Patent · US Expired

Compressible jaw configuration with bipolar RF output electrodes for soft tissue fusion

US7799026B2 · kind B2 · utility

269Cited by
563References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 2003
Grant dateSep 21, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/064
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical instruments for use in sealing various tissues. The instrument includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members attached thereto. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members have an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof with the elastomeric materials including an electrode disposed therein. The electrodes are offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.