Surgical end effectors having angled tissue-contacting surfaces
Surgical end effectors are disclosed having angled tissue-contacting surfaces. The end effectors may have a first jaw member that is movable relative to a second jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The first jaw member may have a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface. The second jaw member may have a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface. At least one of the jaw members may have at least one active electrode configured to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when in the closed position.
1. An end effector, comprising:
a first jaw member comprising a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface;
a second jaw member comprising a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface define a tissue cutting zone;
a cutting element;
an elongate slot extending longitudinally through the tissue cutting zone, wherein the elongate slot is configured to receive the cutting element; and
a distal zone defined by the first jaw member and the second jaw member that extends distally with respect to the tissue cutting zone, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface do not extend into the distal zone;
wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between an open position and a closed position, wherein a first gap is defined between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the tissue cutting zone when the first jaw member is in the closed position, wherein a second gap is defined between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the distal zone when the first jaw member is in the closed position, wherein the first gap is smaller than the second gap, and wherein the distal zone is configured to grasp a needle when the first jaw member is in the closed position;
wherein at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member comprises at least one active electrode; and
wherein the at least one active electrode is configured to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when the first jaw member is in the closed position.
2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first jaw member comprises the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and
the second jaw member comprises the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface;
wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first jaw member is in the closed position, and wherein the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first jaw member is in the closed position.
3. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface independently form angles relative to respective clamping planes, the angles ranging from 25 degrees to 50 degrees.
4. The end effector of claim 3 , wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface form the same angle relative to respective clamping planes.
5. The end effector of claim 1 , further comprising an I-beam member configured to operably translate within opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member.
6. The end effector of claim 5 , wherein the I-beam member comprises the cutting element, and wherein the I-beam member is configured to translate within the opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member from a proximally retracted position to a distally advanced position to transect tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when the first jaw member is in the closed position.
7. An end effector, comprising:
a first jaw member comprising a first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface;
a second jaw member comprising a second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and a second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface;
wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface define a tissue cutting region;
a cutting element;
an elongate slot extending longitudinally through the tissue cutting region, wherein the elongate slot is configured to receive the cutting element; and
a distal region defined by the first jaw member and the second jaw member that extends distally with respect to the tissue cutting region, wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface, and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface do not extend into the distal region;
wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between an open position and a closed position, wherein a first gap is defined between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the tissue cutting region when the first jaw member is in the closed position, wherein a second gap is defined between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the distal region when the first jaw member is in the closed position, wherein the first gap is smaller than the second gap, and wherein the distal region is configured to grasp a needle when the first jaw member is in the closed position; and
wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first jaw member is in the closed position, and wherein the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface when the first jaw member is in the closed position.
8. The end effector of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one active electrode disposed on the second jaw member between the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface; and
at least one return electrode disposed on the first jaw member;
wherein the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode are in a bipolar configuration to deliver RF energy to tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when the first jaw member is in the closed position.
9. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface independently form angles relative to respective clamping planes, the angles ranging from 25 degrees to 50 degrees.
10. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein the first positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the first negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface, the second positively-angled tissue-contacting surface, and the second negatively-angled tissue-contacting surface form the same angle relative to respective clamping planes.
11. The end effector of claim 7 , further comprising an I-beam member configured to operably translate within opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member.
12. The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the I-beam member comprises the cutting element, and wherein the I-beam member is configured to translate within the opposed channels in the first jaw member and the second jaw member from a proximally retracted position to a distally advanced position to transect tissue located between the first jaw member and the second jaw member.
13. An end effector, comprising:
a first jaw comprising a first angled tissue-contacting surface;
a second jaw comprising a second angled tissue-contacting surface, wherein the first angled tissue-contacting surface and the second angled tissue-contacting surface define a tissue cutting region;
a cutting element;
an elongate slot extending longitudinally through the tissue cutting region, wherein the elongate slot is configured to receive the cutting element; and
a distal region defined by the first jaw and the second jaw that extends distally with respect to the tissue cutting region, wherein the first angled tissue-contacting surface and the second angled tissue-contacting surface do not extend into the distal region, and wherein the cutting element does not enter into the distal region;
wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw between an open position and a closed position, wherein a first gap is defined between the first jaw and the second jaw in the tissue cutting region when the first jaw is in the closed position, wherein a second gap is defined between the first jaw and the second jaw in the distal region when the first jaw is in the closed position, wherein the first gap is smaller than the second gap, and wherein the distal region is configured to hold a needle when the first jaw is in the closed position; and
wherein the first angled tissue-contacting surface opposes the second angled tissue-contacting surface when the first jaw is in the closed position.