Vessel sealing instrument with suction system

1. A forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft extending therefrom;

an end effector assembly attached at the distal end of the shaft including first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of energy to treat tissue grasped between the jaw members; and

a suction system including a tube that is slidable relative to the shaft between a retracted position in which a distal end of the tube is in a first position and a deployed position in which the distal end of the tube is in a second position distal of the first position, the distal end of the tube disposed proximate the first and second jaw members and configured to apply suction to a surgical site upon activation thereof.

2. The forceps of claim 1 , wherein the tube is attached to the shaft and is configured to connect to a low-pressure suction source.

3. The forceps of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the tube is disposed within the shaft.

4. The forceps of claim 1 , wherein in the deployed position, at least a portion of the tube is extendable to a position distal to the first and second jaw members.

5. The forceps of claim 2 , wherein one of the first or second jaw members is fixed and integral with the shaft.

6. The forceps of claim 5 , wherein the tube is offset relative to the fixed jaw member.

7. The forceps of claim 1 , further comprising a blade disposed within the shaft and configured to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

8. The forceps of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to selectively deploy and retract the tube.

9. A method for performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

providing a vessel sealing device having two opposable jaw members operably connected to a shaft, at least one of the jaw members configured to move relative to the other between an open position and a clamped position;

extending a tube of a suction system from a retracted position to a deployed position such that a distal end of the tube is translated distally from the retracted position to the deployed position;

grasping a vessel between the two jaw members;

applying electrosurgical energy to seal tissue; and

activating the suction system to suction bodily fluids from a surgical site through the tube during the surgical procedure.

10. A vessel sealer, comprising:

a housing having a shaft extending therefrom, the shaft having a longitudinal axis;

an end effector assembly attached at the distal end of the shaft including first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each jaw member including an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of energy to treat tissue grasped between the jaw members; and

a suction system disposed proximate the first and second jaw members and configured to apply suction to a surgical site upon activation thereof, the suction system including a tube slidably disposed on the shaft radially offset of the second jaw member relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the tube configured to move between a retracted position proximal of a distal end of the first and second jaw members to a deployed position wherein at least a portion of the tube extends distally of the distal end of the first and second jaw members.

11. The vessel sealer of claim 10 , wherein the tube is disposed within the shaft.

12. The vessel sealer of claim 10 , wherein the tube is connected to a suction tube deployment device that is operably connected to the housing.

13. The vessel sealer of claim 12 , wherein the suction tube deployment device includes an actuator that deploys the tube from a retracted position via at least one of a button, a handle, a mechanical deployment system, an electro-mechanical deployment system, a lever, and a slide.