Surgical forceps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9888958-B2
Application number	US-201514603685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Aug 18, 2011
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A forceps includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members includes a jaw frame including an engagement recess defined on each lateral side thereof and a replaceable component configured for slidable positioning about the jaw frame. The replaceable component includes an outer jaw housing having an engagement tang disposed on each lateral side thereof. The engagement tangs are configured to engage the engagement recesses of the jaw frame upon slidable positioning of the replaceable component about the jaw frame to secure the replaceable component to the jaw frame. The replaceable component includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing plate engaged to the outer jaw housing to define a tissue sealing surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forceps, comprising:
an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, at least one of the first or second jaw members including:
a jaw frame;
a flex circuit adapted to connect to a source of energy, the flex circuit extending along at least a portion of the jaw frame, the flex circuit including an insulative covering disposed thereabout and a first exposed electrical contact;
an outer jaw housing engaged about the jaw frame; and
an electrically conductive plate engaged to the outer jaw housing, the electrically conductive plate including a first finger extending through the outer jaw housing into contact with the first exposed electrical contact to electrically couple the electrically conductive plate with the source of energy.

2. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first or second jaw members further includes an insulator disposed within the outer jaw housing, the insulator configured to electrically isolate the electrically conductive plate from the jaw frame.

3. The forceps according to claim 1 , further including a knife assembly including a knife blade, the knife blade longitudinally translatable relative to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position and an extended position.

4. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the flex circuit includes a second exposed electrical contact, wherein an electrical cutting member is engaged with the at least one of the first or second jaw members, and wherein the electrical cutting member includes a second finger extending through the outer jaw housing into contact with the second exposed electrical contact to electrically couple the electrical cutting member with the source of energy.

5. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the outer jaw housing is releasably engagable with the jaw frame.

6. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the first finger is resiliently biased into contact with the first electrical contact.

7. The forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first or second jaw members is pivotable between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position and wherein at least a portion of the flex circuit is configured to flex in response to pivoting of the at least one of the first or second jaw members.

8. A forceps, comprising:
a shaft defining a proximal end an a distal end;
an end effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members and defining a pivoting region about which the first jaw member pivots relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position, the first and second jaw members each defining an electrically conductive surface disposed distally of the pivoting region in a grasping region of the end effector assembly, the electrically conductive surfaces configured to grasp tissue therebetween in the approximated position, the first jaw member including a finger disposed in electrical communication with and extending from the electrically conductive surface thereof; and
a flex circuit including a proximal portion extending at least partially through the shaft and adapted to connect to a source of energy, a distal portion disposed in the grasping region of the end effector assembly, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the proximal and distal portions, the intermediate portion extending through the pivoting region of the end effector assembly and configured to flex in response to pivoting of the first jaw member between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position, the distal portion of the flex circuit including an exposed electrical contact,
wherein the finger is disposed in contact with the exposed electrical contact to electrically couple the electrically conductive surface with the flex circuit.

9. The forceps according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members defines a jaw frame having a proximal base and a distal body, the proximal bases of the first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another in the pivoting region of the end effector assembly.

10. The forceps according to claim 9 , wherein each of the jaw members includes an outer jaw housing engaged about the distal body of the jaw frame and an electrically conductive plate engaged to the outer jaw housing, the electrically conductive plate defining the electrically conductive surface thereof.

11. The forceps according to claim 10 , wherein the outer jaw housings of the first and second jaw members are releasably engagable with the respect distal bodies of the jaw frames of the first and second jaw members.

12. The forceps according to claim 8 , further including a knife assembly extending through the shaft, the knife assembly including a knife blade longitudinally translatable relative to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position and an extended position.

13. The forceps according to claim 8 , further including a housing disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, the housing including a movable handle selectively movable between a first position and a second position for pivoting the first and second jaw members between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.

14. The forceps according to claim 13 , further including an activation switch disposed in the housing and operably coupled between the source of energy and the flex circuit, the activation switch selectively actuatable for supplying energy to the the electrically conductive surface of the first jaw member.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Evans Allan J
• Mueller Peter M
• Gadsby Peter D

Classifications

• A61B2018/1455

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

• A61B2018/1452

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

• A61B2018/0063

  Sealing · CPC title