APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AN ELECTROSURGICAL PROCEDURE
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, system, and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus, system, and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure that employs an electrosurgical apparatus that includes an end effector assembly configured for use with various size access ports.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrosurgical apparatuses (e.g., electrosurgical forceps) are well known in the medical arts and typically include a handle, a shaft and an end effector assembly operatively coupled to a distal end of the shaft that is configured to manipulate tissue (e.g., grasp and seal tissue). Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to effect hemostasis by heating the tissue andblood vessels to coagulate, cauterize, seal, cut, desiccate, and/or fulgurate tissue
As an alternative to open electrosurgical forceps for use with open surgical procedures, many modem surgeons use endoscopes and endoscopic electrosurgical apparatus (e.g., endoscopic forceps) or laparoscopic forceps for remotely accessing organs through smaller, puncture-like incisions. As a direct result thereof, patients tend to benefit from less scarring and reduced healing time. Typically, the forceps are inserted into the patient through one or more various types of cannulas or access ports (typically having an opening that ranges from about five millimeters to about twelve millimeters) that has been made with a trocar; as can be appreciated, smaller cannulas are usually preferred.
Forceps that are configured for use with small cannulas (e.g., cannulas less than five millimeters) may present design challenges for a manufacturer of electrosurgical instruments.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom including an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly has a wheel assembly opposing a jaw member and having a pair of opposing wheels configured to facilitate movement of the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member. A drive rod is operably coupled at a proximal end to a movable handle and at a distal end to the wheel assembly. The movable handle is movable relative to a stationary handle to move the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member. At least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate is disposed on each of the wheel assembly and the jaw member and is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source configured to deliver electro surgical energy to tissue held between the wheel assembly and the jaw member to effect a tissue seal.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom including an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly has a wheel assembly opposing a jaw member. The wheel assembly has a pair of opposing wheels configured to facilitate movement of the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member. A drive rod is operably coupled at a proximal end to a movable handle disposed within a housing and at a distal end to a mechanical
interface disposed between the pair of wheels. The movable handle is movable relative to a stationary handle disposed within the housing to cause proximal and distal movement of the drive rod. The pair of wheels is configured to rotate about the mechanical interface such that proximal movement of the drive rod causes rotation of the pair of wheels in a first direction to move the wheel assembly proximally relative to the jaw member, and distal movement of the drive rod causes rotation of the pair of wheels in a second direction to move the wheel assembly distally relative to the jaw member. At least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate is disposed on each of the wheel assembly and the jaw member. The at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate is adapted to comrect to an electro surgical energy source configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue held between the wheel assembly and the jaw member via the at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate to effect a tissue seal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a right perspective view of an endoscopic bipolar forceps showing a housing, a shaft, and an end effector assembly in accordance with the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, right perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, left perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged, side views of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, rear perspective view of the end effector shown grasping tissue.
Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
As noted above, it may prove useful in the arts to provide an electrosurgical apparatus that is suitable for use with various access ports, including but not limited to those that are greater than and/ or less than five millimeters. With this purpose in mind, the present disclosure includes an electrosurgical forceps that includes a drive rod operably coupled to a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is associated with a jaw member such that the wheel assembly and jaw member are configured to move relative to each other to selectively form a closed loop electrical circuit such that a desired tissue effect (e.g., tissue seal) may be achieved.
Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an laparoscopic bipolar forceps 10 is shown for use with various surgical procedures and generally includes a housing 20, a handle assembly 30, a rotating assembly 80, a trigger assembly 70, a shaft 12, a drive rod 150 (shown in phantom), and an end effector assembly 100. The end effector assembly 100 includes a wheel assembly 110 having opposing wheels 110a and 110b configured to engage a jaw member 120 such that wheels 110a, 110b rotate to facilitate movement of wheel
