U.S. patent application number 15/194408 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-20 for ultrasonic surgical instruments.
The applicant listed for this patent is COVIDIEN LP. Invention is credited to JAMES S. CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM J. DICKHANS, RUSSELL D. HEMPSTEAD, DUANE E. KERR, ERIC R. LARSON, WILLIAM H. NAU, JR., ANTHONY B. ROSS, ROBERT B. STODDARD, ARLEN K. WARD.
Application Number | 20160302821 15/194408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46931957 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160302821 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ROSS; ANTHONY B. ; et
al. |
October 20, 2016 |
ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided. The ultrasonic
surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated shaft
extending therefrom. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis
therethrough and has at least one jaw member disposed at a distal
end thereof. The jaw member(s) is movable between open and clamping
configurations. A probe extends through the shaft and operably
couples to the housing. The probe includes a cutting blade at a
distal end thereof adjacent the jaw member(s) to treat tissue of
interest. The jaw member(s) and cutting blade are configured such
that heat damage to tissue adjacent tissue of interest that has
been treated by the cutting blade is reduced and/or eliminated.
Inventors: |
ROSS; ANTHONY B.; (BOULDER,
CO) ; STODDARD; ROBERT B.; (STEAMBOAT SPRINGS,
CO) ; CUNNINGHAM; JAMES S.; (BOULDER, CO) ;
DICKHANS; WILLIAM J.; (LONGMONT, CO) ; HEMPSTEAD;
RUSSELL D.; (LAFAYETTE, CO) ; LARSON; ERIC R.;
(BOULDER, CO) ; KERR; DUANE E.; (LOVELAND, CO)
; NAU, JR.; WILLIAM H.; (LONGMONT, CO) ; WARD;
ARLEN K.; (ENGLEWOOD, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
COVIDIEN LP |
Mansfield |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
46931957 |
Appl. No.: |
15/194408 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14006532 |
Sep 20, 2013 |
9375230 |
|
|
15194408 |
|
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|
61469593 |
Mar 30, 2011 |
|
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61469565 |
Mar 30, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 90/04 20160201;
A61B 2018/00101 20130101; A61B 2018/00095 20130101; A61B 2017/00092
20130101; A61B 2017/00088 20130101; A61B 2017/00336 20130101; A61B
17/320092 20130101; A61B 17/295 20130101; A61B 2017/320093
20170801; A61B 2090/0472 20160201; A61B 2017/320094 20170801 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/32 20060101
A61B017/32; A61B 17/295 20060101 A61B017/295 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising: a housing having
an elongated shaft extending therefrom, the shaft defining a
longitudinal axis therethrough and having a first jaw member and a
second jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, the first jaw
member movable between an open configuration and a clamping
configuration; and a cutting blade extending at a distal end of the
shaft and operably coupled to the housing and adjacent the first
jaw member, the cutting blade translatable along the longitudinal
axis of the shaft from a retracted configuration positioned within
the shaft to an extended configuration positioned outside the shaft
to treat tissue of interest, wherein the cutting blade is moveable
to the retracted configuration within the shaft to reduce heat
damage to tissue adjacent the tissue of interest, and wherein the
first jaw member or the second jaw member comprise a first portion
made of a material having relatively high thermal conductivity and
a second portion made of a thermally insulative material.
22. The ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 21,
wherein a switching mechanism disposed on the housing is configured
to actuate the cutting blade and move the cutting blade from the
retracted configuration to the extended configuration.
23. The ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 21,
wherein an interior surface of the shaft includes at least one
temperature sensor thereon configured to detect a temperature of
the cutting blade.
24. The ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 23,
wherein the at least one temperature sensor is selected from the
group consisting of a thermocouple and a thermistor.
25. The ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 21,
wherein the second jaw member is pivotably coupled to the first jaw
member and configured to move between an open and a clamping
configurations to facilitate clamping tissue.
26. The ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 21,
wherein the cutting blade is coupled to a probe that extends within
the shaft.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority
to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/006,532 filed on
Sep. 20, 2013 by Ross et al. which claims the benefit of and
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/469,593 filed on
Mar. 30, 2011 by Ross et al. and U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/469,565 filed on Mar. 30, 2011 by Ross et al., the entire
contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to ultrasonic surgical
instruments. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to
ultrasonic surgical instruments configured to minimize heat damage
to tissue adjacent the tissue of interest.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Ultrasonic energy-powered instruments configured to cut
and/or fragment tissue are known in the art. Ultrasonic
instruments, typically, include a transducer that is coupled to a
probe/waveguide having an active member (e.g., cutting blade,
shear, hook, ball, etc.) at a distal end thereof. In use,
ultrasonic energy is utilized to vibrate (e.g., at frequency
usually in the range of 20 KHz to 60 KHz) the active member to
treat tissue of interest.
[0006] Ultrasonic instruments may include any of a variety of probe
configurations to achieve a specific surgical result. For example,
the probe configuration may include an active member in the form of
a cutting blade that is combined with a movable jaw configured to
grasp and/or manipulate tissue. Such ultrasonic instruments are
primarily used in a variety of medical procedures including open
surgical procedures, luminal procedures, and endoscopic
procedures.
[0007] During use, the active member, e.g., the cutting blade, may
reach temperatures greater than 200.degree. C. At such
temperatures, inadvertent contact between the cutting blade, such
as, for example, a lower portion thereof, and tissue, e.g., tissue
adjacent the tissue of interest, may cause undesirable heat damage
to the tissue.
SUMMARY
[0008] In view of the foregoing, ultrasonic instruments configured
to minimize heat damage to tissue adjacent tissue of interest that
has been ultrasonically treated may prove useful in the medical
art.
[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in
detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference
numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein,
the term "distal" refers to a portion that is being described which
is further from a user, while the term "proximal" refers to a
portion that is being described which is closer to a user.
[0010] An aspect of the present disclosure provides an ultrasonic
surgical instrument. The ultrasonic instrument includes a housing
having an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The shaft defines a
longitudinal axis therethrough and has a pair of first and second
jaw members disposed at a distal end thereof. The first jaw member
is movable between an open configuration and a clamping
configuration and the second jaw member is translatable along the
longitudinal axis from a retracted configuration to an extended
configuration. A lever may be operably coupled to the housing and
configured to move the first jaw member between the open and
clamping configurations. A cutting blade extends at the distal end
of the shaft and operably couples to the housing and adjacent the
first and second jaw members. The cutting element is coupled to a
probe that extends within the shaft. The second jaw member is
moveable to the extended configuration to cover a bottom portion of
the cutting blade to reduce heat damage to tissue adjacent tissue
of interest that has been treated by the cutting blade.
[0011] A switching mechanism may be disposed on the ultrasonic
surgical instrument and configured to actuate the second jaw member
to move the second jaw member from the retracted configuration to
the extended configuration.
[0012] At least a portion of the second jaw member may be made from
a material having high thermal conductivity to facilitate cooling
of the cutting blade. Moreover, a bottom portion of the second jaw
member may be covered with an insulative material to reduce thermal
spread from the second jaw member to tissue adjacent the tissue of
interest. The second jaw member may include at least one
temperature sensor thereon configured to detect a temperature of
the cutting blade. The temperature sensor(s) may be, but is not
limited to, thermocouple or a thermistor.
[0013] An aspect of the present disclosure provides an ultrasonic
surgical instrument. The ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a
housing having an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The shaft
defines a longitudinal axis therethrough and has a jaw member
disposed at a distal end thereof. The jaw member is movable between
an open configuration and a clamping configuration. A sheath
operably couples to the housing and is coaxially disposed along
shaft. The sheath is translatable along the longitudinal axis from
a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. A cutting
blade extends at a distal end of the shaft and operably couples to
the housing and adjacent the jaw member. The sheath is moveable to
the extended configuration to cover at least the cutting blade to
reduce heat damage to tissue adjacent tissue of interest that has
been treated by the cutting blade.
[0014] A switching mechanism may be disposed on the ultrasonic
surgical instrument and configured to actuate the sheath to move
the sheath from the retracted configuration to the extended
configuration.
[0015] At least a portion of an interior surface of the sheath may
be made from a material having a high thermal conductivity to
facilitate cooling the cutting blade. An exterior surface of the
sheath may be covered with an insulative material to reduce thermal
spread from the sheath to tissue adjacent tissue of interest.
[0016] The sheath may include at least one temperature sensor
thereon configured to detect a temperature of the cutting blade.
The temperature sensor(s) may be, but is not limited to,
thermocouple or a thermistor.
[0017] An aspect of the present disclosure provides an ultrasonic
surgical instrument. The ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a
housing having an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The shaft
defines a longitudinal axis therethrough and has a first jaw member
disposed at a distal end thereof. The first jaw member is movable
between open and clamping configurations. A cutting blade extends
at a distal end of the shaft and operably couples to the housing
and adjacent the first jaw member. The cutting blade is
translatable along the longitudinal axis from a retracted
configuration within the shaft to an extended configuration outside
the shaft to treat tissue of interest. The cutting blade is
moveable to the retracted configuration within the shaft to reduce
heat damage to tissue adjacent tissue of interest that has been
treated by the cutting blade.
[0018] A switching mechanism may be disposed on the housing and
configured to actuate the cutting blade to move the cutting blade
from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.
[0019] The shaft may include at least one temperature sensor
thereon configured to detect a temperature thereof. The temperature
sensor(s) may be, but is not limited to, thermocouple or a
thermistor.
[0020] The ultrasonic surgical instrument may further include a
second jaw member that is pivotably coupled to the first jaw member
and configured to move between an open configuration and a clamping
configuration to facilitate clamping tissue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described
hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a right, perspective view of an ultrasonic
instrument according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side, schematic view of a distal end
of the ultrasonic instrument depicted in FIG. 1 with a bottom jaw
member illustrated in an extended configuration;
[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side, schematic of the distal end
depicted in FIG. 2 with the bottom jaw member illustrated in a
retracted configuration;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side, schematic of a distal end of an
ultrasonic instrument according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure with a protective sheath illustrated in a
retracted configuration;
[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, side, schematic with the protective
sheath illustrated in an extended configuration;
[0027] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, side, schematic of a distal end of an
ultrasonic instrument according to yet another embodiment of the
present disclosure with an cutting blade illustrated in an extended
configuration; and
[0028] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, side, schematic with the cutting
blade illustrated in a retracted configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed
herein; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples 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.
[0030] Turning now to FIG. 1, an ultrasonic surgical instrument 2
(instrument 2) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiments, the instrument 2 is
described herein as being battery powered. Alternatively, the
instrument 2 may be externally powered, e.g., via a remote
ultrasonic generator that is coupleable to the instrument 2.
[0031] Briefly, instrument 2 includes a housing 6 configured to
house one or more components, e.g., transducer (not explicitly
shown), a probe 16, and electrical circuitry that is configured for
electrical communication with a battery assembly 8 of the
instrument 2. A proximal end of housing 6 is configured to
releasably couple to an ultrasonic generator 10 and the battery
assembly 8. A distal end of the housing 6 is configured to support
and/or couple to a proximal end 22 of a shaft 4 having a
longitudinal axis "A-A" defined therethrough. A rotation knob 26
operably couples to housing 6 and is configured to rotate the shaft
4 approximately 360.degree. in either direction about the
longitudinal axis "A-A." Generator 10 includes the transducer that
is coupled to the probe 16 via a torque adapter (not explicitly
shown) and configured to produce vibratory motion of a cutting
blade 17 disposed at a distal end of the probe 16 when a trigger 7
is depressed. This vibratory motion of the cutting blade 17 is
utilized to treat tissue of interest. Battery assembly 8 includes a
handpiece 24 having a battery (not explicitly shown) operably
disposed therein.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 2-3, an end effector 12 includes a
pair of first and second jaw members 14 and 15 that are supported
at a distal end 18 of the shaft 4 adjacent cutting blade 17.
[0033] Jaw member 14 is pivotably supported at the distal end of
the shaft 4 via a pivot pin 3 (FIG. 2) and functions as a "clamping
jaw." In particular, jaw member 14 is movable relative to the
cutting blade 17 (and/or the distal end 18 of the shaft 4) between
an open configuration (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a clamping configuration
(FIG. 3) to clamp tissue when a lever or movable handle 20 (FIG. 1)
is actuated. Jaw member 14 and cutting blade 17 are configured to
collectively grasp and ultrasonically treat tissue. In particular,
with tissue positioned between the jaw member 14 and cutting blade
17, the cutting blade is configured to vibrate at a specific
frequency (e.g., at a frequency in the range from about 20 KHz to
about 60 KHz) to treat tissue.
[0034] Continuing with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, jaw member 15 is
translatable along the longitudinal axis "A-A" from a retracted
configuration (FIGS. 1 and 3) to an extended configuration (FIG.
2). In the extended configuration, jaw member 15 is configured to
cover (or shield) a bottom portion 19 of the cutting blade 17 to
prevent or reduce inadvertent contact between the heated cutting
blade 17 and tissue, e.g., tissue that is adjacent tissue of
interest that has been ultrasonically treated or is being
ultrasonically treated by the cutting blade 17.
[0035] Jaw member 15 may be configured to function as a heat sink
and dissipate heat from the cutting blade 17 into one or more
suitable mediums, e.g., air, to facilitate cooling of cutting blade
17. To this end, jaw member 15 may be made from any suitable
material including, but not limited to metal, plastic, ceramic,
etc. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, jaw member 15 is
made from a material, e.g., metal (suitable metals may include
aluminum alloys, copper, tungsten, etc.), having high thermal
conductivity (or high thermal mass) to facilitate cooling cutting
blade 17 when the jaw member 15 is positioned adjacent thereto.
[0036] In embodiments, it may prove advantageous to provide a
portion of the jaw member with diamond (or diamond dust), which has
high thermal conductivity, to facilitate cooling the cutting blade
17. Addtionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, it may
prove advantageous to mix diamond or synthetic diamond with one or
more of the aforementioned metals. In some embodiments, it may
prove advantageous to form the jaw member 15 entirely out of
diamond or synthetic diamond material.
[0037] In embodiments, a bottom portion 21 of the jaw member 15 may
be covered with an insulative material, e.g., plastic, ceramic,
etc., to reduce thermal spread from the jaw member 15 to tissue
adjacent the tissue of interest and/or the shaft 4. In the
illustrated embodiment, bottom portion 21 is formed from ceramic
material.
[0038] One or more temperature sensors 23 (FIG. 2) may be
positioned on jaw members 14 and 15. In the embodiment illustrated
in FIGS. 1-3, for example, a temperature sensor 23 is positioned on
the jaw member 15 and is configured to detect a temperature of the
cutting blade 17 when the jaw member 15 is in the extended
configuration, see, e.g., FIG. 2. With this purpose in mind,
temperature sensor 23 may be any suitable type of temperature
sensor including, but not limited to thermocouples, thermistors and
the like.
[0039] Temperature sensor 23 may be configured to communicate with
one or more modules of the generator 10 and/or the battery assembly
8. In one particular embodiment, for example, temperature sensor 23
may be configured to provide data pertaining to a temperature of
the cutting blade 17 to a temperature control module 11 (FIG. 1) of
the generator 10 and/or battery assembly 8. In the illustrated
embodiments, temperature control module 11 is provided with the
generator 10 (FIG. 1). The temperature control module 11 may
analyze the data pertaining to temperature of the cutting blade 17
and utilize one or more control algorithms to control an output
response of the transducer based on this data to regulate a
vibration frequency of the probe 16 such that a desired temperature
may be maintained at the cutting blade 17. In one particular
embodiment, instrument 2 and the temperature control module 11 may
be configured to provide one or more indications, e.g., an audio
indication "A", a visual indication "V", and so forth, to a user
indicating that the cutting blade 17 is sufficiently cooled or at a
predetermined safe temperature (FIG. 1). As defined herein, a safe
temperature of the cutting blade 17 is a temperature incapable of
damaging tissue.
[0040] Referring again to FIG. 1, a switching mechanism 28 is
disposed on the housing 6 and operably couples to jaw member 15 to
actuate jaw member 15 and move jaw member 15 from the retracted
configuration to the extended configuration. Switching mechanism 28
may be any suitable type of switching mechanism including but not
limited to push-buttons, dials, slides, and the like. In accordance
with the instant disclosure, switching mechanism 28 includes a dial
30 positioned at a distal end of the housing 6. Dial 30 is
configured to move jaw member 15 to the extended configuration when
the dial 30 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction and is
configured to move jaw member 15 back to the retracted
configuration when the dial 30 is moved in a clockwise direction.
One or more components, such as, for example, drive rods, servos,
links, gears and the like may be provided with the instrument 2 to
provide mechanical and/or electrical communication between the dial
30 and jaw member 15.
[0041] During use of one particular embodiment of the instrument 2,
tissue may be positioned between the jaw member 14 and the cutting
blade 17. Subsequently, trigger 7 may be depressed to activate the
cutting blade 17 to treat tissue of interest.
[0042] As noted above, the cutting blade 17 may become hot due to
the vibratory motion thereof. In accordance with the instant
disclosure, dial 30 may be actuated to move the jaw member 15 to
the extended configuration (FIG. 2) to cover (or shield) cutting
blade 17. As noted above, in the extended configuration, jaw member
15 may serve as a heat-sink as a result of the high thermal
conductivity associated therewith to facilitate dissipating heat
from cutting blade 17 for cooling thereof.
[0043] Once cutting blade 17 is sufficiently cooled, dial 30 may be
actuated to move jaw member 15 back to the retracted configuration
(FIGS. 1 and 3). In one particular embodiment, the sensor(s) 23 and
temperature control module 11 may be utilized to monitor the
temperature of cutting blade 17 and indicate (e.g., audio
indication "A" or visual indication "V") to a user when cutting
blade 17 is sufficiently cooled. In certain instances, in this
cooled state, a user may employ the cutting blade 17 to grasp
and/or manipulate tissue.
[0044] The unique configuration of the instrument 2 including the
jaw member 15 overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks that are
typically associated with conventional ultrasonic instruments. That
is, the likelihood of heat damage occurring to tissue adjacent
tissue of interest that has been ultrasonically treated by the
cutting blade 17 is reduced, if not eliminated by the jaw member
15.
[0045] While the instrument 2 has been described herein as
including a jaw member 15 that is configured to cover the cutting
blade 17, other devices or methods may be utilized to cover the
cutting blade 17 to prevent inadvertent contact between the hot
cutting blade 17 and tissue.
[0046] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the instrument 102 (FIG. 1)
includes a sheath 125 that is configured to cover the cutting blade
117 and jaw member 114. Instrument 102 functions similarly to
instrument 2, in view thereof only those features unique to
instrument 102 are described in detail.
[0047] Sheath 125 operably couples to the housing 6 via one or more
suitable coupling methods and is coaxially disposed along shaft
104. The sheath 125 is translatable along the longitudinal axis
"A-A" from a retracted configuration (FIG. 4) to an extended
configuration to cover at least a portion of the cutting blade 117
(and/or jaw member 114) to reduce heat damage to tissue adjacent
tissue of interest that has been treated by cutting blade 117. In
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, sheath 125 is
configured to fully cover jaw member 114 and cutting blade 117.
[0048] Similar to jaw member 15, a portion of an interior surface
of the sheath 125 is formed from a material 5b having high thermal
conductivity to facilitate cooling the cutting blade 117.
Additionally, or alternatively, an exterior surface of the sheath
125 is covered with an insulative material 5a to reduce thermal
spread from sheath 125 to tissue adjacent tissue of interest.
Further, one or more of the aforementioned temperature sensors 123
(FIGS. 4 and 5) may be disposed on sheath 125 and configured to
detect a temperature of the cutting blade 117. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, temperature sensor 123 is positioned
on an interior surface of sheath 125 and is configured to function
as described above with respect to sensor 23.
[0049] Unlike dial 30 that is operably coupled to the jaw member
15, dial 130 is coupled to the sheath 125 to actuate the sheath 125
and move the sheath 125 from the retracted configuration (FIG. 4)
to the extended configuration (FIG. 5).
[0050] Operation of the instrument 102 that includes the sheath 125
is similar to that of instrument 2 that includes the jaw member 15.
In particular, dial 130 may be actuated to move sheath 125 to the
extended configuration (FIG. 5) to cover the cutting blade 117 and
the jaw member 114. In the extended configuration, the sheath 125
serves as a "heat-sink" as a result of the high thermal
conductivity thereof to facilitate cooling cutting blade 117.
[0051] The instrument 102 including the sheath 125 overcomes the
aforementioned drawbacks typically associated with conventional
ultrasonic surgical instruments and affords the same advantages as
the instrument 2 to a user.
[0052] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the instrument 202 (FIG. 1)
includes a cutting blade 217. Instrument 202 functions similarly to
instrument 2, therefore only those features unique to instrument
202 are described in detail.
[0053] Unlike the previously described cutting blades 17, 117, a
cutting blade 217 is translatable along the longitudinal axis "A-A"
from a retracted configuration (FIG. 7) within the shaft 218 to an
extended configuration (FIG. 6) outside the shaft 218. In the
extended configuration, cutting blade 217 and jaw member 214 are
configured to treat tissue of interest as described hereinabove. As
can be appreciated, heat damage to tissue adjacent the tissue of
interest that has been treated by cutting blade 217 is reduced when
cutting blade 217 in the retracted configuration.
[0054] One or more of the aforementioned temperature sensors 223
(FIGS. 6 and 7) may be disposed on an interior surface of the shaft
204 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and configured to function as described above
with respect to sensors 23 and 123.
[0055] Unlike dials 30, 130 that operably couple to the jaw member
15 and sheath 125, respectively, dial 230 is coupled to the cutting
blade 217 to actuate the cutting blade 217 and move the cutting
blade 217 from the retracted configuration (FIG. 7) to the extended
configuration (FIG. 6).
[0056] The instrument 202 including the cutting blade 217 overcomes
the aforementioned drawbacks typically associated with conventional
ultrasonic surgical instruments and affords the same advantages as
the instruments 2, 102 to a user.
[0057] From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure
drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain
modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without
departing from the scope of the same. For example, and in the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, an optional second jaw
member 215 (FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the optional second jaw member
215 in phantom) may be provided with the instrument 202 to
facilitate grasping and/or manipulating tissue, such as, for
example, when the cutting blade 217 is in the retracted
configuration, see FIG. 7. In this particular embodiment, the
movable handle 20 may be configured to move jaw member 215 from an
open configuration to a clamping configuration. For example, the
movable handle 20 may be configured to move through a first
clamping stroke to close the jaw member 214 and through a second
clamping stroke to close the jaw member 215. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate other methods of opening and closing jaw member
215.
[0058] In embodiments, the aforementioned jaw members 14, 15, 114,
214 and 215 may be provided with a relatively flat tissue
contacting surface (FIGS. 1-5) or a serrated tissue contacting
surface (FIGS. 6 and 7). The specific configuration of the tissue
contacting surfaces of the aforementioned jaw members 14, 15, 114,
214 and 215 may be altered or modified to achieve a specific tissue
effect.
[0059] While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown
in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited
thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope
as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise.
Therefore, the above description should not be construed as
limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments.
Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within
the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *