Heat management configurations for controlling heat dissipation from electrosurgical instruments

US9737358B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Andrew T. Beckman · Cincinnati, US
• Bradley E. White · Cincinnati, US
• Cory G. Kimball · Cincinnati, US
• John F. Cummings · Madeira, US
• Al Mirel · Redwood City, US
• Christopher J. Schall · Cincinnati, US
• Jeffrey L. Aldridge · Lebanon, US
• Timothy G. Dietz · Wayne, US
• David A. Witt · Maineville, US
• Mary E. Mootoo · Cincinnati, US
• Zhifan F. Huang · Mason, US
• Raymond M. Banks · Cupertino, US
• Tamara Widenhouse · Clarksville, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• Jason L. Harris · Lebanon, US
• Jeffrey S. Swayze · Hamilton, US
• Prasanna Malaviya · Huangpu District, CN
• Gregory W. Johnson · Milford, US
• Paul Guerra · Boulder, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 20, 2015
• Grant date: Aug 22, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 20, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2218/002
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical instrument is provided that may comprise an end effector for performing a surgical procedure on tissue, for example. The end effector may comprise at least one energy delivery surface and heat dissipation means for dissipating heat from at least a portion of the end effector. For example, in at least one embodiment, the end effector may comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, and a cutting member. The cutting member may comprise a cutting surface and a body, which may define a cavity and at least one opening communicating with the cavity. A fluid may be moved through the cavity to and/or from the opening(s). Additionally, in at least one embodiment, a surgical instrument's end effector may comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, a cutting member, and at least one heat pipe. Various other heat dissipation means are also disclosed.