Vessel sealer and divider for large tissue structures

Abstract

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft affixed thereto, the shaft including jaw members at a distal end thereof. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and the jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. The forceps also includes a drive assembly which moves the jaw member relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue. A movable handle is included which is rotatable about a pivot to force the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions. The pivot is located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis. A knife assembly is also included which has a movable knife bar having a generally t-shaped proximal end dimensioned to operatively engage a corresponding slot defined within the housing, the slot being dimensioned to guide the movement of the knife bar during translation thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the subject instrument are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a bipolar forceps shown in open configuration and including a housing, a shaft, handle assembly, trigger assembly and an end effector assembly according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the bipolar forceps of FIG. 1A shown in closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the forceps of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged, front perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1A shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged, front perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1A shown in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3C is an enlarged, side view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1A shown in open configuration;

FIG. 3D is an enlarge, front view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1A shown in open configuration;

FIG. 3E is a greatly-enlarged, exploded perspective view of the top jaw member;

FIG. 3F is a greatly-enlarged, exploded perspective view of the bottom jaw member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the endoscopic forceps of FIG. 1A with the internal working components of the forceps exposed;

FIG. 5A is side view of the endoscopic forceps of FIG. 1A with the internal working components of the forceps exposed;

FIG. 5B is side view of the endoscopic forceps of FIG. 1B with the internal working components of the forceps exposed;

FIG. 5C is a greatly-enlarged, perspective view of the handle assembly in open configuration;

FIG. 5D is a greatly-enlarged, perspective view of the handle assembly in closed configuration;

FIG. 6A is an internal, perspective view of the endoscopic forceps of FIG. 1B with the internal working components of the forceps exposed and the trigger shown in an un-actuated position;

FIG. 6B is an internal, perspective view of the endoscopic forceps of FIG. 1B with the internal working components of the forceps exposed and the trigger shown in an actuated position;

FIG. 6C is a schematic representation of the electrical configuration for the trigger assembly;

FIG. 7 is an internal, side view of the endoscopic forceps of FIG. 1B with the trigger shown in an actuated position;

FIG. 8A is a side cross-sectional view showing the trigger in an actuated position;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged, side cross-sectional view showing the jaw members in a spaced apart orientation;

FIG. 8C is an enlarged, side cross-sectional view showing the jaw members in a closed orientation;

FIG. 9A is side cross-sectional view of the housing showing both the trigger and the handle un-actuated;

FIG. 9B is side cross-sectional view of the housing showing both the trigger and the handle actuated;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged, side cross-sectional view showing the end effector in a closed position and the knife in an unactuated position;

FIG. 10B is an enlarged, side cross-sectional view showing the end effector in a closed position and the knife in an actuated position;

FIG. 10C is an enlarged, front perspective view of a bottom jaw member of the end effector assembly showing the knife in an unactuated position;

FIG. 10D is an enlarged, front perspective view of the bottom jaw member showing the knife in an actuated position;

FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective view of the forceps of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the housing;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the end effector assembly and the shaft; and

FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged, exploded perspective view of the end effector assembly.

Claims

1. A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing;a shaft coupled to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;a drive assembly operable to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue;a movable handle rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis; anda knife assembly having a movable knife bar that includes a generally t-shaped proximal end dimensioned to engage a corresponding slot defined within the housing, the slot guiding the movement of the knife bar during translation thereof.

2. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the knife bar is coupled to a knife slidingly disposed within the shaft and the forceps further comprises a finger actuator associated with the knife assembly, wherein movement of the finger actuator moves the knife bar, which, in turn, moves the knife to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

3. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a drive sleeve slidingly disposed therein that couples to the drive assembly for moving the jaw members and the knife assembly includes a cuff at the distal end of the knife bar, the cuff being dimensioned to encapsulate and move atop the drive sleeve upon movement of the knife bar.

4. A bipolar forceps according to claim 3, further comprising a finger actuator associated with the knife assembly, the finger actuator including two generally u-shaped flanges that rotate about a pivot to abut and force the cuff distally, which, in turn, results in distal translation of the knife bar.

5. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a spring that biases the knife assembly in a proximal-most orientation.

6. A bipolar forceps according to claim 3, further comprising a spring that is biased against the cuff to force the knife assembly in a proximal-most orientation.

7. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating assembly operable to rotate the jaw members about the longitudinal axis defined through the shaft.

8. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1, further comprising a hand switch disposed within the housing and adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, the hand switch operable to allow a user to selectively supply bipolar energy to the jaw members to effect a tissue seal.

9. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes a series of stop members disposed thereon configured to regulate the distance between the jaw members during sealing.

10. A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing;a shaft coupled to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;a drive assembly operable to move the jaw member relative to one another about a pivot from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue;a movable handle rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis;a trigger assembly coupled to the housing and coupled to a knife assembly having a drive rod that, upon actuation of the trigger assembly, selectively translates a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members; anda knife guide dimensioned to facilitate alignment and translation of the knife through and into a knife channel defined between the jaw members.

11. A bipolar forceps according to claim 10, wherein the knife guide includes two engageable halves that insulate the jaw members from one another.

12. A bipolar forceps according to claim 10, wherein the knife guide includes at least one aperture defined therein that allows the pivot to extend therethrough.

13. A bipolar forceps according to claim 10, wherein the drive assembly includes a cam pin at a distal end thereof that engages the jaw members and wherein the knife guide includes at least one slot defined therein that allows the cam pin to extend therethrough.

14. A bipolar forceps according to claim 10, wherein the pivot includes an aperture defined therein that allows the knife to extend therethrough.

15. A bipolar forceps according to claim 14, wherein the pivot includes a stem and a cap that matingly engage on opposite sides of the shaft to secure the jaw members during assembly.

16. A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing;a shaft coupled to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;a drive assembly operable to move the jaw member relative to one another about a pivot from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue;a movable handle rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis;a trigger assembly coupled with the housing and coupled to a knife assembly having a drive rod that, upon actuation of the trigger assembly, selectively translates a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a knife carriage having a t-shaped distal end that engages the trigger assembly and a proximal end that engages a knife bar slidingly mounted within the housing; anda knife guide dimensioned to facilitate alignment and translation of the knife through and into a knife channel defined between the jaw members.

17. A bipolar forceps according to claim 16, wherein the knife bar includes a cuff at a distal end thereof that defines an aperture located therethrough, the shaft being rotatingly and slideably disposed through the aperture.

18. A bipolar forceps according to claim 16, wherein the pivot includes an aperture defined therein that allows the knife to extend therethrough.

19. A bipolar forceps according to claim 16, wherein the drive assembly includes an elongated drive sleeve that couples at a proximal end to the movable handle to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the drive assembly further including a cam pin that couples the distal end of the drive sleeve to the jaw members for actuation thereof.

20. A bipolar forceps according to claim 19, wherein the knife includes a slot defined therein that allows the cam pin to extend therethrough.