WO2016088017A1

WO2016088017A1 - Bipolar electrosurgical instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2016088017A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/059209
Authority: WO
Inventors: Suresh Srinivasan IYER
Original assignee: Suresh Srinivasan IYER
Priority date: 2014-12-01
Filing date: 2015-11-30
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a bipolar electrosurgical instrument for performing surgical procedures that is capable of grasping vessels and tissues between two jaws of the instrument to coagulate and/or cut/dissect the vessel or tissue. The jaws of the disclosed instrument are made of round shape and configured with electrodes that have an non-overlapping position while overlapping surface of the jaws is covered by non-conducting insulation. Specially configured jaws provide lateral flow of current through the tissues held between them and lateral flow of current enables simultaneous coagulation of vessels/ tissues by modulating the current with the same instrument without changing the instrument or without any mechanical deployment of knife or similar structure or any mechanical manipulation of the instrument.

Description

BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of surgical instruments. In particular it pertains to a bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and sealing tissues during surgery.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] Electrosurgical units (ESUs) are used for surgical cutting and/or to control bleeding by causing coagulation (hemostasis) at the surgical site. They deliver high- frequency electrical currents and voltages through an active electrode, causing desiccation, vaporization, or charring of the target tissue. ESU's are a useful tool in all aspects of the surgical arena: from the most basic wart removal, spider veins, or hair removal in a doctor's office or to the most intricate open heart, orthopedic, and transplant procedures. An ESU, by definition, is a generator capable of producing a cutting and/or coagulating clinical effect on tissue by the use of alternating current at a high frequency (RF - radio frequency, also known as radio surgery). Voltages and currents may vary depending on the desired clinical effect.

[0004] Electrosurgical units can be differentiated as monopolar or bipolar. In monopolar electro surgery, tissue is cut and coagulated by completing an electrical circuit that includes a high-frequency oscillator and amplifier(s) within the ESU, the patient plate, the connecting cables, and the electrodes. In most applications, electric current from the ESU is conducted through the surgical site with an active cable and electrode. The electrosurgical current is conducted through the patient body then dispersed through the patient to a return electrode returning the energy to the generator to complete the path, monopolar electro surgery has the means of delivering energy to the tissue through several modes of operation: pure cut, blended cut, desiccation (or pinpoint), and spray (or fulguration). Delivery system of the monopolar electrosurgical generator can be a hand-controlled pencil (reusable or disposable) or a foot controlled pencil. A number of accessories can be adapted to the foot control output jack to deliver energy through a number of instruments. [0005] In bipolar electro surgery, two electrodes (generally the tips of a pair forceps or scissors like instruments) serve as the equivalent of the active and dispersive leads in the monopolar mode. Bipolar electro surgery does not require a patient plate. Electrosurgical current in the patient is restricted to a small volume of tissue in the immediate region of application of the forceps. This affords greater control over the area to be coagulated. Damage to sensitive tissues in close proximity to the instrument can be avoided. There is less chance of current capacitively or directly arcing to surrounding structures such as the bowel, unintended patient burns are virtually eliminated.

[0006] Bipolar electro surgical instruments utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to affect hemostasis. The electrodes of the two opposing jaw members are charged to different electric potential such that when the jaw members grasp tissue, electrical energy can be selectively transferred through the tissue. A surgeon can either cauterize, coagulate/desiccate and/or simply reduce bleeding, by controlling the current, voltage frequency and duration of the electrosurgical energy applied between the electrodes and through the tissue.

[0007] Certain surgical procedures require more than simply cauterizing tissue and rely on the combination of clamping pressure, electrosurgical energy and gap distance to "seal" tissue, vessels and certain vascular bundles. "Vessel sealing" is defined as the process of liquefying the collagen, elastin and substances in the tissue so that the tissue reforms into a fused mass with significantly-reduced demarcation between the opposing tissue structures.

[0008] Typically, once a vessel is sealed, the surgeon has to remove the sealing instrument from the operative site, substitute a new instrument, and accurately sever the vessel along the newly formed tissue seal. As can be appreciated, this additional step may be both time consuming (particularly when sealing a significant number of vessels) and may contribute to imprecise separation of the tissue along the sealing line due to the misalignment or misplacement of the severing instrument along the center of the tissue seal.

[0009] Efforts have been made by various people to overcome above drawback. Some have designed instruments that incorporate a knife or blade member, which mechanically severs the tissue after sealing of tissue. Others have incorporated additional current carrying members on the jaws along with switching means to provide current to these members for cutting of tissues. In either case, the surgeon is required to carry out additional operation of either actuating the cutting knife or switching the current through different path or manipulation of the instrument, which leads to wastage of time and diversion of his attention away from more critical aspects of the surgery. Therefore, there is a need for an electro surgical instrument for sealing and cutting of tissues that does not depend on mechanical means for cutting/dissecting the tissues.

[0010] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

[0011] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term "about." Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some

embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0012] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0013] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. "such as") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0014] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An object of the present disclosure is to overcome problems associated with existing bipolar electro surgical instruments.

[0016] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that does not depend on mechanical means for cutting the tissues.

[0017] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that does not need change of instrument for change over from sealing mode to cutting mode or any operation of knife or mechanical means or manipulation.

[0018] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that carries single electrode region for each jaw for both tissue sealing and tissue cutting.

[0019] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that depends on lateral flow of current through the tissues.

[0020] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that depends on modulation of current during its lateral flow through the tissues held between jaws for simultaneous coagulation and cutting of tissues.

[0021] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that results in minimal thermal spread thus helping the patient recover quickly post-surgery. [0022] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that can be made in different sizes and shapes so as to meet the requirements typical to various applications.

[0023] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that is easy to manufacture.

[0024] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that can be made as reusable or disposable or partially disposable.

[0025] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bipolar electro surgical instrument that accomplishes coagulation and cutting without any need of special manipulation of the instrument.

SUMMARY

[0026] Aspects of present disclosure relate to an electrosurgical instrument for performing surgical procedures that is capable of grasping vessels and tissues between two jaws of the instrument to coagulate and/or cut/dissect the vessel or tissue. In an aspect, the electrosurgical instrument of the present disclosure uses bipolar technique and therefore current path is confined to the jaws and hence safe.

[0027] In another aspect of the present disclosure, tissue cutting/ dissection is affected by narrowing the high frequency current path thus high current density achieved vaporizes and effects a cut on tissues held between the jaws in the narrow path of current.

[0028] In another aspect, simultaneous coagulation of vessels/ tissues is achieved by modulating the current with the same instrument. In an aspect, simultaneous coagulation of vessels/ tissues using a single set of electrodes is achieved by making the current flow in a lateral direction along the axis of tissues held between two jaws of the disclosed electrosurgical instrument.

[0029] In another aspect of the present disclosure, jaws of the disclosed instrument are made of round shape such that grasped vessels and tissues between the two jaws of the instrument is compressed that has (starting from one end) larger cross section then a narrow section and again a larger cross section as one moves along the axis of the held tissues. Therefore, as the current is passed laterally along the axis of the compressed tissues, current density is low first, becomes high in center part and again becomes low. In an aspect, tissues in the section that has higher current density get cut/dissected, while tissues in the section that has lower current density get coagulated.

[0030] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the current is made to flow through tissues laterally by providing current carrying surfaces (electrodes) on the two round jaws in an offset (non-overlapping) position and covering the overlapping surface of the jaws by insulation. Thus, when the tissues are held between the two jaws, current between the two non-overlapping electrodes is established along a lateral path through the held tissues. Thus, achieved lateral flow of the current along the compressed tissues held between the two round jaws enables simultaneous coagulation and cutting/dissection of the vessels/ tissues without any need of special manipulation of the instrument.

[0031] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the instrument can be made in different sizes i.e jaws having different diameter, length combination and shapes such as straight or curved jaws to meet various requirements typical to different applications. Additionally, the jaws can be configured with or without serrations for grasping the tissues. In another aspect, both the jaws may be movable or only one may be movable with other jaw fixed.

[0032] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) illustrate exemplary perspective views of a typical forceps assembly configured with jaws assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 1(c) and FIG. 1(d) illustrate exemplary perspective view and exploded view respectively of a typical forceps assembly of an alternate configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. [0036] FIG. 1(e) illustrates another exemplary perspective view of a forceps assembly of FIG. 1 (c)in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b) illustrate exemplary perspective views of two different configurations of a typical jaws assembly configured with jaws in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 3(a), FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 3(c) illustrate exemplary cross section views of three different configurations of jaws in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 4(a), FIG. 4(b) and FIG. 4(c) illustrate exemplary cross section views of three different configurations of jaws with tissues grasped between them in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate exemplary perspective views and images of six different electrodes assemblies with double action jaws each with different configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate exemplary perspective views and images of six different electrodes assemblies with single action jaws each with different configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 7(c) illustrate exemplary front views of three different jaws assemblies configured with jaws of different configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0044] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

[0045] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

[0046] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate toa bipolar electrosurgical instrument for performing surgical procedures that is capable of grasping vessels and tissues between two jaws of the instrument to coagulate and/or cut/dissect the vessel or tissue.

[0047] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, tissue cutting/ dissection is affected by narrowing the high frequency current path. High current density thus achieved vaporizes and affects a cut on tissues held between the jaws in the narrow path of current.

[0048] In another exemplary embodiment, jaws of the disclosed instrument can be made of round shape such that grasped vessels and tissues between the two jaws of the instrument is compressed providing a small length of narrow section that experiences high current density effecting cut/dissection of the tissues held between the jaws.

[0049] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides lateral flow of current through the tissues held between jaws, wherein the lateral flow enables simultaneous coagulation of vessels/ tissues by modulating the current with the same instrument without any mechanical action or manipulation of the instrument. In an aspect the modulation of the current may involve any or combination of different voltage, current, power levels.

[0050] In another embodiment, round jaws of the disclosed instrument can be configured with current carrying surfaces (electrodes) in an offset (non-overlapping) position, wherein the overlapping surface of the jaws is covered by insulation. The configuration causes lateral flow of current through the tissues held between the jaws.

[0051] In another embodiment, round jaws of the disclosed instrument can be of different sizes i.e jaws can have different diameters, length combinations, and shapes such as straight or curved jaws to meet various requirements typical to different applications. Additionally, the jaws can be configured with or without serrations for grasping the tissues. In another aspect, both the jaws may be movable or only one may be movable with other jaw fixed. [0052] It is to be understood that though the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to laparoscopy applications, the underlying concepts can be equally applied for other surgical applications such as endoscopy, open surgery etc. without any limitations and all such applications are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 1(a) illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a typical forceps assembly 100 configured with jaws assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary forceps assembly 100 can be used for laparoscopic surgical procedures. Forceps assembly 100 can have body 102 that is configured to incorporate a handle 104. Handle 104 can have opening for insertion of 2/3 fingers while simultaneously inserting thumb into another opening configured on a lever 106 pivotally fixed to the housing 102. The surgeon using the forceps assembly 100 can move lever 106 towards handle 104 by thumb movement to actuate the forceps assembly 100. The forceps assembly 100 can also incorporate a connector to connect the handle to the ESU enabling high frequency current flow through electrodes for electro surgical operation of cutting/dissecting and/or coagulation of tissues. In an alternate embodiment, ESU can be activated through a hand switch embedded in the body of the forceps assembly.

[0054] The forceps assembly 100 can also include a jaws assembly 110 having opposing jaw members that cam mutually cooperate to grasp vessels and tissues between them to coagulate and/or cut/dissect the vessel or tissue. More particularly, forceps assembly 100 can include a shaft 1 12 that has a distal end 114 dimensioned to mechanically engage the jaws assembly 110, and a proximal end 116 that mechanically engages the housing 102. The shaft 112 may include one or more known mechanically-engaging components that are designed to securely receive and engage the jaws assembly 110 such that the jaws can pivotally move relative to one another to engage and grasp tissues between them.

[0055] FIG. 1(b) illustrates an exemplary image 125 of a typical forceps assembly 100 made in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In another aspect, the forceps assembly 100 is easy to manufacture and can be, depending on materials used for construction, reusable or disposable. Alternately, it can be made as partially reusable or partially disposable.

[0056] FIG. 1(c) illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a typical forceps assembly 150 of an alternate configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. It can incorporate two push buttons - push buttons A 170 and push buttons B 172 to disconnect shaft assembly 162 from housing 152. FIG. l(d)illustrates an exemplary exploded view 175 of forceps assembly 150 after the connector and cable assembly 168 and shaft 162 have been disconnected from housing 152.

[0057] FIG. 1(e) illustrates another exemplary perspective viewl90 of forceps assembly 150 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 2(a) illustrates an exemplary perspective view 200 of a typical jaws assembly 110 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The jaws assembly 110 can have two jaws 202-1 and 202-2 referred to as jaw/jaws 202 hereinafter. The jaws 202 can be pivotally fixed to a holder 204 for movement along pivot 206. The holder 204 can be configured with means 210 to facilitate its attachment with cable 112 as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, these means are threads. However, any other suitable means are well within the scope of the disclosure. When the lever 106 (refer FIG. l) is moved, both the jaws 202 can move towards each other as shown by arrows 208-1 and 208-2, thereby closing on and touching each other. In the event of presence of tissues between the two jaws 202, the jaws can grasp the tissues.

[0059] FIG. 2(b) illustrates an exemplary perspective view 250 of an alternate embodiment of jaws assembly 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As in earlier embodiment, the jaws assembly 110 can incorporate two jaws 252-1 and 252-2. However, one of the jaws 252-2 can be integral to the holder 254 and thus not movable relative to holder 254. Second jaw 252-1 can be pivotally fixed to a holder 254 for movement along pivot 256. As in earlier embodiment, the holder 254 can be configured with means 260 to facilitate its attachment with shaft 112 as illustrated in FIG. 1. When the lever 106 is moved, the jaw 252-1 can move towards other jaw 252-2 as shown by arrows 258 thereby closing on and touching each other.

[0060] In an embodiment, the jaws 202 or 252 of the disclosed instrument can beshaped to provide a small length of narrow section of tissue/vessel grasped between them. Round shape is one such shape. However, it should be understood that though the embodiments of the present disclosure have been explained and illustrated with round jaws, any other shape such as half round, quarter round, elliptical etc. that can provide a small length of narrow section of tissue/vessel grasped between them are all well within the scope of the present disclosure. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the each jaw is 2.5mm but it can be of any size depending on requirement without any limitation. Further, the jaws 202/252 can be of different sizes i.e jaws having different diameter, length combination and shapes such as straight or curved jaws to meet various requirements typical to different surgical procedures. Additionally, the jaws can be configured with or without serrations for grasping the tissues.

[0061] In an embodiment, jaws 202/252 of the jaws assembly 110 can be configured with current carrying surfaces (also referred to as electrodes hereinafter) in an offset (also referred to as non-overlapping hereinafter) position and overlapping surface of the jaws can be covered by insulation such that even when the two jaws 202/252 close upon and touch each other, conducting surfaces/electrodes configured on respective jaws 202/252 do not come in contact with each other. In an aspect, the non-overlapping configuration of electrodes on the two jaws 202/252 can also avoid short circuit between the two electrodes configured on respective jaws 202/252 when the jaws 202/252 are in fully closed condition without any tissues between them. Further, as would be explained in subsequent paragraphs, the non-overlapping configuration of electrodes on the two jaws 202/252 results in lateral flow of current through the tissues grasped between the two jaws 202/252.

[0062] FIGs. 3(a) to 3(c) illustrate exemplary cross section views of three different configurations of jaws in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3(a) illustrates jaws 202/252 whose three fourth of circumferential surface is covered by a nonconductive insulating material 304 leaving only one fourth surface as conductive 302. As can be seen, the conductive surfaces/electrodes 302 of the two jaws 202/252 do not overlap and have an offset 306.

[0063] FIG. 3(b) illustrates an alternate embodiment of the jaws 202/252 where only one fourth circumferential surface is covered by a nonconductive insulating material 329 leaving remaining three fourth circumferential surface as conductive 327. FIG. 3(c) illustrates yet another alternate embodiment of the jaws 202/252 where again only one fourth circumferential surface is non-conductive insulating material 354 leaving three-fourth circumferential surface as conductive 352 with a different configuration of the nonconducting insulating material. Each of these alternate embodiments also incorporate feature of offset 306 between the two electrodes 327 or 352 configured on respective jaws 202/252.

[0064] In an embodiment the partially insulated portion of the jaws 202/252 can be achieved by directly molding insulating material on the jaws. Alternatively it can be a separately molded part configured on the jaws. Molded part can be of thermoplastic such as but not limited to delrin, PTFE, silicon rubber etc. Alternately jaws 202/252 can be coated with insulated coatings such as but not limited to ceramic coatings or diamond like carbon coating to achieve insulation.

[0065] As stated earlier non-overlapping configuration of electrodes on the two jaws 202/252 results in lateral flow of current through the tissues grasped between the two jaws 202/252.

[0066] FIGs. 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c) illustrate exemplary cross section views of three different configurations of jaws with tissues grasped between them in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, tissue 402 grasped between two jaws 202/252 can get squeezed at the point of least gap between the jaws 202/252, resulting in low cross-sectional area (shown in dark). When a potential difference is applied to electrodes 302 of the two jaws 202/252, current shall establish a path through tissues between points A & B. The points A & B being offset, direction of current through tissues 402 shall be lateral. Though tissue may come in contact with more portion of conductive surface, the current between the jaws is restricted to the narrow path between point A & B. thus maximum potential difference is created in the squeezed tissue section, enabling a cut/dissection. If the power applied is low in intensity, only coagulation can be achieved.

[0067] In an embodiment same set of jaws in a single grasping can effect cut/dissection and/or coagulation of tissues/vessels by modulation of the lateral flow of current that may involve use of any or combination of different voltage, current, power levels. Thus, the single disclosed electro surgical instrument can grasp vessels and tissues between two jaws of the instrument to coagulate and/or cut/dissect the vessel or tissues. Grasping, coagulation, and cutting with single instrument can help surgeon to do surgery more efficiently.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(c) and explained above, the current can be restricted to a very narrow path. Accordingly, thermal spread is correspondingly reduced considerably, thus helping the patient recover quickly post-surgery.

[0069] FIGs. 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate exemplary perspective views 500 and images 550 of six different jaw assemblies 110 with double action jaws each with different configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. First and second (from top)jaw assemblies 110 are of cylindrical jaws with curved and straight configurations respectively. Third and fourth (from top)jaw assemblies 110 are of cylindrical jaws with tapered/conical ends with curved and straight configurations respectively. Fifth and sixth (from top)jaw assemblies 110 are of cylindrical jaws with tapered/conical special shaped ends with curved and straight configurations respectively. These configurations can be typically useful for specific applications during surgical procedures.

[0070] FIGs. 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate exemplary perspective views and images of six different jaws assemblies 110 with single action jaws each with different configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The configurations illustrated are similar to those illustrated vide FIG. 5(a) and 5(b) except that they have single action jaw as against double action jaw depicted in FIG. 5(a) and 5(b).

[0071] FIGs. 7(a) to7(c) illustrate exemplary front views of three different jaws assemblies 110 configured with jaws of different configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7(a) depicts front view of a jaws assembly 110 with cylindrical and straight jaws. FIG. 7(b) depicts front view of a jaws assembly 110 with straight jaws that are cylindrical and conical shape. FIG. 7(c) depicts front view of a jaw assembly 110 with curved jaws that have tapered/conical special shaped ends.

[0072] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0073] The present disclosure overcomes problems associated with existing bipolar electro surgical instruments.

[0074] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that does not depend on mechanical means for cutting the tissues.

[0075] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that does not need changing of instrument or mechanical operation of instrument or scissor like shearing action or deployment of knife for change over from sealing mode to cutting mode.

[0076] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that carries single electrode region for each jaw for both tissue sealing and tissue cutting. [0077] The disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that depends on lateral flow of current through the tissues.

[0078] The disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that depends on current during its lateral flow through the tissues held between jaws for simultaneous coagulation and cutting of tissues.

[0079] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that results in minimal thermal spread thus helping the patient recover quickly post-surgery.

[0080] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that can be made in different sizes and shapes so as to meet the requirements typical to various applications.

[0081] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that is easy to manufacture.

[0082] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that can be made as reusable or disposable or partially disposable.

[0083] The present disclosure provides a bipolar electro surgical instrument that accomplishes coagulation and cutting without any need of special manipulation of the instrument.

Claims

Claims:

1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprising:

a set of two jaws configured to pivotally move and close on each other so as to grasp tissue/vessel there-between, wherein each jaw is configured with an electrode, and wherein said electrodes are configured on said jaws in a non-overlapping position, with overlapping portion covered with non-conducting insulating material such that current flow between said two electrodes travels through said grasped tissue/vessel in a lateral direction.

2. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaws are shaped to provide a small length of narrow section of said grasped tissue/vessel.

3. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaws are of round shape.

4. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said laterally travelling current affects a cut and/or coagulation of said grasped tissue/vessel wherein said cut and/or coagulation of said grasped tissue/vessel is achieved by using any or combination of different voltage, current, power levels .

5. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said non-conducting insulation is directly molded on said overlapping portion of said jaws or is a separate molded part that is configured on said overlapping portion wherein said separate molded part is made of material selected out of delrin, PTFE, silicon rubber.

6. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said non-conducting insulation on said overlapping part of said jaws is a ceramic or diamond like carbon coating.

7. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaws are any of straight, curved, or a combination thereof.

8. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaws move singly or together so as to grasp said tissue between them.

9. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaws are configured with serrations for grasping said tissue/vessel.

10. The electrosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said electro surgical instrument is any or a combination of reusable, disposable, and partially disposable.