[54] BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL CLAMPING DEVICE
[75] Inventors: William D. Fox. New Richmond;
David C. Yates. West Chester, both of
Ohio
[73] Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc..
Cincinnati. Ohio
[21] Appl. No.: 536,726
[22] Filed: Sep. 29,1995
[51] Int CI.6 A61B 17/39
[52] U.S. CI 606/51; 606/45; 606/41;
6067205; 606/50
[58] Field of Search 606/1, 41, 42.
606/45-52, 205-208; 128/751
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,068,721 1/1937 Wappleretal 606/51
4,375,218 3/1983 DiGeronimo .
4,655^16 4/1987 Tischer 606/51
4,938,761 7/1990 Ensslin.
5,403,312 4/1995 Yates et al 606/46
5,443,463 8/1995 Stem et al 606/52
5,445,638 8/1995 Rydell et al. .
5,458,598 10/1995 Feinberg et al 606/52
5,482.054 1/1996 Slater et al 606/46
5,489,292 2/1996 Tovey et al 606/205
An electrosurgical hemostatic instrument is provided in which the coagulation status of tissue engaged by two elements delivering an electrosurgical energy to tissue may be observed, and in which damage from thermal spread may be minimized. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar endoscopic clamping, coagulation and cutting device. In this device, the outer conductive surface of the tissue engaging elements includes openings therethrough. The openings are adapted to allow an observer to see the tissue as it is being treated, coagulation may be observed by watching the region through the openings. In addition, the inclusion of openings in the end effector enhances coagulation from speed by reducing the thermal mass of the end effector without substantially reducing the structural strength of the end effector jaws. Finally, the openings may be used to observe the motion of the knife as it moves through the end effector.
2 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
