Surgery – Instruments – Electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-10
2001-02-27
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Electrical application
C606S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193718
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to surgical apparatus, and more particularly to endoscopic electrocautery instruments such as bipolar scissors.
2. Description of Related Art
Endoscopic surgery is widely practiced throughout the world today and its acceptance is rapidly growing. Much of the popularity of endoscopic surgery can be attributed to its a less invasive, less traumatic affect upon the patient in comparison with standard open type surgery.
One type of endoscopic surgery involves placing trocar tubes into the patient through incisions and inserting endoscopic surgical tools through the trocar tubes for performing operations at a surgery site. A camera, magnifying lens, or other optical instrument is often inserted through one trocar tube, while a cutter, dissector, or other surgical instrument is inserted through the same or another trocar tube. The cutter, dissector, or other instrument is used to manipulate and/or cut tissue or organs of the patient. It may be desirable to utilize several trocar tubes at once to receive numerous surgical instruments. In this manner, a patient's organs or tissue may be, for example, grasped with one surgical instrument and simultaneously cut with another, all under the view of the surgeon via an optical instrument inserted through a trocar tube.
Various types of endoscopic surgical instruments are known in the art. Certain of these instruments may generally include an elongated, slender tube containing a push rod which is axially movable within the tube by way a handle or trigger-like actuator. An end effector is normally provided at the distal end of the tube and is coupled to the push rod so that axial movement of the push rod translates to rotational or pivotal movement of the end effector. End effectors may be, for example, scissor blades, grippers, cutting jaws, or forceps.
Modem endoscopic procedures often control a patient's bleeding in the surgical site through the use of electrocautery. Electrocautery passes cautery current to the surgery site to cauterize open blood vessels. Beyond reducing blood loss, electrocautery aids the operation by providing a clearer view of the surgical site. As used herein, the phrases cautery, electrocautery, and coagulation are interchangeable.
Several types of electrocautery instruments for use in endoscopic surgery have been described. One category of endoscopic electrocautery instruments is bipolar devices. Bipolar electrocautery instruments generally include two electrodes closely spaced for contact with organs and tissue of the patient. Typically, a bipolar electrocautery instrument includes two end effectors, one end effector acting as a first electrode, and the other end effector acting as a second electrode. The electrodes are electrically isolated from each other and include a separate current path back through to a current connector located adjacent the handle of the instrument. Thus, during contact of the bipolar instrument with an organ or tissue of the patient, current flows from the first end effector electrode, through the tissue to be cauterized, to the second end effector electrode of the bipolar instrument.
One type of bipolar electrocautery instrument used in endoscopic surgery is bipolar scissors. Bipolar scissors include first and second electrodes formed about scissor blade shaped end effectors. In operation, the end effectors cut tissue of the patient while cauterizing severed blood vessels at the surgery site.
Various problems have been encountered in the design, manufacture, and use of endoscopic electrocautery instruments. These problems include maximizing the current flow to the intended cauterizing area, maintaining a constant current supply to the end effectors, and manufacturing a reliable instrument for a reduced manufacturing cost and long life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a reliable endoscopic electrocautery instrument of low manufacturing cost and improved cauterization that maintains the desired efficiency of the end effectors.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises an endoscopic electrocautery instrument for performing surgery on tissue of a patient and passing current through the tissue to cause cauterization thereof. The instrument has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a proximal actuator, an elongated tube having a proximal end connected to the actuator and a distal end, a push rod extending through the elongated tube and including a proximal end connected to the actuator, a first and second end effector located adjacent the elongated tube distal end and connected to the push rod to provide relative movement of the first and second end effectors upon actuation of the proximal actuator, a first current path passing cautery current from the instrument proximal end to an end effector first portion, and a second current path insulated from the first current path passing cautery current from the instrument proximal end to an end effector second portion, the first current path including the elongated tube and the second current path including the push rod.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention comprises an endoscopic electrocautery instrument for performing surgery on tissue of a patient and passing current through the tissue to cause cauterization thereof. The instrument has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a proximal actuator, an elongated tube having a proximal end connected to the actuator and a distal end, a push rod having a proximal end connected to the actuator and located within the elongated tube, a first and second end effector located adjacent the elongated tube distal end and connected to the push rod to provide relative movement of the first and second end effectors upon actuation of the proximal actuator, a first electric connection including the elongated tube for supplying cautery current to an end effector first portion, and a second electric connection including the push rod for supplying cautery current to an end effector second portion.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention includes an endoscopic electrocautery instrument for performing surgery on tissue of a patient and passing current through the tissue to cause cauterization thereof. The instrument has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a proximal actuator, an elongated tube having a proximal end connected to the actuator and a distal end, a first conductive rod connected to an uninsulated portion of the elongated tube, a second conductive rod connected to the actuator and located within the elongated tube, and a first and second end effector located adjacent the elongated tube distal end and connected to the second conductive, rod to provide relative movement of the first and second end effectors upon actuation of the proximal actuator.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention includes an endoscopic electrocautery instrument for performing surgery on tissue of a patient and passing current through the tissue to cause cauterization thereof. The instrument has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a proximal actuator, an elongated tube having a proximal end connected to the actuator and a distal end, a push rod extending through the elongated tube and including a proximal end connected to the actuator, a first and second blade members located adjacent the elongated tube distal end and connected to the push rod to provide relative movement of the first and second blade members upon actuation of the proximal actuator. The scissor blade m
Kortenbach Juergen Andrew
McBrayer Michael Sean
Sixto Robert
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L. L. P.
Peffley Michael
Sci-Med Life Systems, Inc.
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