IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,349,961
Granted Patent B2
US 12,349,961 · App. 16/885,893 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Electrosurgical instrument with electrodes operable in bipolar and monopolar modes

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); David C. Yates (Morrow, OH); Jeffrey D. Messerly (Cincinnati, OH); Kevin M. Fiebig (Cincinnati, OH); Taylor W. Aronhalt (Loveland, OH)
Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
A61B18/1445A61B18/1206A61B2018/00023A61B2018/00607A61B2018/0063A61B2018/00702A61B2018/00791A61B2018/00827A61B2018/00875A61B2018/00898A61B2018/00958A61B2018/00994A61B2018/1253A61B2018/126A61B2018/1452
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,349,961
App. No.
16/885,893
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises a first electrode. The end effector is movable from an open configuration to a closed configuration to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises a second electrode configured to deliver a first monopolar energy to the tissue, a third electrode, and a conductive circuit selectively transitionable between a connected configuration with the third electrode and a disconnected configuration with the third electrode. In the connected configuration, the third electrode is configured to cooperate with the first electrode to deliver bipolar energy to the tissue. The conductive circuit defines a return path for the bipolar energy. In the disconnected configuration, the first electrode is configured to deliver a second monopolar energy to the tissue.

Claims (36)

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a first jaw comprising a first electrode;

a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable to transition the end effector from an open configuration to a closed configuration to grasp tissue therebetween, and wherein the second jaw comprises:

a second electrode configured to deliver a monopolar energy to the tissue; and

a third electrode configured to cooperate with the first electrode to deliver a bipolar energy; and

at least one sensor, comprising an impedance sensor; and

a control circuit configured to:

execute a predetermined power scheme to seal and cut the tissue in a tissue treatment cycle, wherein the power scheme comprises predetermined power levels of the monopolar energy and the bipolar energy;

adjust at least one of the predetermined power levels of the monopolar energy and the bipolar energy based on readings of at least one sensor during the tissue treatment cycle; and

monitor an impedance ratio of a monopolar tissue-impedance to a bipolar tissue-impedance based on readings from the impedance sensor.

2. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined power scheme comprises a simultaneous application and a separate application of the bipolar energy and the monopolar energy to the tissue in the tissue treatment cycle.

3. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined power scheme comprises:

an application of the bipolar energy but not the monopolar energy to the tissue in a feathering segment of the tissue treatment cycle; and

a simultaneous application of the bipolar energy and the monopolar energy to the tissue in a tissue warming segment and a tissue sealing segment of the tissue treatment cycle.

4. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the power scheme further comprises an application of the monopolar energy but not the bipolar energy to the tissue in a tissue transection segment of the tissue treatment cycle.

5. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein a change in the impedance ratio within a predetermined range causes the control circuit to issue a warning.

6. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein a change in the impedance ratio to, or below, a lower threshold of the predetermined range causes the control circuit to adjust the predetermined power scheme.

7. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein a change in the impedance ratio to, or below, a lower threshold of the predetermined range causes the control circuit to pause an application of the monopolar energy to the tissue.

8. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the change in the impedance ratio to, or below, a lower threshold of the predetermined range further causes the control circuit to adjust an application of the bipolar energy to the tissue to complete sealing the tissue.

9. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector longitudinally extends from a distal end towards a proximal end, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are longitudinally bisected by a plane extending through the distal end and the proximal end, and wherein the first electrode is positioned on a first lateral side of the plane.

10. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a first jaw comprising a first electrode; and

a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable to transition the end effector from an open configuration to a closed configuration to grasp tissue therebetween, the tissue being at a target site, and wherein the second jaw comprises:

a second electrode configured to deliver a monopolar energy to the tissue; and

a third electrode configured to cooperate with the first electrode to deliver a bipolar energy; and

a control circuit configured to:

execute a predetermined power scheme to seal and cut the tissue in a tissue treatment cycle, wherein the power scheme comprises predetermined power levels of the monopolar energy and the bipolar energy;

detect an energy diversion off the target site; and

adjust at least one of the predetermined power levels of the monopolar energy and the bipolar energy to mitigate the energy diversion,

wherein the predetermined power scheme comprises a simultaneous application and a separate application of the bipolar energy and the monopolar energy to the tissue in the tissue treatment cycle, and

wherein the predetermined power scheme comprises:

an application of the bipolar energy but not the monopolar energy to the tissue in a feathering segment of the tissue treatment cycle; and

a simultaneous application of the bipolar energy and the monopolar energy to the tissue in a tissue warming segment and a tissue sealing segment of the tissue treatment cycle.

11. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the first electrode and the third electrode are laterally offset from one another.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056983/0569 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; YATES, DAVID C.; MESSERLY, JEFFREY D.; FIEBIG, KEVIN M.; ARONHALT, TAYLOR W.
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 053100/0604 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62955299 · Dec 30, 2019
Related Publication 20210196363A1 · Jul 1, 2021
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