Patent · US Active

Endoscopic vessel sealer and divider having a flexible articulating shaft

US8721640B2 · kind B2 · utility

258Cited by
97References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 2007
Grant dateMay 13, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/1455
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue includes a housing having a flexible shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough. The flexible shaft has first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof and each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. A drive assembly is disposed in the housing and has a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof and a second actuator operably coupled to the drive rod for rotation thereof. A knife is operably coupled to a distal end of the drive rod. Actuation of the first actuator moves the jaw members relative to one another for engaging tissue and actuation of the second actuator rotates the drive rod about the axis A-A to translate the knife to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

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