Sherwood Services Ag

Valleylab, Inc.

Covidien Ag

Coviden Ag

Michael J Lands

Steven Paul Buysse

Jenifer Serafin Kennedy

Kate Ryland Lawes

Stephen Wade Lukianow

Donald Robert Loeffler

S Wade Lukianow

Dale Francis Schmaltz

Thomas Patrick Ryan

Daniel Lee Trimberger, Ii

Mathew Erle Mitchell

Randel Alven Frazier

Kristin D Johnson

Gary M Couture

Lap P Nguyen

Wade Lukianow

Philip Mark Tetzlaff

James S Cunningham

Thomas P Ryan

James Steven Cunnigham

Dale F Schmaltz

James Joseph Podracky

Steven W Lukianow

Kate R Dawes

Mathew E Mitchell

Daniel L Trimberger

Lukianow S Wade

Steven P Buysee

Randel A Franzier

Donald R Loeffler

A forceps for clamping, grasping, manipulating, coagulating/desiccating and cutting tissue includes a shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal end and first and second jaw members pivotally attached to the distal end of the shaft by a pivot assembly. Each of the jaw members including an opposing inner facing surface having a plurality of wave forms disposed thereon for engaging tissue therebetween. The wave forms disposed on the inner facing surface of the second jaw member being complimentary to the wave forms on the inner facing surface of first jaw member. A handle portion having an actuating assembly is attached to the proximal end of the shaft for imparting movement of the first and second jaw members from a first open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. One embodiment of the forceps includes a pair of electrodes clamped on the inner facing surface of each jaw member for imparting electrosurgical energy to the tissue grasped therebetween.

Vessel sealing wave jaw

A laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes a handle having an elongated tube affixed thereto. The tube includes first and second jaw members having electrically conductive sealing surfaces attached to a distal end thereof which are movable from a first position for approximating tissue to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. The handle includes a fixed handle and a handle which is movable relative to the fixed handle to effect movement of the jaw members from the first position to the second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the opposable sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. A stop is included for maintaining a minimum separation distance between opposing sealing surfaces. A ratchet is also included to maintain a closure force in the range of about 7 kg/cmto about 13 kg/cmbetween opposing sealing surfaces.

Laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for clamping, grasping, manipulating, and sealing tissue includes first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof. The handle being operable to effect movement of 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 cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The bipolar instrument is connectable to a source of electrical energy having a first electrical potential connected to one of the jaw members and a second electrical potential connected to the other of the jaw members such that the jaw members are capable of selectively conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. Both the first and second electrical potentials are transmitted to the jaw members through the first shaft.

Vessel sealing instrument

A laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument can apply a large closure force between its jaws without damaging the small yoke assembly. The instrument comprises: a first jaw having a first flange with a first slot, and a second jaw having a second flange with a second slot, wherein the first and second jaws are located at a distal end of the instrument and comprise an electrically conductive material for conducting bipolar electrosurgical current therebetween; a yoke attached to a pushrod and positioned to electrically insulate the first flange from the second flange, the yoke having a first side facing the first flange and a second side facing the second flange, the yoke further comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder, a first pin located on the first side and movably engaged with the first slot; a second pin located on the second side and movably engaged with the second slot; the first slot and the second slot shaped such that an angle, subtended by the first and second jaws, decreases with distal motion of the pushrod, and first and second cul-de-sacs positioned respectively in the first and second slots to relieve shear stresses on the first and second pins approximately when the first and second shoulders respectively engage the first and second flanges to provide a closure force between the first and second jaws.

A laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument can apply a large closure force between its jaw without damaging the small yoke assembly. The instrument comprises: a first jaw having a first flange with a first slot, and a second jaw having a second flange with a second slot, wherein the first and second jaws are located at a distal end of the instrument and comprise an electrically conductive material for conducting bipolar electrosurgical current therebetween; a yoke attached to a pushrod and positioned to electrically insulate the first flange from the second flange, the yoke having a first side facing the first flange and a second side facing the second flange, the yoke further comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder; a first pin located on the first side and movably engaged with the first slot; a second pin located on the second side and movably engaged with the second slot; the first slot and the second slot shaped such that an angle, subtended by the first and second jaws, decreases with distal motion of the pushrod, and first and second cul-de-sacs positioned respectively in the first and second slots to relive shear stresses on the first and second pins approximately when the first and second shoulders respectively engage the first and second flanges to provide a closure force between the first and second jaws.

A endoscopic bipolar forceps for clamping and sealing tissue includes first and second jaw members pivotally attached in opposing relation relative to one another which are movable from a first open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A drive rod assembly connects each of the jaw members to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting bipolar energy through the tissue held therebetween. A handle attached to the drive rod assembly imparts movement of the first and second jaw members from the first and second positions. At least one stop member is attached to the jaw members for controlling the distance between the jaw members. The forceps may also include a yoke member for insulating the jaw members from one another to prevent short circuiting of the forceps. Preferably, the yoke member and jaw member interface is dimensioned to withstand the high shearing forces normally associated with sealing tissue.

Endoscopic bipolar electrosurgical forceps

A removable electrode assembly for use in combination with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The electrode assembly includes a housing which is removably engageable with the forceps and a pair of electrodes which are attachable to a distal end of the housing. The electrodes are removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The electrode assembly also includes a cover plate which is removably attachable to the housing and at least one stop member for controlling the distance the electrodes move relative to one another.

Open vessel sealing forceps with disposable electrodes

A laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument can apply a large closure force between its jaws without damaging the small yoke assembly. The instrument comprises: a first jaw having a first flange with a first slot, and a second jaw having a second flange with a second slot, wherein the first and second jaws are located at a distal end of the instrument and comprise an electrically conductive material for conducting bipolar electrosurgical current therebetween; a yoke attached to a pushrod and positioned to electrically insulate the first flange from the second flange, the yoke having a first side facing the first flange and a second side facing the second flange, the yoke further comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder; a first pin located on the first side and movably engaged with the first slot; a second pin located on the second side and movably engaged with the second slot; the first slot and the second slot shaped such that an angle, subtended by the first and second jaws, decreases with distal motion of the pushrod, and first and second cul-de-sacs positioned respectively in the first and second slots to relieve shear stresses on the first and second pins approximately when the first and second shoulders respectively engage the first and second flanges to provide a closure force between the first and second jaws.

A clamping force mechanism and its method of use with electrosurgery allow a user to seal and/or join patient's particular vascular tissue; the mechanism is elongate with user and patient ends. An actuator is at the user end and the effectors are at the patient end. Each effector has a face of an area to contact the particular vascular tissue. A lost motion connection transfers user actuation to the effectors to hold a predetermined clamping force during electrosurgical tissue sealing. A yielding member in the loss motion connection clamps the particular tissue between the faces with a predetermined force. The yielding member is a spring, slip clutch or hydraulic coupling possibly near the actuator. An active electrode is carried on one end effector and a return electrode contacts the tissue so an electrosurgical energy supply connected thereacross delivers energy therebetween. A feedback circuit responds to parameters of energy delivered to tissue. A temperature sensor on one face and an impedance monitor respond to energy delivered. A control applies energy to held tissue to seal and/or join it. The method transfers user actuation of the effectors with the lost motion connection, maintains clamping force while sealing and applying electrosurgical energy to seal and/or join held tissue. Energy is applied to a temperature or an impedance. The method shifts the yielding member so the opposing faces clamp the particular tissue therebetween with the force from the spring via a transfer rod or by the hydraulic coupling or the slip clutch for a range of pressure.

Vascular tissue sealing pressure control and method

Method of vascular tissue sealing pressure control

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, CO, United States of America

Michael J Lands