Surgical instrument and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968396-B2
Application number	US-201113094783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2011
Priority date	May 27, 2008
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a jaw assembly having a first jaw that includes a support structure with an opening, an electrically insulative material disposed on the support structure, and an operative element for applying energy to tissue, wherein the electrically insulative material extends through the opening of the support structure to thereby secure the electrically insulative material to the support structure.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A surgical instrument comprising a jaw assembly comprising:
a first jaw and a second jaw, each comprising opposing clamping surfaces for clamping tissue therebetween;
a support structure on one of the first and second jaws;
a single operative element, the single operative element comprising:
a first thermal heating surface of one of the first and second jaws configured to seal tissue;
a second thermal heating surface of one of the first and second jaws configured to seal tissue;
a third thermal heating surface of one of the first and second jaws configured to sever tissue, wherein the third thermal heating surface is located between the first and second thermal heating surfaces when the first and second jaws are brought into proximity of one another; and
a fourth thermal heating surface of one of the first and second jaws, wherein the fourth thermal heating surface extends from and laterally beyond a side of the jaw assembly to perform tissue spot cauterization by direct thermal conduction of heat emitted from the fourth thermal heating surface as a result of Joule heating;

wherein the first, second, third and fourth heating surfaces electrically communicate with each other via a continuous electrical path; and
wherein the first, second, third and fourth heating surfaces, when the single operative element is electrically coupled to a direct current source, heat up upon the delivery of direct current power between a first and second terminal of the direct current source.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the jaw assembly has a protrusion for abutment against a main vessel, and the protrusion is sized so that when the protrusion is abutted against the main vessel, the third thermal heating surface is automatically placed at a desired position relative to a side branch vessel.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the single operative element comprising the first, second, third and fourth thermal heating surfaces is only disposed on the first jaw.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the fourth thermal heating surface protrudes from a distal portion of a convex side of the first jaw, extending laterally beyond a side of the jaw assembly at a location between a distal end of the jaw assembly, and a proximal end of the jaw assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein an outer edge of the fourth thermal heating surface is generally smooth and continuous with an outer edge of the first or second thermal heating surfaces.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the second jaw comprises a raised portion that faces towards the first jaw.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the raised portion of the second jaw is in alignment with the third thermal heating surface.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third thermal heating surfaces are continuous and configured as co-planar tissue contacting surfaces.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth thermal heating surfaces are parts of a single thermal heating element disposed on the first jaw.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:
a jaw assembly comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein each of the first and second jaws comprises
a proximal end extending from a body portion of the surgical instrument; and
a distal end located distal to the proximal end;
wherein the first jaw further comprises an operative element, the operative element comprising an inner portion provided with an inner surface for severing tissue positioned between the first and second jaws and an outer portion provided with a spot cauterization surface located lateral to a side of one of the first and second jaws, wherein a continuous electrical path exists between the inner portion and the outer portion, and the spot cauterization surface extends laterally with respect to and lengthwise along a distal portion of the side of the one of the first and second jaws, protruding laterally beyond the side of the one of the first and second jaws at a location between the distal end and proximal end of one of the first and second jaws, and
when the first and second jaws are closed, the inner surface of the operative element is concealed by the second jaw and the spot cauterization surface is exposed for tissue spot cauterization by direct thermal conduction of Joule heat from the spot cauterization surface, and
wherein with a flow of direct electrical current through the inner portion and outer portion, the spot cauterization surface heats to a first temperature due to a first current density of the flow of electrical current flowing in the outer portion, and the inner surface for severing tissue heats to a second temperature due to a second current density of the flow of direct electrical current flowing in the inner portion, wherein the second current density is higher than the first current density so that the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the operative element further comprises an inner surface for sealing tissue disposed on the first jaw and facing a surface of the second jaw and wherein a generally continuous gap is formed between a length of the inner surface for sealing tissue and the inner surface for severing tissue.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the first and second jaws are crescent shaped.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the spot cauterization surface protrudes from a convex side of the first jaw and has a generally smooth and continuous edge.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the first jaw further comprises a tapered lateral protrusion extending from a generally central region of the first jaw and tapering laterally towards a concave side of the first jaw.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein a distal portion of the first jaw located along a concave portion of the first jaw is tapered at an angle of 10° to 40° relative to an adjoining side surface of the concave portion.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the spot cauterization surface extends laterally beyond an edge of the first jaw along only a portion of the first jaw in order to permit viewing along a longitudinal direction down the surgical instrument.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the operative element is an elongate thermal heating element.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the first temperature is sufficient to weld tissue and the second temperature is sufficient to sever tissue.

19. A surgical instrument comprising:
a handle;
an elongated body comprising a shaft extending from the handle; and
a jaw assembly comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the jaw assembly configured to receive direct electrical current supplied by a direct current source, wherein each of the first and second jaws comprises a proximal end extending from the elongated body of the surgical instrument and a distal end located distal to the proximal end;
wherein the first jaw further comprises a first, second, and third thermal heating surface for applying thermal energy to tissue clamped between the first and second jaws, the first second and third heating surfaces extend lengthwise along the first jaw, are laterally spaced from each other along at least a substantial portion of the first jaw, and wherein the first, second, and third heating surfaces electrically communicate with each other via a continuous electrical path;
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Assignees

• Abbott Ryan
• Ginnebaugh Fred
• Maquet Cardiovascular Llc

Inventors

• Abbott Ryan
• Ginnebaugh Fred

Classifications

• A61B2018/00404

  Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart · CPC title

• A61B18/085 Primary

  Forceps, scissors · CPC title

• A61B18/1445

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title

• A61B2018/0063

  Sealing · CPC title

• A61B2018/00916

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