Ultrasonic device for cutting and coagulating

Abstract

Apparatus and method to permit selective cutting and coagulation required in fine and delicate surgical procedures. The apparatus includes two body members having proximal ends and distal ends with jaw members located adjacent the body member's distal ends. The body members are joined at a pivot located adjacent to the first and second jaw members joining the first and second body members where the body members' rotation about the pivot defines a plane of rotation. The scissors are adapted for selective application of energy to at least one jaw member by a switch located in the plane of rotation.

1 . A surgical cutting and coagulation scissors comprising:
 a first body member having a proximal end and a distal end;   a first finger ring located adjacent the proximal end of the first body member;   a first jaw member located adjacent the first body member's distal end;   a second body member having a proximal end and a distal end;   a second finger ring located adjacent the second body member's proximal end;   a second jaw member located adjacent the second body member's distal end;   a pivot located adjacent to the first and second jaw members joining the first and second body members; and   a switch located on the first body member for applying energy to at least one of the first or second jaw members.   
     
     
         2 . The scissors of  claim 1  wherein the first and the second body members' movement about the pivot defines a plane of motion. 
     
     
         3 . The scissors of  claim 2  wherein the switch is located in a plane parallel to the plane of motion. 
     
     
         4 . The scissors of  claim 3  wherein the switch is activated by applying a force in a direction parallel to the plane of motion. 
     
     
         5 . The scissors of  claim 4  wherein the first and second jaw members are tapered proximal to distal. 
     
     
         6 . The scissors of  claim 5  wherein the body members and the jaw members are not of unitary construction. 
     
     
         7 . The scissors of  claim 6  wherein the first and second jaw members are angled away from the plane of motion. 
     
     
         8 . The scissors of  claim 7  wherein the first and second finger rings are provided with a pliable inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The scissors of  claim 8  wherein the body members are plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The scissors of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of the first and second jaw members is metallic. 
     
     
         11 . The scissors of  claim 10  wherein an inner portion of the first jaw member defines an arc with a radius of about 1 inch. 
     
     
         12 . The scissors of  claim 10  wherein the metallic portion of the first and second jaw members is stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . A method of transecting tissue, the method comprising:
 obtaining a surgical cutting and coagulating scissors, the scissors comprising:
 a first body member having a proximal end and a distal end defining a body plane, wherein a portion of the first body member is plastic; 
   a first finger ring located on the first body member's proximal end, the first finger ring having a pliable inner surface;   a first jaw member located adjacent the first body member's distal end angled away from the body plane, wherein a portion of the jaw member is metallic;   a second body member having a proximal end and a distal end located substantially in the body plane, wherein a portion of the second body member is plastic;   a second finger ring located on the second body member's proximal end, the second finger ring having a pliable inner surface;   a second jaw member located adjacent the second body member's distal end angled in the same direction as the first jaw member, wherein a portion of the jaw member is metallic;   a pivot located adjacent to the first and second jaw members joining the first and second body members thereby allowing the first body member and the second body member to move relative to one another in the body plane;   a switch located on the first body member oriented for activation in the body plane for selectively applying energy to at least one of the first or second jaw members;   clamping the first and second jaw on tissue;   activating the switch by applying a force in a direction parallel to the body plane thereby applying energy to the tissue; and   transecting the tissue between the jaws while the first and second jaws remain in the clamped position.   
     
     
         14 . A surgical cutting and coagulation scissors comprising:
 a first body member having a proximal end and a distal end;   a first finger ring located adjacent the first body member's proximal end;   a first jaw member located adjacent the first body member's distal end;   a second body member having a proximal end and a distal end;   a second finger ring located adjacent the second body member's proximal end;   a second jaw member located adjacent the second body member's distal end;   a pivot located adjacent to the first and second jaw members joining the first and second body members thereby allowing the first body member and the second body member to move relative to one another wherein the relative motion of the first and second body members defines a plane of motion; and   a switch for applying energy to at least one of the first or second jaw members located on the first body member oriented for activation in the plane of motion.   
     
     
         15 . The scissors of  claim 14  wherein the first and second jaw members are angled away from the plane of motion. 
     
     
         16 . The scissors of  claim 15  wherein the energy applied to at least one of the first or the second jaw members is mechanical energy. 
     
     
         17 . A surgical cutting and coagulation scissors comprising:
 a first body member having a proximal end and a distal end;   a first finger ring located adjacent the first body member's proximal end, the first finger ring having a pliable inner surface;   a first jaw member located adjacent the first body member's distal end;   a second body member having a proximal end and a distal end;   a second finger ring located adjacent the second body member's proximal end, the second finger ring having a pliable inner surface;   a second jaw member located adjacent the second body member's distal end;   a pivot located adjacent to the first and second jaw members joining the first and second body members thereby allowing the first body member and the second body member to move relative to one another wherein the relative motion of the first and second body members defines a plane of motion; and   a switch for applying energy to at least one of the first or second jaw members located on the first body member in the plane of motion.   
     
     
         18 . The scissors of  claim 17  wherein the switch is oriented for activation by applying a force in a direction parallel to the plane of motion. 
     
     
         19 . The scissors of  claim 18  wherein the first and second jaw members taper proximal to distal. 
     
     
         20 . The scissors of  claim 19  wherein the body members and the jaw members are not of unitary construction. 
     
     
         21 . The scissors of  claim 20  wherein the body members are comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         22 . The scissors of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of the first and second jaw members is metallic. 
     
     
         23 . The scissors of  claim 22  wherein the first and second jaw members are angled away from the plane of motion. 
     
     
         24 . A method of transecting tissue, the method comprising:
 obtaining a surgical cutting and coagulating scissors, the scissors comprising:
 a first body member having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the first body member's proximal end is comprised of plastic and the first body member's distal end is comprised of metal; 
   a first finger ring located on the first body member's proximal end, the first finger ring having a pliable inner surface;   a first jaw member located adjacent the first body member's distal end angled away from the longitudinal axis, wherein a portion of the jaw member is metallic;   a second body member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the second body member's proximal end is comprised of plastic and the second body member's distal end is comprised of metal;   a second finger ring located on the second body member's proximal end, the second finger ring having a pliable inner surface;   a second jaw member located adjacent the second body member's distal end angled in the same direction as the first jaw member, wherein a portion of the second jaw member is metallic;   a pivot located in the distal metallic portions of the first and the second body members joining the first and second body members thereby allowing the first body member and the second body member to move relative to one another wherein the relative motion of the first and second body members defines a plane of motion, wherein the plane of motion passes through the longitudinal axis;   a switch located on the first body member oriented for activation in the plane of motion for selectively applying energy to at least one of the first or second jaw members;   clamping the first and second jaw on tissue;   activating the switch by applying a force in a direction parallel to the plane of motion thereby applying energy to the tissue; and   transecting the tissue between the jaws while the first and second jaws remain in the clamped position.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the activating step further comprises applying mechanical energy to the tissue. 
     
     
         26 . A surgical cutting and coagulating scissors, the scissors comprising:
 a first body member having a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the first body member's distal end is comprised of metal;   
       a first finger ring located on the first body member's proximal end; 
       a first jaw member located adjacent the first body member's distal end angled away from the longitudinal axis, wherein a portion of the jaw member is metallic; 
       a second body member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the second body member's distal end is comprised of metal; 
       a second finger ring located on the second body member's proximal end; 
       a second jaw member located adjacent the second body member's distal end angled in the same direction as the first jaw member, wherein a portion of the second jaw member is metallic; 
       a pivot located in the distal metallic portions of the first and the second body members joining the first and second body members thereby allowing the first body member and the second body member to move relative to one another wherein the relative motion of the first and second body members defines a plane of motion wherein the plane of motion passes through the longitudinal axis; and 
       a switch located on the first body member oriented for activation in the plane of motion for selectively applying energy to at least one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         27 . The scissors of  claim 26 , wherein the first distal body portion and the first jaw member are of unitary construction. 
     
     
         28 . The scissors of  claim 27 , wherein the second distal body portion and the second jaw member are of unitary construction. 
     
     
         29 . The scissors of  claim 26 , wherein the metallic jaw portions are stainless steel. 
     
     
         30 . The scissors of  claim 28 , wherein the first body member's proximal end is comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         31 . The scissors of  claim 30 , wherein the second body member's proximal end is comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         32 . The scissors of  claim 31 , wherein the metallic distal ends of the first and the second body member are stainless steel. 
     
     
         33 . The scissors of  claim 26 , wherein the energy applied to at least one of the first or second jaw members is mechanical energy. 
     
     
         34 . The scissors of  claim 26 , wherein the first finger ring has a pliable inner surface. 
     
     
         35 . The scissors of  claim 34 , wherein the second finger ring has a pliable inner surface.