Electrosurgical instruments and connections thereto
An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.
1. An electrosurgical system comprising
an electrosurgical instrument comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
a first jaw connected to the elongate shaft, aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft and being stationary relative to the elongate shaft, the first jaw having a cut channel extending lengthwise along and through the first jaw, and the first jaw comprising a monolithic seal surface surrounding the cut channel;
a second jaw coupled to the elongate shaft, the second jaw comprising a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulator positioned between the first and second electrodes, the second electrode being on an upper portion of the second jaw and distal from the first jaw, and the first electrode being on a lower portion of the second jaw proximate to the first jaw; and
a cutting blade connected to a blade shaft disposed within the elongate shaft, the cutting blade arranged to fit within the cut channel of the first jaw, the blade shaft comprising a distal stop and a proximal stop, the distal stop arranged to interact with a first corresponding stop disposed along the elongate shaft and arranged to prevent distal movement of the blade shaft beyond a distal interaction point of the first corresponding stop of the elongate shaft interacting with the distal stop of the blade shaft when the blade shaft is moved distally and the proximal stop arranged to interact with a second corresponding stop disposed along the elongate shaft and arranged to prevent proximal movement of the blade shaft beyond a proximal interaction point of the second corresponding stop of the elongate shaft interacting with the proximal stop of the blade shaft when the blade shaft is moved proximally;
and an electrosurgical generator arranged to supply radiofrequency (RF) energy to the electrosurgical instrument removably coupled to the electrosurgical generator; wherein the generator is arranged to determine a phase value of the supplied RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw and to determine when the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or exceeds a predetermined phase value; wherein the generator, after determining the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or has exceeded the predetermined phase value, is arranged to supply RF energy between the first jaw and the cutting blade instead of the first electrode and the first jaw; wherein the generator is arranged to determine a phase value of the supplied RF energy between the first jaw and the cutting blade to determine when the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or exceeds a second predetermined phase value; wherein the generator, after determining the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or has exceeded the second predetermined phase value, is arranged to supply RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw; and wherein the generator is arranged to not determine when the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or exceeds a predetermined phase value when the first and second jaws are in the intermediate state.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator is arranged to supply RF energy between the first jaw and the second electrode to coagulate tissue in front of the second jaw and tissue on at least one side of the second jaw.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second electrode and the first jaw share a common electrical contact in that the generator supplies RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw and between the first electrode, the second electrode and the first jaw.
4. The system of claim 3 between the open and closed position, wherein the intermediate state comprises a position of the first and second jaws between an open position and a closed position, the first electrode and the first jaw are electrically connected to assume a first and second polarity with the first and second jaws being in the intermediate state in that tissue positioned between and in contact with the first electrode and the first jaw are fused when a fusing operation is activated and cutting by the cutting blade is prevented.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the instrument further comprises an actuator connected to the elongate shaft, the actuator further comprises a blade trigger, a stationary handle and a movable trigger, the blade trigger being connected to the blade shaft and the movable trigger being movable towards the stationary handle to close the first and second jaws and movable away from the stationary handle to open the first and second jaws.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the instrument further comprises a spring connected to the blade shaft and biasing the blade shaft proximally and wherein the proximal stop and the second corresponding stop are arranged to prevent the spring from pulling the cutting blade proximally beyond the proximal interaction point and the spring, the proximal stop and the second corresponding stop arranged to hold the cutting blade stationary at the proximal interaction point.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the elongate shaft comprises a cover tube and the first and second corresponding stops are deformed portions on the cover tube, the deformed portions interacting with the distal and proximal stops of the blade shaft.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the instrument further comprises:
an internal switch disposed within the stationary handle and not externally accessible, the internal switch being activated by a flexible arm extending from the movable trigger and contacting with the internal switch when the movable trigger is moved towards the stationary handle; and
at least one external switch disposed on the actuator and an electrical connection being established with the at least one external switch and the internal switch being both activated;
wherein the generator is arranged to supply RF energy to the first jaw and the cutting blade with the internal switch being activated.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one external switch further comprises a first external switch to activate an electrosurgical activity and a second external switch to activate a different electrosurgical activity, the first external switch disposed proximate the second external switch.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the generator, after the at least one external switch is deactivated, is arranged to supply RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw instead of the cutting blade and the first jaw.
11. An electrosurgical system comprising:
an electrosurgical instrument comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
a first jaw connected to the elongate shaft, aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft and being stationary relative to the elongate shaft, the first jaw being conductive and having a cut channel extending lengthwise along and through the first jaw;
a second jaw connected to the elongate shaft, the second jaw comprising a first electrode, a second electrode and a cut channel extending along the second jaw, the second electrode being shaped like the first jaw and being on an upper portion of the second jaw and distal from the first jaw, and the first electrode being on a lower portion of the second jaw proximate to the first jaw and extending along an outer portion of a distal end of the second jaw, the first electrode being parallel with the second electrode;
a cutting blade connected to a blade shaft disposed within the elongate shaft, the cutting blade arranged to fit within and traverse through the cut channel of the first jaw and the cut channel of the second jaw, and the blade shaft having a plurality of stops arranged to limit movement of the blade shaft and the cutting blade; and
an actuator connected to the elongate shaft, the actuator comprises a blade trigger, a stationary handle and a movable trigger, the movable trigger being movable towards the stationary handle to close the first and second jaws and movable away from the stationary handle to open the first and second jaws, the blade trigger being connected to the blade shaft, and the cutting blade connected to the blade shaft being movable proximally and distally lengthwise through the first and second jaws and within the cut channel of the first jaw and the second jaw;
an electrosurgical unit arranged to supply radiofrequency (RF) energy to the electrosurgical instrument removably coupled to the electrosurgical unit, the electrosurgical unit being arranged to supply RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw to seal tissue in contact with the first electrode and the first jaw and to supply RF energy between the first electrode and the second electrode to cut tissue in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein the generator is arranged to determine a phase value of the supplied RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw and to determine when the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or exceeds a predetermined phase value;
wherein the generator, after determining the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or has exceeded the predetermined phase value, is arranged to supply RF energy between the first jaw and the cutting blade; and
wherein the generator is arranged to determine a phase value of the supplied RF energy between the first jaw and the cutting blade to determine when the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or exceeds a second predetermined phase value; wherein the generator, after determining the determined phase value of the supplied RF energy equals or has exceeded the second predetermined phase value, is arranged to supply RF energy between the first electrode and the first jaw.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of stops comprises a first stop projection movable with the blade shaft and when moved distally near a distal end of the cut channel of the first jaw, the first stop projection interacts with a corresponding stop projection or slot preventing further distal movement of the first stop projection and the blade shaft.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of stops further comprises a second stop projection on the blade shaft and spaced from the first stop projection, the second stop projection preventing proximal movement of the blade shaft beyond a predetermined point.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the instrument further comprises a spring connected to the blade shaft and biasing the blade shaft proximally and wherein the second stop projection is arranged to prevent the spring from pulling the cutting blade proximally beyond the predetermined point and the spring and the second stop projection being arranged to hold the cutting blade in place at the predetermined point, the predetermined point being near a proximal end of the cut channel of the first jaw.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the instrument further comprises a cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the cable being attached to and extending from the stationary handle, a plug having one end connected to the proximal end of the cable and another end attached to a connector; and wherein the generator further comprises a tool connector receptacle; and wherein the connector of the instrument is removably attached to the tool connector receptacle and the connector comprises memory circuitry configured to be utilized by the generator.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the tool connector receptacle includes a switch recessed within the tool connector receptacle that is operatively activated by the connector being inserted into the tool connector receptacle.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first jaw further comprises a seal surface comprising a plurality of seal paths surrounding the cut channel of the first jaw and a plurality of non-filled-in cavities positioned near and spaced from the plurality of seal paths and wherein the instrument further comprises a third electrode connected to the first jaw and extendable from a first position within the first jaw to a second position outside the first jaw and past a distal most end of the first jaw; and wherein the generator is arranged to supply RF energy between the third electrode and the first jaw.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second jaws are arranged to be positioned in an open position, a closed position and an intermediate state between the open and closed position, the instrument further comprises a sensor adjacent to the movable trigger and arranged to detect a position of the movable trigger to identify the intermediate state, and the electrosurgical unit is arranged to supply RF energy between the first electrode and the second electrode to cut tissue with the first and second jaws being in the intermediate state.