The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 13, 2002
Michael John Lands, Clearwater, FL (US);
Stephen Wade Lukianow, Boulder, CO (US);
Donald Robert Loeffler, Louisville, CO (US);
James Steven Cunnigham, Boulder, CO (US);
Kate Ryland Lawes, Superior, CO (US);
Daniel Lee Trimberger, Ii, Greeley, CO (US);
Mathew Erle Mitchell, Boulder, CO (US);
Jenifer Serafin Kennedy, Boulder, CO (US);
Michael John Lands, Clearwater, FL (US);
Stephen Wade Lukianow, Boulder, CO (US);
Donald Robert Loeffler, Louisville, CO (US);
James Steven Cunnigham, Boulder, CO (US);
Kate Ryland Lawes, Superior, CO (US);
Daniel Lee Trimberger, II, Greeley, CO (US);
Mathew Erle Mitchell, Boulder, CO (US);
Jenifer Serafin Kennedy, Boulder, CO (US);
Sherwood Services AG, Schaffhausen, CH;
Abstract
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.