Patent ID: 6235027
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising:a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship;said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective ceramic heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of resdective portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; andthe tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue to be cauterized between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said ceramic heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces.