Vessel sealing instrument with electrical cutting mechanism
US8162940B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49117
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.