Electrosurgical instrument which reduces effects to adjacent tissue structures

US7160298B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SHERWOOD SERVICES AG · CH

Inventors

• Kate Lawes · Lafayette, US
• Steven P. Buysse · Longmont, US
• Sean T. Dycus · Denver, US
• Kristin D. Johnson · Louisville, US
• Michael C. Moses · Boulder, US
• David A. Schechter · Boulder, US
• Philip M. Tetzlaff · Austin, US
• Carolyn H. Mihaichuk · Longmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 6, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 9, 2007
• Expiry date: Jan 26, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/1495
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument which includes opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The instrument includes a housing and a pair of electrodes. Each electode preferably includes an electrically conductive surface (e.g., which can be dimensioned for sealing, clamping and/or cutting) and an insulating substrate which is dimensioned to be engageable with the end effectors such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The dimensions of the insulating substrate are different from the dimensions of the electrically conductive surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures. The insulating substrate is made from a material having a Comparative Tracking Index of about 300 volts to about 600 volts to reduce the incidence of flashover.