Abstract:
An end effector assembly of a forceps includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are selectively positionable relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, and at least one of the jaw members includes two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong and a feed in member selectively positioned between the two blade channels. The end effector further includes a cutting blade that is translatable such that selective positioning of the feed in member enables the cutting blade to selectively enter into at least one of the two blade channels.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical device. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical device for vessel sealing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Generally forceps may be utilized for laparoscopic surgery. The forceps may be employed to control delicate movements inside a patient and may include a gripping assembly or a cutting assembly. Further, the forceps may utilize electrical energy in the gripping assembly. Typically, the forceps have a pair of opposed resilient jaws that are closed against each other by pulling the jaws into a distal end of a shaft that captures a portion of the jaws that is wider than the distal end opening of the shaft so that the jaws are moved together. Similarly the shaft may be pushed over the jaws so that the jaws are moved together to create a gripping force. In both of these arrangements, the shaft captures the jaws and acts as a cam that forces the jaws together to create the gripping force. 
         [0004]    Current bipolar electrosurgical sealing forceps employ a pair of jaws with RF energy to coagulate a vessel and further employ a moveable cutting blade to cut the sealed vessel after coagulation. Conventional vessel sealing procedures generally involve cutting the blood vessels after sealing them. Typically, the vessels connecting the portion of an organ being resected is cut to enable a surgeon to remove the organ from the patient&#39;s body. As such, one portion of the cut vessel remains attached to the patient&#39;s vascular system, and the other portion of the cut vessel is removed with the organ. After the vessel is sealed and cut, the patient-side of the vessel has to withstand higher blood pressures, and the resected portion of the vessel only has to prevent incidental leakage from the resected organ. Generally, however, vessel sealing devices apply electrosurgical sealing energy equally to both portions of the vessel. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a vessel sealing device that provides a better seal on the patient-side of the vessel. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides an end effector for a medical device that has selectable seal widths for vessel sealing. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, pursuant to one aspect of the present invention, an end effector assembly of a forceps includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are selectively positionable relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, and at least one of the jaw members includes two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong and a feed in member selectively positioned between the two blade channels. The end effector further includes a cutting blade that is translatable such that selective positioning of the feed in member enables the cutting blade to selectively enter into at least one of the two blade channels. 
         [0008]    The foregoing aspect of the present invention can be further characterized by one or any combination of the features described herein, such as: the source generates electrosurgical energy to coagulate tissue grasped between the first jaw member and the second jaw member; each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to the electrosurgical energy source; each jaw member includes two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong, the feed in member being positioned between the two blade channels of each jaw member and being selectively positionable to enable the cutting blade to enter at least one of the two blade channels of each jaw member; the cutting blade is positioned offset from a longitudinal axis extending between the two blade channels; the feed in member is an elastic lead member with a first position and a second position, the cutting blade entering into one of the two blade channels when the elastic lead member is in the first position and entering into the other channel when the elastic lead member is in the second position; the elastic lead member is connected to a wire that extends through the at least one jaw member with the two blade channels; and the elastic lead member is in the first position when the wire is relaxed, and the elastic lead member is in the second position when tension is applied to the wire. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, pursuant to another aspect of the present invention, a forceps includes an end effector assembly with a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are selectively positionable relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, and at least one of the jaw members includes two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong and a feed in member selectively positioned between the two blade channels. The end effector further includes a cutting blade that is translatable such that selective positioning of the feed in member enables the cutting blade to selectively enter into at least one of the two blade channels. 
         [0010]    The foregoing aspect of the present invention can be further characterized by one or any combination of the features described herein, such as: the source generates electrosurgical energy to coagulate tissue grasped between the first jaw member and the second jaw member; each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to the electrosurgical energy source; each jaw member includes two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong, the feed in member being positioned between the two blade channels of each jaw member and being selectively positionable to enable the cutting blade to enter at least one of the two blade channels of each jaw member; the cutting blade is positioned offset from a longitudinal axis extending between the two blade channels; the feed in member is an elastic lead member with a first position and a second position, the cutting blade entering into one of the two blade channels when the elastic lead member is in the first position and entering into the other channel when the elastic lead member is in the second position; the elastic lead member is connected to a wire that extends through the at least one jaw member with the two blade channels; the elastic lead member is in the first position when the wire is relaxed, and the elastic lead member is in the second position when tension is applied to the wire; and the forceps includes a blade mover assembly that is movable between an extended positon and a retracted position, the blade mover assembly being configured to translate the cutting blade relative to the at least two blade channels as the blade mover assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions. 
         [0011]    Pursuant to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of using forceps includes one or more of the following steps: opening a first jaw member and a second jaw member of the forceps, the first jaw member and the second jaw member being selectively positionable relative to one another, at least one of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, at least one of the jaw members including two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong and a feed in member positioned between the two blade channels; closing the first jaw member and the second jaw member to grasp tissue therebetween; selectively positioning the feed in member to enable a cutting blade to translate within at least one of the two blade channels; and moving the cutting blade through the at least one of the two blade channels to cut tissue grasped between the first jaw member and the second jaw member. 
         [0012]    The method of using the forceps may be further characterized by one or any combination of the following features: generating electrical energy from the electrosurgical energy source to coagulate tissue grasped between the first jaw member and the second jaw member; and the forceps includes a blade mover assembly that is movable between an extended positon and a retracted position, wherein the blade mover assembly is configured to translate the cutting blade relative to the at least two blade channels as the blade mover assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions. 
         [0013]    Further features, advantages, and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an electrosurgical forceps in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  an example of a set of jaws for the forceps shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates an end of a tubular member and/or a camming shaft for the forceps; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates an end view of a tubular member and/or a camming shaft; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a camming shaft; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the forceps shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates an interior view of the upper jaw taken along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the jaw taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates the cutting of a vessel; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the jaws taken along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of another set of jaws in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  illustrates an interior view of another jaw in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  illustrates an interior view of yet another jaw in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  illustrates an interior view of yet another jaw in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  illustrates a perspective view of the jaws shown in  FIG. 6  with a cutting blade; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  illustrates a side view of the jaws shown in  FIG. 6  with the cutting blade. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0032]    Referring now to the drawings, a forceps, such as, for example, a laparoscopic forceps, embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated therein and designated at  2 . The forceps  2  may function to grip an object. The forceps  2  may be used during surgery to grip a feature of interest including: a part of a body, an anatomical feature, tissue, veins, arteries, or a combination thereof. The forceps  2  may function to be used in surgery, for example, laparoscopic surgery. The forceps  2  may be used with or without power. Current may be passed through the forceps  2  so that the forceps are used for electrosurgery. For example, a therapy current may be passed from one jaw to a second jaw when tissue is located within the jaw and the therapy current may coagulate blood, cauterize, cut, or a combination thereof. The forceps  2  may generally include one or more working assemblies and sufficient controls to work the one or more assemblies. The forceps  2  may include parts employed to perform the recited functions and may include generally, a stylet (e.g., a tubular member, a hollow tube, or an assembly of tubes), a hand piece, one or more operable mechanisms used to actuate the stylet, or a combination thereof. The hand piece may be an assembly of parts or housing structures capable of forming a hand piece structure with a cavity. Note that the present invention is not limited to laparoscopic procedures. That is, the below described jaws can be employed with any type of medical device that clamps onto tissue. 
         [0033]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a side view of the forceps  2  is shown. The forceps  2  include a handpiece  4  having a distal end  6  and a proximal end  8 . The handpiece  4  also includes at least one operable mechanism  50 . A tubular member  20  has a proximal end  24  that is connected to the distal end  6  of the handpiece  4 . The tubular member  20  includes a distal end  22  that includes jaws  40  extending therefrom. The jaws  40  have members  92  and  94  that open and close when the tubular member  20  is moved forward along the longitudinal axis  26  of the tubular member into contact with the members  92  and  94  or the jaws  40  are moved backwards along the longitudinal axis  26  into contact with the tubular member  20 . 
         [0034]    Referring further to  FIGS. 2, 6 and 10 , a camming shaft  70  is located on the forceps  2  with the jaws  40  extending therefrom. The members  92  and  94  are biased by the camming shaft  70  so that the jaws  40  are opened and closed. The member  94  includes lateral portions  101  and a medial or center portion  104 . A pair of channels or slots  98  and  99  extends substantially between the lateral portions  101  and the medial portion  104 . The lateral portions  101  include sealing surfaces  102  and the medial portion  104  includes a sealing surface  106 . The member  92  includes lateral portions  130  and a medial or center portion  134 . A pair of channels or slots  96  and  97  extends substantially between the lateral portions  130  and the medial portion  134 . The lateral portions  130  include sealing surfaces  132  and the medial portion  134  includes a sealing surface  136 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates the end of the tubular member  20  or a camming shaft showing a pair of internal flat portions  30  along the top surfaces and the bottom surfaces. A blade recess  34  extends between the pair of internal flat portions  30  so that a blade  400  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) extends out of the tubular member  20 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tubular member  20 . The internal flat portions  30  include at least a portion that has a complementary shape to that of the legs of the jaws  44  (see also  FIG. 2 ). Accordingly, as the tubular member  20  or the legs  44  axially move, the internal flat portions  30  control the orientation and movement of the jaws. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of one example of a camming shaft  70  that is inserted into the tubular member  20 . The camming shaft  70  includes a molded flare  74  with a pair of protrusions  72  extending therefrom. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  further illustrates the jaws  40  including a pin  90  located between the jaws. The pin  90  holds the jaw members  92  and  94  together and provide a pivot point for the jaw members  92  and  94  such that the members  92  and  94  close when the tubular member  20  is slid over the opposing members  92  and  94 . 
         [0039]    Referring further to  FIGS. 7, 8, 15 and 16 , the center portion  104 , as well as the center portion  134  of the jaw member  92 , includes an elastic feed in member  108 . The elastic feed in member  108  is connected to a wire  110  that extends through a channel  112  of one of the lateral portions  101  of the jaw member  94 . The wire  110  may further extend through the tubular member  20  to an actuator in the handpiece  4  which can be operated by a medical professional to deflect the position of the elastic feed in member  108 . The blade  400  is slightly offset from a centerline A that extends through the medial portions  104  and  134  of the jaw members  92  and  94 . The elastic feed in member  108  is positioned selectively to enable the blade  400  to enter a selected slots  96 ,  98  or  97 ,  99 . More specifically, after the jaw members  92  and  94  are in a closed positioned and when the wire  110  is relaxed, the elastic feed in member  108  deflects the end of the blade  402  into the slots  97  and  99  so that the blade  400  is able to reciprocate in the blade channel  400  and the slots  97  and  99  in a first position as indicated by the arrow  150 . When the wire  110  is pulled to produce tension in the wire  110  to sufficiently move the elastic feed in member  108 , the elastic feed in member  108  deflects the end of the blade  402  into the slots  96  and  98  so that the blade  400  is able to reciprocate in the blade channel  400  and the slots  96  and  98  in a second position as indicated by the arrow  152 . The elastic feed in member  108  can be made from an elastomer or any other suitable material that returns to its original position when the wire  110  is relaxed. 
         [0040]    As shown specifically in  FIG. 10 , when the jaw members  92  and  94  are closed together to clamp on a vessel, the lateral sealing surfaces  102  and  130  adjacent the slots  98  and  96 , respectively, form a first compression zone  140 , the medial sealing surfaces  106  and  136  form a second compression zone  142 , and the lateral sealing surfaces  102  and  130  adjacent the slots  99  and  97 , respectively, form a third compression zone  144 . 
         [0041]    In various arrangements, the jaw members  92  and  94  can be electrical connected to a generator that provides a source of electrosurgical energy so that a RF voltage with different potentials can be applied to the electrically connected sections of the jaw members  92  and  94 . The RF voltage produces a current that passes from one jaw member to the other jaw member electrode through tissue, thereby heating the tissue to coagulate or cut the tissue. 
         [0042]    Hence, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a portion V 1 A of the vessel V 1  is sealed by the first and the second compression zones  140  and  142  and a portion V 1 B of the vessel V 1  is sealed by the third compression zone  144  when the blade  400  reciprocates along the slots  97  and  99 . Similarly, the portion V 1 A of the vessel V 1  is sealed by the first compression zone  140  and the portion V 1 B of the vessel V 1  is sealed by the second and the third compression zones  142  and  144  when the blade reciprocates along the slots  96  and  98 . The portion V 1 A or V 1 B sealed by two compression zones has a wider seal width to withstand higher blood pressures than the portion sealed with one compression zone which produces a narrow seal width. 
         [0043]    The ability of the set of jaws  40  to provide different sealing widths is beneficial, for example, during the resection of an organ from a patient. During such a surgical procedure, one portion of the cut vessel remains attached to the patient&#39;s vascular system, and the other portion of the cut vessel is removed with the organ. The use of the jaws  40  enables sealing the patient-side of the vessel with a wider seal width to withstand higher blood pressures, and sealing the resected portion of the vessel with a narrower seal width to prevent incidental leakage from the resected organ. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of another set of jaws  240  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The member  294  includes lateral portions  241  and a medial or center portion  244 . A pair of channels or slots  298  and  299  extends substantially between the lateral portions  241  and the medial portion  244 . The lateral portions  241  include sealing surfaces  242  and the medial portion  244  includes a sealing surface  246 . The member  292  includes lateral portions  250  and a medial or center portion  254 . A pair of channels or slots  296  and  297  extends substantially between the lateral portions  250  and the medial portion  254 . The lateral portions  250  include sealing surfaces  252  and the medial portion  254  includes a sealing surface  256 . Unlike the slots  96 ,  97 ,  98  and  99  of the jaws  40 , the slots  296 ,  297 ,  298  and  299  of the jaws  240  do not traverse entirely through the jaw members. 
         [0045]    When the jaw members  292  and  294  are closed together to clamp onto a vessel, the lateral sealing surfaces  242  and  252  adjacent the slots  298  and  296 , respectively, form a first compression zone  260 , the medial sealing surfaces  246  and  256  form a second compression zone  262 , and the lateral sealing surfaces  242  and  252  adjacent the slots  299  and  297 , respectively, form a third compression zone  264 . Other features of the jaw  240  are identical to those of the jaw  40 , in particular, the operation of the elastic feed in member  108  with the wire  110 . Hence, the blade  400  can be selectively directed into the slots  296 ,  298  or the slots  297 ,  299 . 
         [0046]    In various arrangements, the jaw members  292  and  294  can be electrical connected to a generator that provides a source of electrosurgical energy so that a RF voltage with different potentials can be applied to the electrically connected sections of the jaw members  292  and  294 . The RF voltage produces a current that passes from one jaw member to the other jaw member electrode through tissue, thereby heating the tissue to coagulate or cut the tissue. Accordingly, a first portion of a vessel clamped by the jaw members  292  and  294  is sealed by the first and the second compression zones  240  and  262  and a second portion of the vessel is sealed by the third compression zone  264  when the blade  400  reciprocates along the slots  297  and  299 . Similarly, the first portion of the vessel is sealed by the first compression zone  260  and the second portion of the vessel is sealed by the second and the third compression zones  262  and  264  when the blade reciprocates along the slots  296  and  298 . Again, the portion sealed by two compression zones has a wider seal width to withstand higher blood pressures than the portion sealed with one compression zone which produces a narrow seal width. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , there is shown an interior view of the upper jaw member  94  in an alternative jaw arrangement  340 . The features of the jaw arrangement  340  are similar to those described in relation to the jaw arrangement  40 , and, therefore, similar features are identified by the same reference numbers. Moreover, the lower jaw member  92  is a mirror image of the upper jaw member  94 . A particular feature of the jaw arrangement  340  that is different than the jaw arrangement  40  is the positioning of the blade  400  and the blade channel  401 . In the jaw arrangement  340 , the blade  400  and the blade channel  401  are aligned with a centerline A that extends through the slot  99  (and hence slot  97  of the lower jaw  92 ). Therefore, when the tension in the wire  110  is relaxed, the blade  400  is able to reciprocate in the slots  97 ,  99  and  401  as indicated by the arrow  150 . And when the wire  110  is pulled to move the elastic feed in member  108  upwards, the elastic feed in member  108  deflects the blade  400  into the slots  96 ,  98  as indicated by the arrow  152 . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , there is shown an interior view of the upper jaw member  94  in yet another alternative jaw arrangement  440 . Again, the features of the jaw arrangement  440  are similar to those of the jaw arrangement  40 , and the lower jaw member  92  mirrors the upper jaw member  94 . In the jaw arrangement  440 , however, the blade  400  is aligned (that is, not offset) from the centerline A extending through the medial portions  104  and  134 , and the feed in member  108  has been replaced with an asymmetric feed in member  408  with a tip that is offset from the centerline A. Hence, the asymmetric shape of the feed in member  408  deflects the blade  400  into the slots  97 ,  99  when the wire  110  is relaxed. And when the wire  110  is pulled so that the tip of the feed in member  408  moves past the centerline A, the feed in member  408  deflects the blade  400  into the slots  96  and  98 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , there is shown an interior view of the upper jaw member  94  in yet another alternative arrangement  540 . The features of the jaw member  94 , as well as the jaw member  92 , of the jaw arrangement  540  are similar to those of the jaw arrangement  40  and are, therefore, identified by the same reference numbers. In the jaw arrangement  540 , both the medial portions  104  and  134  and the blade  400  are aligned with the centerline A. The jaw arrangement  540  includes an additional wire  542  that extends through a channel  544  in the jaw member  94 . Accordingly, pulling the wire  110  enables the blade  400  to reciprocate in the slots  97 ,  99 , while pulling the wire  542  enables the blade  400  to reciprocate in the slots  96 ,  98 . The pull wire  544  may further extend through the tubular member  20  to an actuator in the handpiece  4  which can be operated by a medical professional to deflect the position of the elastic feed in member  408 . 
         [0050]    Note that in the aforementioned jaw arrangements  40 ,  240 ,  340 ,  440  and  540 , the wires  110  and  542  are generally described as wires that are pulled to deflect the feed in members  108  or  408 . In certain arrangements, however, the wires  110  and  542  can be stiff enough to enable pushing the wire against the respective elastic feed in member  108  or  408  to deflect the member. Hence, in such arrangements the wire  110  or  542  or each wire can be both a pull wire and a push wire. 
         [0051]    As described previously, the jaws  40  include the blade  400 . As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the blade  400  includes a slot  402  that engages with the pin  90  to allow the blade  400  to reciprocate along the pin  90 . The blade  400  is connected to a blade mover assembly including a blade shaft  412 . Hence, axial movement of the blade shaft  412  results in reciprocating axial movement of the blade  400  along the slots  96  and  98  in the second position or slots  97  and  99  in the first position to cut tissue clamped between the jaw members  92  and  94 . A similar blade mover assembly arrangement can be incorporated to the jaws  240 ,  340 ,  440 , and  540 . 
         [0052]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.