at least one of the jaw members.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis causes corresponding movement of at least one of the first or second jaw members along the longitudinal axis to move the at least one camming slot relative to the cam pin.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the end effector is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft and movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis moves at least one of the first or second jaw members along the longitudinal axis to move the at least one movable jaw member between the first and second positions.

19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
an elongated shaft including distal and proximal portions, the proximal portion coupled to the housing, the elongated shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
an actuating mechanism operably coupled to the proximal portion of the elongated shaft and moveable relative to the housing to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis;
an end effector supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft, the end effector adapted for treating tissue and including first and second jaw members pivotally coupled to one another to move between open and closed configurations, wherein each of the jaw members includes a camming surface thereon;
a switch supported by the housing and configured to be engaged by the actuating mechanism to initiate treatment of tissue;
a knife rod extending at least partially through the elongated shaft and selectively movable in a longitudinal direction, a blade operably coupled to the knife rod extendable through a knife channel defined along a length of at least one of the jaw members; and
an inner actuation member extending at least partially through the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft selectively movable in a longitudinal direction with respect to the knife and with respect to the inner actuation member, the inner actuation member carrying a cam pin positioned to engage the camming surface of each of the jaw members to induce the jaw members to move between the open and closed configurations.

20. An electrosurgical system for performing electrosurgery, comprising:
an electrosurgical generator configured to provide electrosurgical energy;
an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a housing including an elongated shaft having distal and proximal portions, the proximal portion coupled to the housing, the elongated shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
a stationary actuation member axially disposed within the elongated shaft, the stationary actuation member including a cam pin mechanically coupled to a distal

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Mccullough Jr Robert F
• Artale Ryan C
• Sharp Robert M
• Moua Tony
• Huseman Mark J
• Earnshaw Audrey

Classifications

• A61B2018/00928

  by sending a signal to an external energy source · 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

• A61B2018/1455

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

• A61B2090/031

  torque limiting · CPC title

• A61B2017/292

  connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess · CPC title