An electrosurgical forceps includes first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another such that pivoting of the first and second shaft members between spaced-apart and approximated positions pivots jaw members thereof between open and closed positions. A handle of the first shaft member may be moved against a resilient bias of a spring element.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical instruments and, more particularly, to electrosurgical forceps for grasping, treating, and/or dividing tissue.

TECHNICAL FIELD

A surgical forceps is a plier-like instrument which relies on mechanical action between its jaws to grasp tissue. Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to treat tissue, e.g., coagulate, cauterize, and/or seal tissue. Typically, once tissue is treated, the surgeon has to accurately sever the treated tissue. Accordingly, many electrosurgical forceps incorporate a knife configured to effectively sever tissue after the tissue is treated.

The surgical forceps generally includes a pair of shaft members having jaws attached to distal ends thereof. A compressible button may be provided at a proximal end of the one of the shaft members. During clamping of tissue between the jaws, one or both of the shaft members flex toward one another, whereby the proximal end of one shaft member actuates an electrosurgical switch at the proximal end of the other of the shaft members.

SUMMARY

As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is being described which is further from a surgeon, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a surgeon. Further, to the extent consistent, any of the aspects described herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects described herein.

As used herein, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about +/−10 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular.

An electrosurgical forceps provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a first shaft member, a second shaft member, and an elongated spring element. The first shaft member has a first jaw member secured to and extending distally from the first shaft member. The first shaft member has a proximal end portion supporting a handle. The second shaft member is pivotably coupled to the first shaft member and has a second jaw member secured to and extending distally from the second shaft member. The second shaft member has a proximal end portion supporting an activation switch. The elongated spring element is supported in the proximal end portion of the first shaft member. The handle is configured to flex the elongated spring element and urge the proximal end portion of the first shaft member into engagement with the activation switch.

In aspects, the elongated spring element may have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal and/or distal end of the elongated spring element may be fixed to the first shaft member.

In aspects, the electrosurgical forceps may further include a first capture member and a second capture member. The first capture member may be operably engaged to an inner wall of the proximal end portion of the first shaft member. The proximal end of the elongated spring element may be supported by the capture member. The second capture member may be operably engaged to the inner wall. The distal end of the elongated spring element may be supported by the second capture member.

In aspects, the second shaft member may be rigid along its length.

In aspects, the first and second shaft members may be configured to resist flexing during approximation of the proximal end portions thereof.

In aspects, the elongated spring element may be a cantilever spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a forceps100provided in accordance with the present disclosure generally includes first and second shaft members110,120and an end effector assembly200. Shaft members110,120each have a proximal end portion112a,122aand a distal end portion112b,122b. End effector assembly200includes first and second jaw members210,220extending from distal end portions112b,122bof shaft members110,120, respectively. Forceps100further includes a pivot member130pivotably coupling first and second shaft members110,120with one another, a knife140, a knife deployment mechanism150for selectively deploying the knife140relative to end effector assembly200, a knife lockout170for inhibiting deployment of knife140prior to sufficient closure of jaw members210,220, and a switch assembly180for enabling the selective supply of electrosurgical energy to end effector assembly100. An electrosurgical cable300electrically couples forceps100to a source of energy (not shown), e.g., an electrosurgical generator, to enable the supply of electrosurgical energy to jaw members210,220of end effector assembly200upon activation of switch assembly180.

Continuing with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, each shaft member110,120includes an inner frame114,124, an outer housing116,126surrounding at least a portion of the respective inner frame114,124, and a handle118,128engaged with the respective outer housing116,126towards proximal end portions112a,122aof shaft members110,120, respectively. Outer housings116,126enclose and/or operably support the internal components disposed within shaft members110,120. More specifically, outer housing116of shaft member110encloses and supports at least a portion of inner frame114, knife deployment mechanism150, and lockout170, while outer housing126of shaft member120receives electrosurgical cable300and encloses and supports at least a portion of inner frame124, switch assembly180, and the lead wires310of electrosurgical cable300. The handles118,128are engaged with outer housings116,126towards proximal end portions112a,112bof shaft members110,120and extend outwardly from shaft members110,120. Handles118,128define finger holes119,129configured to facilitate grasping and manipulating shaft members110,120.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the proximal end portion112ahas a protuberance156extending outwardly therefrom configured to engage the switch assembly180. The handle118includes a pair of feet118a,118breceived in the outer housing116. The feet118aare supported in the outer housing116, such that the handle118is restricted from proximal or distal movement relative to the outer housing116while being translatable along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the proximal end portion112a. In aspects, vertical guide rails (not shown) may be provided that guide the up-down movement of the handle118within the outer housing116. In some aspects, instead of being axially movable, the handle118may have a first end (e.g., a distal end) pivotably coupled to the outer housing116and a second end (e.g., a proximal end) that selectively engages a spring element144as the handle118pivots.

The first shaft member110has a spring assembly142supported in the outer housing116beneath the handle118. In particular, the spring assembly142includes an elongated spring element144, such as, for example, a cantilever spring arm, and a pair of capture members146a,146b. In aspects, the spring element144may be fixed at only one end. The elongated spring element144has opposing proximal and distal ends144a,144bfixed in the respective capture members146a,146b. The first capture member146amay be formed with or otherwise fixed to an inner wall148of the proximal end portion112aof the outer housing116, and the second capture member146bmay be formed with or otherwise fixed to the inner wall148. Each of the capture members146a,146bdefines a horizontal slot having received therein the proximal and distal ends144a,144bof the elongated spring element144. In aspects, the proximal and distal ends144a,144bof the elongated spring element144may be fixed to the proximal end portion112avia any suitable fastening mechanism, such as, for example, adhesives, bayonet-type, or the like.

In operation, with tissue disposed between the jaws210,220, the proximal end portions112a,122aof the first and second shaft members110,120are approximated, thereby approximating the jaw members210,220to compress the tissue therebetween. With the tissue compressed between the jaw members210,220, the protuberance156of the first shaft member110may remain spaced from the switch assembly180, and therefore yet to have activated the switch assembly180. In this instance, a further approximation of the proximal end portions112a,122ais needed to deliver electrosurgical energy to the tissue.

A further application of an approximating force on the handles118,128overcomes the resilient bias of the elongated spring element144, thereby allowing the handle118to translate within the outer housing116and cause the proximal end144aof the elongated spring element144to flex relative to the distal end144bof the elongated spring element144, thereby providing sufficient closure force on the tissue.

In some aspects, the protuberance156may extend from a central region of the elongated spring element144. In this embodiment, upon exerting a downwardly-oriented threshold force on the elongated spring element144, via the handle118, the protuberance156is urged closer to and ultimately into engagement with the switch assembly180. In other aspects, the handle118may be flexible. In further aspects, the proximal end portion112a,122aof one or both of the first and second shaft members110,120may be coupled to the remaining portions of the first and second shaft members110,120via any suitable biasing member, such as, for example, torsion springs, coil springs, leaf springs, or the like.

For a detailed description of various components and manners of operating forceps100of the present disclosure, reference may be made to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0325580, filed on May 12, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The various embodiments disclosed herein may also be configured to work with robotic surgical systems and what is commonly referred to as “Telesurgery.” Such systems employ various robotic elements to assist the clinician and allow remote operation (or partial remote operation) of surgical instrumentation. Various robotic arms, gears, cams, pulleys, electric and mechanical motors, etc. may be employed for this purpose and may be designed with a robotic surgical system to assist the clinician during the course of an operation or treatment. Such robotic systems may include remotely steerable systems, automatically flexible surgical systems, remotely flexible surgical systems, remotely articulating surgical systems, wireless surgical systems, modular or selectively configurable remotely operated surgical systems, etc.

The robotic surgical systems may be employed with one or more consoles that are next to the operating theater or located in a remote location. In this instance, one team of clinicians may prep the patient for surgery and configure the robotic surgical system with one or more of the instruments disclosed herein while another clinician (or group of clinicians) remotely controls the instruments via the robotic surgical system. As can be appreciated, a highly skilled clinician may perform multiple operations in multiple locations without leaving his/her remote console which can be both economically advantageous and a benefit to the patient or a series of patients.

For a detailed description of exemplary medical work stations and/or components thereof, reference may be made to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0116416 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,828,023), and PCT Application Publication No. WO2016/025132, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the structures and methods specifically described herein and shown in the accompanying figures are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and that the description, disclosure, and figures should be construed merely as exemplary of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise embodiments described, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, the elements and features shown or described in connection with certain embodiments may be combined with the elements and features of certain other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and that such modifications and variations are also included within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described.