Patent ID: 7419490
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors for use in treating biological tissue, comprising: a first scissor blade including a shearing surface, an opposed surface opposite the shearing surface, a cutting edge, a first, proximal end, and a second, distal end, the shearing surface and cutting edge being electrically neutral; a second scissor blade including a shearing surface, an opposed surface opposite the shearing surface, a cutting edge, a first, proximal end, and a second, distal end, the shearing surface and cutting edge being electrically neutral; a pivot pin pivotally coupling the first blade to the second blade at a position proximal the shearing surfaces of the first and second scissor blades; a first electrical connection for receiving an electrical current of a first polarity; a second electrical connection for receiving an electrical current of a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite the first polarity; at least one exposed first electrode positioned on the opposed surface of the first scissor blade and coupled to the first electrical connection, the first electrode extending lengthwise along the length of the opposed surface of the first scissor blade; at least one exposed second electrode positioned on the opposed surface of the first scissor blade and coupled to the second electrical connection, the second electrode extending lengthwise along the length of the opposed surface of the first scissor blade; at least one exposed first electrode positioned on the opposed surface of the second scissor blade and coupled to the second electrical connection, the first electrode extending lengthwise along the length of the opposed surface of the second scissor blade; and at least one exposed second electrode positioned on the opposed surface of the second scissor blade and coupled to the first electrical connection, the second electrode extending lengthwise along the length of the opposed surface of the second scissor blade, wherein the shearing surface of the first blade and the shearing surface of the second blade face each other and interface with each other, in a first energized state, the first electrical connection delivers electrical current only to the at least one first electrode on the first scissor blade and the second electrical connection delivers electrical current only to the at least one first electrode on the second scissor blade, and in a second energized state, the first electrical connection delivers electrical current to the at least one first electrode on the first scissor blade and to the at least one second electrode on the second scissor blade and the second electrical connection delivers electrical current to the at least one second electrode on the first scissor blade and to the at least one first electrode on the second scissor blade.