Bipolar scalpel for harvesting internal mammary artery

Abstract

An bipolar electrosurgical instrument especially designed especially for use in freeing and rerouting of the internal mammary artery during coronary bypass surgery. It comprises a rigid pen-like handle having appropriate cut and coag control switches mounted thereon and a bendable tubular extension projecting from the distal end of the handle member. Mounted on the distal end of the extension is a blade holder designed to contain an ultrasonic transducer as well as the proximal end of the blade itself. The blade comprises a ceramic substrate having a pattern of metallization thereon defining a bipolar cutting gap along the side and end edges of the blade and a bipolar coagulating gap located inwardly from the side and end edges. A cable is used to join the implement to an electrosurgical generator and the individual wires in the cable extend through the pen-like body, the tubular extension and into the blade holder where electrical connections are made to the electrodes on the blade itself. By providing the bendable extension, the angle of the blade relative to the pen-like handle can be adjusted to accommodate the surgeon's angle of attack relative to the retracted chest wall.