Capacitively coupled cordless electrosurgical instrument

Abstract: In the present invention, a cordless capacitively coupled electrosurgical instrument is adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a specially designed trocar or trocar adapter. In one embodiment of the present invention, a capacitively coupled electrosurgical instrument includes a handle, an elongated tube and an electrosurgical end effector. The handle may include an actuator such as a trigger which is operatively connected to the end effector through the elongated tube. The elongated tube may be a closure tube which is adapted to close the end effector when the handle actuator is moved. Alternatively, the closure tube may include a mechanism connecting the handle actuator to the end effector, which mechanism acts to close the end effector when the handle actuator is moved. The electrosurgical end effector is adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to biological tissue in order to effect treatment of the tissue. The elongated closure tube includes one or more capacitor plates adapted to couple electrosurgical energy to the end effector. The capacitor plates are connected to the end effector through one or more electrical conductors.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, to an improved electrosurgical instrument and method of use and, more particularly, to a capacitively coupled cordless electrosurgical instrument which is adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a to specially adapted electrosurgical trocar. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The surgical trocar has become the mainstay in the development and acceptance of endoscopic surgical procedures. Endoscopic surgery involves the performance of surgery through a number of openings having a relatively small diameter. These openings are made with the trocar, which typically includes a trocar obturator and a trocar cannula. The obturator is the piercing implement which punctures the body wall to make the opening. Once the puncture is made, the obturator is withdrawn from the cannula. The cannula then provides a small diameter passageway into and through the body wall to provide access for additional surgical instrumentation to the surgical site. The function, structure and operation of a typical trocar is described in detail in U.S. Patent 5,387,197. Such additional surgical instruments may include, for example, bipolar or monopolar electrosurgical instruments which utilize radio frequency electrosurgical energy. Known electrosurgical instruments include, for example, bipolar forceps, bipolar scissors, monopolar-hooks, monopolar-scissors and, bipolar endocutters. Each of those instruments has an electrosurgical end effector which is adapted to treat tissue through the application of electrosurgical (e.g. radio frequency or RF) energy to tissue which is brought in contact with the electrosurgical end effector. Most known electrosurgical instruments are connected by electrical cords to electrosurgical generators. The structure and operation of a typical mechanical cutter/stapler is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,597,107. The structure and operation of a typical bipolar cutter/stapler ("bipolar endocutter") is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,403,312 which shows a device comprising the features defined in the preamble of claim 1. Electrosurgical generators, such as the Force II generator (which is available from Valleylab of Bolder Colorado), supply electrical energy to the electrosurgical instruments through electrical cords. The electrical cords, being attached directly to the electrosurgical instrument, may make the electrosurgical instrument inconvenient to use. Alternatively, electrical cords may cause undesirable delays as one electrosurgical instrument is unplugged from the generator and another is plugged in. Thus, it would be advantageous to design a cordless electrosurgical instrument such as a cordless electrosurgical instrument wherein electrosurgical energy is capacitively coupled to the instrument. However, such a cordless electrosurgical instrument would have to be connected to the electrosurgical generator through some alternate arrangement. Therefore, it would also be advantageous to design a trocar or a trocar adapter which is adapted to capacitively couple electrosurgical energy to specially designed cordless electrosurgical instruments. It would further be advantageous to design a cordless electrosurgical instrument and electrosurgical trocar or trocar adapter wherein the electrosurgical energy is capacitively coupled from the electrosurgical trocar to the cordless electrosurgical instrument when electrosurgical energy is applied to the electrosurgical trocar or trocar adapter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention as defined in claim 1, a cordless capacitively coupled electrosurgical instrument is adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a specially designed trocar or trocar adapter. The capacitively coupled electrosurgical instrument includes a handle, an elongated tube and an electrosurgical end effector. The handle may include an actuator such as a trigger which is operatively connected to the end effector through the elongated tube. The elongated tube may be a closure tube which is adapted to close the end effector when the handle actuator is moved. Alternatively, the closure tube may include a mechanism connecting the handle actuator to the end effector, which mechanism acts to close the end effector when the handle actuator is moved. The electrosurgical end effector is adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to biological tissue in order to effect treatment of the tissue. The elongated closure tube includes one or more capacitor plates adapted to couple electrosurgical energy to the end effector. The capacitor plates are connected to the end effector through one or more electrical conductors. The elongated tube is constructed of an electrically insulating dielectric material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the elongated closure tube is made of a dielectric material and at least one of the instrument capacitor plates is positioned in and extends along the interior of the elongated closure tube. In a further embodiment of the invention, both of the capacitor plates are positioned in and extend axially along the interior of the elongated tube. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first and second capacitor plates are electrically connected to first and second electrodes located on the end effector. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention is adapted to fit through an trocar which includes an electrosurgical adapter with at least a first capacitor plate positioned around and extending axially along the elongated aperture, at least a first electrical conductor, at least a first external conductor, a compression mechanism, an outer housing and an electrical cord. In a further embodiment of the present invention, each of the capacitor plates in the electrosurgical instrument comprises an electrically conductive plate covered by a layer of high dielecteric material. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the layer of high dielectric material comprises, at least in part, a portion of the closure tube. The high dielectric material may be composed, at least in part, of a durable high dielectric material such as Barium Titillate (BaTiO 3 ) or other suitable material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and methods of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a capacitive electrosurgical trocar. Figure 1A is a perspective view of a capacitive electrosurgical trocar including a portion of the closure tube of a capacitive electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention shown positioned in the central aperture of the capacitive electrosurgical trocar. Figure 2 is a plan view section taken along 2-2 in Figure 1 through the capacitive electrosurgical trocar illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 2A is a plan view section taken along 2A-2A in Figure 1A through the capacitive electrosurgical trocar and closure tube illustrated in Figure 1A. Figure 3 is a perspective view in plane section of the capacitive electrosurgical adapter illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3A is a perspective view in plane section of the capacitive electrosurgical adapter and closure tube illustrated in Figure 1A. Figure 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 4A is a section view taken along line 4A-4A of Figure 2A. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cordless capacitive electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the distal end of a cordless capacitive electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention. Figure 7 is a cut away view of the handle of the electrosurgical instrument illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 8A is a cutaway view of the end effector of the capacitive electrosurgical instrument illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 8B is a cutaway view of a portion of the closure tube of the capacitive electrosurgical instrument illustrated in Figure 5 Figure 9 is a cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of a portion of the closure tube of the capacitive electrosurgical instrument illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram graphically illustrating the capacitive coupling between a capacitive electrosurgical trocar or trocar adapter and a capacitive electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram graphically illustrating the capacitive coupling between a capacitive electrosurgical trocar or trocar adapter and an alternative embodiment of a capacitive electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 is a perspective view of a capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11. Figure 1A is a perspective view of capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 including a portion of closure tube 50 of capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 according to the present invention. Capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 includes trocar cannula 8 and a capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14. Capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 may also include an obturator assembly (not shown) such as the one illustrated in U.S. Patent 5,387,197. Trocar cannula 8 includes cannula housing 12 and cannula tube 10, extending from cannula housing 12. Capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 includes an adapter housing 15, locking connector 17 and an electric cord 18. Capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 is connected to trocar cannula 8 by locking connector 17. Locking connector 17 includes locking cleats 20 and release buttons 22. It will be apparent that capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 may be integrated directly into trocar cannula housing 12, thus eliminating the need for locking connector 17. Figure 2 is a plane view section taken along 2-2 in Figure 1 through capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11. Figure 2A is a plan view section taken along 2A-2A in Figure 1A through capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 and a portion of closure tube 50 of capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16. In Figures 2 and 2A, cannula housing 12 includes flapper valve 34, valve spring 35 and ring gasket 33. Capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 includes central aperture 19, front flange 25 and base flange 24. Central aperture 19 is an elongated aperture for receiving working instruments such as endoscopic electrosurgical instruments. Capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 further includes a plurality of capacitor plates which, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2-4, comprise proximal capacitor plate 28 and distal capacitor plate 29. At least a portion of the interior wall of central aperture 19 is formed by upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31. Upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 together comprise trocar insulator 134. Upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 are positioned against front flange 25 and base flange 24. Compression member, 32 is, in the present embodiment, an o-ring which is positioned outside of upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 to bias upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 toward the center of central aperture 19. Compression member 32 may also be, for example, a spring, a flexible sleeve, a plurality of o-rings or any other suitable biasing member. Proximal capacitor plate 28 and distal capacitor plate 29, being positioned in upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 in Figures 1-4 are likewise biased toward the center of central aperture 19 by compression member 32. Latch detents 4 in cannula housing 12, are adapted to receive locking cleats 20 of locking connector 17. Figure 3 is a perspective view in plane section of capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14. Figure 3A is a perspective view in plane section of capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 and a portion of closure tube 50 of electrosurgical instrument 16. Referring now to Figures 2-4 and 2A-4A and particularly to Figures 3 and 3A, capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 includes adapter housing 15, locking cleats 20, base flange 24, front flange 25 and release buttons 22. Upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 are positioned in capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 and are held in place by base flange 24 and front flange 25. Compression members 32 bias upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 toward the center of central aperture 19. Upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 are preferably constructed of a high dielectric material such as Barium Titillate (BaTiO 3 ). Proximal capacitor plate 28 comprises first proximal capacitor stator plate 128 and second proximal capacitor stator plate 130. Distal capacitor plate 29 comprises first distal capacitor stator plate 129 and second distal capacitor stator plate 131. Electrosurgical energy is supplied to capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 by electric cord 18 which is connected to bipolar electrosurgical plug 64. Electric cord 18 is electrically connected to upper conductor 36 and lower conductor 38. Upper conductor 36 is electrically connected to upper stator tab 26 which is electrically connected to first proximal capacitor stator plate 128. Conductor 136 electrically connects upper stator tab 26 to lower stator tab 27 which is electrically connected to second proximal capacitor stator plate 130. Lower conductor 38 is electrically connected to lower stator tab 127 which is electrically connected to second distal capacitor stator plate 131. Conductor 138 electrically connects lower stator tab 127 to upper stator tab 126 which is electrically connected to first distal capacitor stator plate 129. Thus, electrosurgical energy may be coupled from bipolar electrosurgical plug 64 to each of proximal capacitor plate 28 and distal capacitor plate 29. Proximal capacitor plate 28 and distal capacitor plate 29 are positioned in, and electrically insulated from one another by trocar insulator 134. In particular, first proximal capacitor stator plate 128 and first distal capacitor stator plate 129 are positioned in upper insulator 30 which also insulates first proximal capacitor stator plate 128 from first distal capacitor stator plated 129. Further, second proximal capacitor stator plate 130 and second distal capacitor stator plate 131 are positioned in lower insulator 31 which also insulates second proximal capacitor stator plate 130 from second distal capacitor stator plate 131. Compression member 32 surrounds upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31. First proximal dielectric region 151 comprises the portion of upper insulator 30 positioned between first proximal capacitor stator plate 128 and central aperture 19. Second proximal dielectric region 152 comprises the portion of lower insulator 31 positioned between second proximal capacitor stator plate 130 and central aperture 19. First distal dielectric region 153 comprises the portion of upper insulator 30 positioned between first distal capacitor stator plate 129 and central aperture 19. Second distal dielectric region 154 comprises the portion of lower insulator 31 positioned between second distal capacitor stator plate 131 and central aperture 19. Figure 4 is a sectional view of capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 4A is a section view of capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 taken along line 4A-4A of Figure 2A. Referring now to Figures 2-4 and particularly to Figures 4 and 4A, central aperture 19 is defined by aperture interior wall 21. The portion of aperture interior wall 21 visible in Figure 4 is formed, at least in part, by first insulator surface 60 of upper insulator 30 and insulator surface 61 of lower insulator 31. Compression member 32, which comprises two o-rings in the embodiment of Figures 2-4, biases upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 toward the center of central aperture 19. Electric cord 18 is connected to first proximal capacitor stator plate 128 of proximal capacitor plate 28 by upper conductor 36 and upper stator tab 26. Upper stator tab 26 is connected to lower stator tab 27 by conductor 136. Electric cord 18 is connected to second distal capacitor stator plate 131 of distal capacitor plate 29 by lower conductor 38 and lower stator tab 27. As illustrated particularly in Figures 2 and 3, Upper stator tab 126 is connected to lower stator tab 127 by conductor 138. Base flange 24 and front flange 25, which are part of adapter housing 15, hold upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 in place, thus positioning proximal capacitor plate 28 and distal capacitor plate 29 around central aperture 19. Strain relief 23 protects electric cord 18 as it passes through adapter housing 15. Although proximal capacitor plate 28 is illustrated as being visible in Figures 4 and 4A, it will be apparent that proximal capacitor plate 28 is shown as being visible for convenience in describing the trocar and would actually be hidden. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a capacitive cordless electrosurgical instrument 16 which may be, for example, a bipolar cutter/stapler. In Figure 5, capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 includes handle 72, closure tube 50 and end effector 57, which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, is a bipolar cutter/stapler. Alternative electrosurgical end effectors may include: a bipolar forceps such as the forceps illustrated in 5,540,684 a bipolar cutting an coagulation instrument such as the tissue cutting forceps illustrated in US Patent Number 5,445,638; a bipolar scissors such as the shears illustrated in US Patent Number 5,352,222; or a bipolar probe such as the probe illustrated in US Patent 5,342,357. Closure tube 50 is elongated to facilitate insertion of end effector 57 through a trocar cannula, thus facilitating the use of capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 in endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures. Closure tube 50 may be any appropriate shape, including, for example, a elongated square or triangular tube. Handle 72, which is located at the proximal end of capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16, includes grasping trigger 74, firing trigger 76 and release trigger 78. Closure tube 50, which connects handle 72 to end effector 57, includes rotation knob 70. End effector 57, which is located at the distal end of closure tube 50 includes anvil 58, cartridge channel 88 and staple cartridge 68. Capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 is similar in structure and operation to the bipolar endoscopic electrocautery linear cutting and stapling instrument illustrated and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,403,312, which However capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 is cordless and electrosurgical energy is capacitively coupled into electrosurgical instrument 16. In captive electrosurgical instrument 16, electrosurgical energy is supplied to end effector 57 of instrument 16 through one or more capacitive plates, which may be located in closure tube 50. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the distal end of an electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention, such as electrosurgical instrument 16. In the instruments illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, closure tube 50 is electrically insulative and may preferably be constructed of a material having a high dielectric constant. Instrument proximal capacitor plate contact 42 is positioned in outer tube 50 and electrically connected to first electrode conductor 48. Closure tube insulator 44 separates Instrument Proximal capacitor plate 42 from instrument distal capacitor plate 43. Instrument distal capacitor plate 43 is positioned in outer tube 50 and is electrically connected to channel 88 which holds staple cartridge 68. Firing rod 84 passes through outer tube 50 and is mechanically connected to wedge block assembly 82. In an alternate electrosurgical instrument, instrument distal capacitor plate 43 could be electrically connected to a second or return electrode (not shown) on end effector 57 by an insulated wire (not shown) which runs through closure tube 50 and, in such an instrument, channel 88 may be constructed of an insulating material. In Figure 5, Conductor 48 passes through closure tube 50 from instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 to electrode assembly 52, electrically connecting instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 to electrode assembly 52. Electrode assembly 52 is positioned in anvil 58. Electrode assembly 52 may be electrically insulated from anvil 58 and closure tube 50 to prevent electrode assembly 52 from shorting to anvil 58 or closure tube 50. Conductor 48 may be insulated to prevent it from shorting to closure tube 50 or any of the mechanisms in closure tube 50. Figure 6 is a cut away view of the handle of electrosurgical instrument 16 illustrated in Figure 4. In Figure 6, handle 72 includes grip 62, grasping trigger 74 and firing trigger 76. Pivotal movement of grasping trigger 74 results in distal movement of yoke 63 and closure tube 50, closing anvil 58 against staple cartridge 68 which is positioned in cartridge channel 88. Pivotal movement of grasping trigger 74 further releases firing rod 84 and positions firing trigger 76 to engage drive member 67. Further pivotal movement of firing trigger 76 toward grip 62 results in distal movement of drive member 67 which rotates multiplier 66 in a counterclockwise direction. Counterclockwise rotation of multiplier 66 results in distal movement of firing rod 84 which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, fires the staples in staple cartridge 68. Figure 8A is a cutaway view of end effector 57 of capacitive cordless electrosurgical instrument 16. Figure 8B is a cutaway view of a portion of closure tube 50 of capacitive cordless electrosurgical instrument 16. Figure 9 is a cutaway view of an alternate embodiment of a portion of closure tube 50 of capacitive cordless electrosurgical instrument 16. In the embodiments of electrosurgical instrument 16 illustrated in Figures 8A, 8B and 9, anvil base 73 of Anvil 58 supports electrode assembly 52 and includes anvil guide 65 and staple forming slots (not shown). Electrode assembly 52 is electrically coupled to first electrode conductor 48 and to anvil electrodes 55. Anvil base 73 is insulated from electrode assembly 52 by anvil insulator 59. First electrode conductor 48 is electrically connected to instrument proximal capacitor plate 42. Instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 is positioned in the proximal portion of closure tube 50. Channel 88 of end effector 57 supports staple cartridge 68, wedge guide 80 and wedge block assembly 82. Channel 88 extends into and, being constructed of electrically conductive material, is electrically coupled to instrument distal capacitor plate 43 which is positioned in the distal portion of closure tube 50. Thus, channel 88 may provide a return path for electrical energy coupled to anvil electrodes 55 of end effector 57 when end effector 57 is used to grasp tissue or other electrically conductive material and that electrically conductive material touches both channel 88 and anvil electrodes 55. Electrosurgical energy coupled to channel 88 may be coupled back to electrosurgical trocar 11 through instrument distal capacitor plate 43. Instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 is electrically insulated from Instrument distal capacitor plate 43 by closure tube insulator 44. Closure tube 50 also supports and encloses the proximal end of anvil 58, the proximal end of channel 88, firing rod 84, the proximal end of knife 90, channel retainer 86 and at least a portion of wedge block assembly 82 and wedge guide 80. Closure tube 50 may preferably be constructed of a durable high dielectric insulating material such as, for example, Barium Titillate (BaTiO 3 ). Anvil 58 opens and closes by, for example, pivoting around one or more pivot pins 85. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, matching inductor 49 may be used to improve the efficiency of energy transfer to tissue grasped by end effector 57. Knife 90 is connected to wedge assembly 82 and wedge assembly 82 is connected to firing rod 84, which, in turn, is operatively connected to firing trigger 76. Closure tube 50 is operatively connected to rotation knob 70, grasping trigger 74 and release trigger 78. Wedge guide 80 is fitted over wedge block assembly 82 to guide wedge block assembly 82 as firing rod 84 moves wedge block assembly 82. Channel 88 fits in and is held in place by the distal end of channel retainer 86. The structure and operation of the mechanical features of electrosurgical instrument 16 may be better understood with reference to the mechanical cutting and stapling instrument illustrated and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,597,107. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram graphically illustrating the capacitive coupling between capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 and capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16. In Figure 10, Proximal capacitor 142 comprises proximal capacitor plate 28, trocar insulator 134, closure tube 50 and instrument proximal capacitor plate 42. More particularly, proximal capacitor 142 comprises first proximal capacitor stator plate 128, first proximal dielectric region 151, second proximal capacitor stator plate 130, second proximal dielectric region 152, a portion of the proximal end of closure tube 50, and instrument proximal capacitor plate 42. Distal capacitor 143 comprises distal capacitor plate 29, trocar insulator 134, closure tube 50 and instrument distal capacitor plate 43. More particularly, distal capacitor 143 comprises first distal capacitor stator plate 129, first distal dielectric region 153, second distal capacitor stator plate 131, second distal dielectric region 154, a portion of the distal end of closure tube 50 and instrument distal capacitor plate 43. In Figures 10 and 11, first output 6 of electrosurgical generator 5 is connected to proximal capacitor plate 28 of proximal capacitor 142 through cord 18 and upper conductor 36. Second output 7 of electrosurgical generator 5 is connected to distal capacitor plate 29 of distal capacitor 143 through cord 18 and lower conductor 38. When end effector 57 is closed around electrically conductive material such as biological tissue, the electrical circuit from instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 of proximal capacitor 142 to instrument distal capacitor plate 43 of distal capacitor 143 is completed. Thus, with end effector 57 closed around conductive material and electrosurgical generator 5 turned on, electrosurgical energy, such as electrical current at a predetermined output frequency and power, passes from electrosurgical generator 5, through proximal capacitor 142, to end effector 57 and returns through distal capacitor 143 and back to second output 7 of electrosurgical generator 5. As Figures 10 and 11 schematically illustrate, instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 and instrument distal capacitor plate 43 are elongated so that movement of electrosurgical instrument 16 does not result in loss of capacitive coupling in capacitors 142 and 143. Thus, even as the instrument is moved within trocar 11 to facilitate treatment of the patient, capacitive coupling may be maintained. The circuit illustrated in Figure 11 includes a matching inductor 49 which may be used to electrically match capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 to capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 in order to increase the power coupled to the tissue grasped by end effector 57. In particular, inductor 49 would be selected to make the load represented by the trocar, instrument and tissue appear to be substantially resistive at the frequency of interest. In operation, trocar cannula 8 is used with a conventional trocar orbitor (not shown) to penetrate the wall of a body cavity such as, for example, the abdominal wall of a human being. After the body wall is penetrated, the obturator assembly is withdrawn from trocar cannula 8, and the cannula is used as an access portal for the passage of various endoscopic instruments to provide, for example, access to the internal organs of a human being. Where the endoscopic instrument to be used is a cordless capacitive electrosurgical instrument such as electrosurgical instrument 16, capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 may be attached to trocar cannula 8. Once capacitive electrosurgical adapter 14 is attached to trocar cannula 8 and electric cord 18 is attached to a suitable electrosurgical generator (such as generator 5 in Figure 10), capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11 may be used to provide electrosurgical energy to cordless capacitive electrosurgical instruments such as electrosurgical instrument 16. When a cordless capacitive electrosurgical instrument such as electrosurgical instrument 16, is inserted into a body cavity through, for example, capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11, end effector 57 passes through trocar cannula 8 and into the body cavity while most of closure tube 50 remains in trocar 11. Handle 72, which is outside of capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11, may be manipulated by the surgeon to control the position of end effector 57. A cordless capacitive bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to the present invention, such as electrosurgical instrument 16 of Figure 5 may be used by inserting the cordless instrument into an appropriate capacitive electrosurgical trocar such as the electrosurgical trocar illustrated in Figure 1. In the capacitive electrosurgical trocar illustrated in Figure 1, electrosurgical energy is provided to instrument 16 by, for example, the capacitive coupling between proximal capacitor plate 28 of trocar 11 and instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 of instrument 16. An electrical return path is provided by, for example, the capacitive coupling between distal capacitor plate 29 of trocar 11 and instrument distal capacitor plate 43 of instrument 16. The diameter of central aperture 19 generally corresponds with the outer diameter of closure tube 50 so that closure tube 50 slides through central aperture 19 and the interior of cannula tube 10. Efficient capacitive coupling will be maintained so long as at least a portion of capacitor plates 42 and 43 are positioned in central aperture 19 opposite at least a portion of capacitor plates 28 and 29 to form capacitors 142 and 143. Upper insulator 30 and lower insulator 31 form trocar insulator 134. Closure tube 50 and trocar insulator 134, being preferably formed of a material having a high dielectric constant, act as the dielectric for proximal capacitor 142 and distal capacitor 143 which are illustrated schematically in Figure 10. Compression member 32 helps to ensure that trocar insulator 134 and closure tube 50 maintain good physical contact, minimizing any air gap and enhancing capacitive coupling between the plates of proximal capacitor 142 and the plates of distal capacitor 143. Capacitive electrical coupling may be enhanced by using multiple capacitors in capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11. With instrument capacitor plates 42 and 43 positioned opposite capacitor plates 28 and 29, electrosurgical energy may be supplied to instrument 16 through electric cord 18 and capacitive electrosurgical trocar 11. Electrosurgical energy supplied to trocar 11 by cord 18 passes through conductors 36, 38, 136 and 138 to stator tabs 26, 126, 27 and 127 and capacitor plates 28 and 29 into electrosurgical instrument 16 via instrument capacitor plates 42 and 43. Electrosurgical energy supplied to electrosurgical instrument 16 via instrument capacitor plates 42 and 43 may be supplied to end effector 57 via the circuit formed by instrument proximal capacitor plate 42, conductor 48, electrode assembly 52, cartridge channel 88 and instrument distal capacitor plate 43. This circuit is completed when biological tissue or other conductive material is grasped by end effector 57, providing a path from electrode assembly 52 to cartridge channel 88. In electrosurgical instrument 16, cartridge channel 88 and anvil electrode 55 are electrically conductive. Thus, where electrode assembly 52 acts as a primary electrode, cartridge channel 88 acts as a secondary or return electrode. When electrically conductive tissue is grasped by end effector 57, touching both electrode assembly 52 and cartridge channel 88, and an electrosurgical generator is connected to first instrument proximal capacitor plate 42 and second instrument distal capacitor plate 43, electrosurgical energy will flow through the grasped tissue, coagulating the grasped tissue provided that capacitive electrosurgical instrument 16 is positioned in trocar 11 as described herein. It may also be advantageous to provide one or more switches (not shown) to control the flow of electrical current to trocar 11 or to end effector 57 of instrument 16. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: An electrosurgical instrument (16) wherein said electrosurgical instrument (16) comprises: a) a handle (72); b) an end effector (57) operatively connected to said handle (72); and c) an elongated tube (50) connecting said end effector (57) to said handle (72); characterised in that the instrument (16) is cordless and further comprises: d) a first capacitor plate (42) electrically connected to said end effector (57). The electrosurgical instrument (16) of Claim 1 further comprising a second capacitor plate (43) positioned in said elongated tube (50) wherein said second capacitor plate (43) is electrically connected to said end effector (57). The electrosurgical instrument (16) of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said electrosurgical instrument (16) is endoscopic, the end effector (57) includes at least a first electrode; and the first capacitor plate (42) is positioned in said elongated tube (50) wherein said first capacitor plate (42) is electrically connected to said first electrode by an electrical conductor, said electrical conductor being positioned at least partially within said elongated tube (50). The electrosurgical instrument (16) according to Claim 3 further comprising: a) a second capacitor plate (43) positioned in said elongated tube (50); and b) a second electrode on said end effector (57) wherein said second capacitor plate (43) is electrically connected to said second electrode. The electrosurgical instrument (16) of claim 1, said handle (72) including an actuator; said end effector (57) including first and second electrodes wherein said end effector (57) comprises a first grasping element and a second grasping element; said elongated tube (50) includes a mechanism operatively connecting said end effector (57) to said actuator; said first capacitor plate (42) being positioned at least partially in said tube and extending along at least a portion of said tube wherein said first capacitor plate (42) is electrically connected to said first electrode by an insulated wire positioned in said elongated tube (50); and a second capacitor plate (43) being positioned in and extending along said tube distal to said first capacitor plate (42), wherein said second capacitor plate (43) is electrically connected to said second electrode. The electrosurgical instrument (16) of claim 1, said handle (72) being for holding said instrument (16); said end effector (57) being for treating tissue; said elongated tube (50) being for connecting said end effector (57) means to said handle (72) means; and said capacitor plate being for capacitively coupling electrosurgical energy through said elongated tube (50) means to said instrument (16). The electrosurgical instrument (16) of Claim 6 further comprising a second capacitor plate (43) for coupling electrosurgical energy through said elongated tube (50), wherein said second capacitor plate (43) is electrically connected to said end effector (57). The electrosurgical instrument (16) of claim 1, said electrosurgical instrument (16) being endoscopic, said handle (72) being for holding said instrument (16); said end effector (57) being for treating tissue and including at least a first electrode means for transmitting electrical energy to tissue contacted by said end effector (57); said elongated tube (50) being for connecting said end effector (57) to said handle (72); said first capacitor plate (42) being for capacitively coupling electrical energy to said first electrode wherein said first capacitor plate (42) is positioned in said elongated tube (50); and comprising an electrical conductor means for conducting electricity from said first capacitor plate (42) to said electrode means, said electrical conductor being positioned at least partially within said elongated tube (50). The electroscopic electrosurgical instrument (16) of Claim 8 further comprising a second capacitor plate (43) for capacitively coupling electrical energy to said second electrode wherein said second capacitor plate (43) is positioned in said elongated tube (50). The electrosurgical instrument (16) of claim 1, said handle (72) being for holding said instrument (16); comprising: an actuator means attached to said handle (72) for opening and closing said end effector (57); said end effector (57) being for manipulating tissue, said end effector (57) including first and second electrodes; said tube being an elongated dielectric tube for operatively connecting said handle (72) to said end effector (57) and including a mechanism operatively connecting said end effector (57) to said actuator means; said first capacitor plate (42) being positioned at least partially in said elongated tube (50) wherein said first capacitor plate (42) is electrically connected to said first electrode by an insulated wire positioned in said elongated tube (50); and further comprising a second capacitor plate (43) positioned in and extending along said elongated tube (50), wherein said second capacitor plate (43) is electrically connected to said second electrode.

Inventors: FREEMAN LYNETTA J, KNODEL BRYAN D, LONG GARY L, FREEMAN, LYNETTA J., KNODEL, BRYAN D., LONG, GARY L.
Applicants: ETHICON ENDO SURGERY INC, ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17, A61B18