IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,905,499
Granted Patent B1
US 6,905,499 · App. 10/305,608 · Granted Jun 14, 2005

Heat pipe for cautery surgical Instrument

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,905,499
App. No.
10/305,608
Granted
Jun 14, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A heat pipe for a cautery surgical instrument such as a surgical forceps including a pair of elongate arms joined at an end so as to provide for resilient compressible movement of the arms between a normally open position and a squeezed closed position. The heat pipe provides for conduction of heat away from an electrode tip, and comprises an evaporator portion having a first diameter and a condenser portion spaced away from the evaporator end, and that transitions from the first diameter to at least one smaller diameter section. A socket is disposed within each arm of the forceps, and includes a longitudinal blind hole that is sized so as to releasably receive the smaller diameter section of the condenser portion, and a catch for engaging a portion of the arm.

Claims (8)

1. A heat pipe for use in a cautery surgical instrument comprising: a cylindrical tube having an evaporation end, a condensation end, and a central passageway that is lined with a wick and at least partially filled with a fluid wherein said condensation end comprises a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of said evaporation end; and

further comprising an electrode tip fixedly mounted to said evaporation end, wherein said electrode tip comprises a thermally and electrically conductive cap having a longitudinally oriented blind hole at a first end, a pointed tip, and a tissue-engagement surface positioned on a second end.

2. A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein said condensation end comprises at least one swaged portion.

3. A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein said condensation end includes a frusto-conical transition portion that leads to a substantially cylindrical portion having a seal.

4. A heat pipe according to claim 3 wherein said seal comprises a swaged portion of said cylindrical tube.

5. A heat pipe according to claim 3 wherein said seal comprises at least one of a pinched portion and a welded portion of said cylindrical tube.

6. A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein said blind hole comprises a diameter that is only slightly larger than an outer diameter of said evaporation end.

7. A heat pipe according to claim 6 wherein said evaporation end is secured within said blind hole by at least one of epoxy and solder.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE (REEL047028/FRAME0743) Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC (NOW KNOWN AS BOYD LACONIA, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; THERMAL CORP. (NOW KNOWN AS AAVID THERMAL CORP.; CSI MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 068195/0243 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042477/0643) Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 047223/0380 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042477/0565) Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LTI HOLDINGS, INC.; AAVID NIAGARA, LLC; AAVID THERMACORE, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC,; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; NUVENTIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 047052/0001 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2018
From: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.); CSI MEDICAL, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 047028/0743 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: LTI FLEXIBLE PRODUCTS, INC.; LIFETIME INDUSTRIES, INC.; AAVID THERMALLOY, LLC; NUVENTIX, INC.; AAVID THERMAL CORP. (F/K/A THERMAL CORP.); CSI MEDICAL, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 047026/0666 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 026039/0865 Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: SANTANDER BANK, N.A. F/K/A SOVEREIGN BANK
To: THERMAL CORP.; THERMACORE, INC.
Reel/Frame 040508/0649 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 021398/0300 Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: NATIONAL PENN BANK
To: THERMAL CORP.; THERMACORE, INC. F/K/A FSBO VENTURE ACQUISITIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040508/0620 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035134/0363 Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: PINE STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
To: THERMAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 040425/0584 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2016
From: THERMAL CORP.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040355/0672 →