Scissor style vessel sealer
An electrosurgical device having a first shaft with a tang positioned along an intermediate portion to provide a pivot point that is offset from the longitudinal axis. A second shaft is pivotally coupled to the tang of the first shaft using a slot that accepts the tang of the first shaft. The second shaft is formed from three portions, each of which extends along a different longitudinal axis so that the jaws of the device will be closed when the second shaft abuts a stop of the first shaft.
1 . An electrosurgical device, comprising:
a first shaft extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, and having a first jaw associated with the first end, wherein the first shaft includes a tang positioned along an intermediate portion thereof that is offset from the longitudinal axis; and
a second shaft extending from a first end of the second shaft to a second end of the second shaft, and having a second jaw associated with the first end, a slot having a predetermined length accepting a pivot of the first shaft, a first portion that extends along a first axis from the second end to the slot, a second portion that extends along a second axis that is oblique to the first axis for the predetermined length of the slot, a third portion that extends along a third axis that is oblique to the first axis from the slot to the first end; and
a stop protruding from and positioned along the first shaft;
wherein the second shaft is pivotally coupled to the tang of the first shaft by a pivot pin extending through a pair of sidewalls of the second shaft, the tang of the first shaft, and a pair of bushings positioned in the slot;
wherein the pair of sidewalls join together and extend along the third axis that is oblique to the first axis and the second axis and are spaced apart from the pivot pin to provide a location where any blade extending along the third axis can travel along the third axis without contacting the pivot pin;
wherein the second axis and third axis are oriented at about 28 degrees relative to each other;
wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are interconnected to an electrosurgical generator that can selectively supply radiofrequency (RF) energy to the jaws for the desiccation and sealing of a blood vessel that has been clamped between the first jaw and the second jaw; and
wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis of the second shaft are oriented so that when the first jaw and the second jaw are in contact with each other an outside of the first portion of the second shaft is in contact with the stop of the first shaft.
2 . The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , further comprising an electrosurgical controller mounted to the first shaft and supporting the stop.