The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments and, more specifically, to bipolar energy-based surgical instruments.
In minimally-invasive surgical procedures, operations are carried out within an internal body cavity through small entrance openings in the body. The entrance openings may be natural passageways of the body or may be surgically created, for example, by making a small incision into which a cannula is inserted.
Multi-function surgical instruments are beneficial in that they allow multiple surgical tasks to be performed with a single instrument, obviating the need to alternatingly remove and insert different instruments into the surgical site to perform a surgical task and/or obviating the need for simultaneously inserting multiple instruments into the surgical site to perform a surgical task. Some of these multi-function surgical instruments allow for cauterization, irrigation, suction, maintaining a pneumoperitoneum, and allow for visual inspection of a patient's anatomy.
As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is described which is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a user. Further, any or all of the aspects described herein, to the extent consistent, may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects described herein.
Provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is a bipolar electrosurgical instrument having a plurality of interchangeable, alternatively designed, bipolar energy-enabled distal tips to allow for various use scenarios such as, for example, tissue cutting, tissue coagulation, tissue cutting and coagulation, etc. Utilizing bipolar energy reduces the risk of patient burns, errant current leaks, and capacitive coupling. Bipolar energy also lessens eschar build-up and offers more controlled tissue site impact.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrosurgical instrument is provided that includes a shaft and a plurality of electrode tips. The shaft defines a channel therethrough and has a distal end portion defining a plurality of suction ports. The distal end portion of the shaft defines an open distal end configured to provide suction and/or irrigation therethrough. The electrode tips are configured for detachable receipt in the distal end portion of the shaft. Each of the electrode tips has an active electrode and a return electrode such that each of the electrode tips is configured for conducting bipolar electrosurgical energy between the active and return electrodes thereof.
In aspects, the active and return electrodes of a first of the electrode tips may be configured as jaw members, the active and return electrodes of a second of the electrode tips may be configured as spatulas, and the active and return electrodes of a third of the electrode tips may be configured as elongate probes.
In aspects, a first of the electrode tips may be configured to move relative to the shaft between a retracted position and an extended position.
In aspects, the first electrode tip may be concealed within the distal end portion of the shaft when in the retracted position and may protrude distally from the open distal end of the shaft when in the extended position.
In aspects, each of the electrode tips may be configured to detachably couple to a source of bipolar electrosurgical energy.
In aspects, the electrosurgical instrument may further include a housing having a fluid port configured to connect to a source of irrigation fluid, and a vacuum port configured to connect to a vacuum source.
In aspects, the electrosurgical instrument may further include a first actuator coupled to the housing and configured to selectively couple to each of the electrode tips for deploying and retracting the electrode tips relative to the shaft.
In aspects, the electrosurgical instrument may further include a second actuator coupled to the housing and configured to selectively couple to each of the electrode tips for selectively conducting electrosurgical energy to the active electrode.
The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.
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With reference to
The housing 20 has a first button 30, such as, for example, a fluid port and a second button 32, such as, for example, a vacuum port each disposed on housing 20 and which enable connection of instrument 10 to a suction and irrigation source 34 via suitable tubing 36 (integral or removable tubing). Within housing 20 an internal fluid line (not explicitly shown) connects fluid and vacuum ports 30, 32 with the source 34 to enable the delivery of fluid (e.g., water or saline) to and/or withdrawal of fluid from the shaft 22. More specifically, suction and/or irrigation source 34 may be configured to only provide suction or irrigation through shaft 22. Alternatively, suction and/or irrigation source 34 may be configured to provide, in a first configuration, suction though shaft 22, and, in a second configuration, irrigation though shaft 22. In aspects, the buttons 30, 32 may be remote from instrument 10, e.g., on the suction and/or irrigation source 34.
With reference to
With reference to
The first electrode tip 100 includes a first jaw member 102, which may be an active electrode, and a second jaw member 104, which may be a return electrode. The first and second jaw members 102, 104 may be configured as opposing jaw members pivotably coupled to one another. Each of the jaw members 102, 104 includes an electrically-conductive surface (not explicitly shown) adapted to connect to the power source 26 and defines a bipolar configuration in use wherein the surface of the first jaw member 102 is charged to a first electrical potential and the surface of the second jaw member 104 is charged to a second, different electrical potential such that an electrical potential gradient is created for conducting energy between the surface and through tissue grasped therebetween for treating tissue. The first actuator 28 of the housing 20 is operably coupled between the power source 26 and the surfaces of the jaw members 102, 104 via the electrosurgical able 24, thus allowing the surgeon to apply energy, e.g., bipolar electrosurgical energy, to the surfaces of jaw members 102, 104. In aspects, a knife (not shown) may be movably received between the jaw members 102, 104 of the electrode tip 100 for selectively cutting tissue disposed therebetween.
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It is contemplated that electrosurgical instrument 10 may have one or more other alternatively configured electrode tips, such as, for example, L-shaped, hook-shaped, V-shaped, or the like.
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The robotic surgical systems may be employed with one or more consoles that are next to the operating theater or located in a remote location. In this instance, one team of surgeons or nurses may prep the patient for surgery and configure the robotic surgical system with one or more of the instruments disclosed herein while another surgeon (or group of surgeons) remotely control the instruments via the robotic surgical system. As can be appreciated, a highly skilled surgeon may perform multiple operations in multiple locations without leaving his/her remote console which can be both economically advantageous and a benefit to the patient or a series of patients.
The robotic arms of the surgical system are typically coupled to a pair of control handles by a controller. The handles can be moved by the surgeon to produce a corresponding movement of the working ends of any type of surgical instrument (e.g., end effectors, graspers, knifes, scissors, etc.) which may complement the use of one or more of the embodiments described herein. The movement of the control handles may be scaled so that the working ends have a corresponding movement that is different, smaller or larger, than the movement performed by the operating hands of the surgeon. The scale factor or gearing ratio may be adjustable so that the operator can control the resolution of the working ends of the surgical instrument(s).
The control handles may include various sensors to provide feedback to the surgeon relating to various tissue parameters or conditions, e.g., tissue resistance due to manipulation, cutting or otherwise treating, pressure by the instrument onto the tissue, tissue temperature, tissue impedance, etc. As can be appreciated, such sensors provide the surgeon with enhanced tactile feedback simulating actual operating conditions. The control handles may also include a variety of different actuators for delicate tissue manipulation or treatment further enhancing the surgeon's ability to mimic actual operating conditions.
From the foregoing and with reference to the various drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/228,183, filed Aug. 2, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63228183 | Aug 2021 | US |