Bipolar forceps

Abstract

A bipolar forceps may include a first forceps arm having a first forceps arm aperture, a first forceps jaw, and a first forceps arm conductor tip; a second forceps arm having a second forceps arm aperture, a second forceps jaw, and a second forceps arm conductor tip; and an input conductor isolation mechanism having a first forceps arm housing and a second forceps arm housing. The first forceps arm conductor tip may be configured to conduct current only at a medial portion of the first forceps arm. Illustratively, the second forceps arm conductor tip may be configured to conduct current only at a medial portion of the second forceps arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An instrument comprising:
 a first forceps arm having a first forceps arm distal end and a first forceps arm proximal end;   a first forceps jaw of the first forceps arm having a first forceps jaw distal end and a first forceps jaw proximal end;   a first conductor tip of the first forceps arm having a first conductor tip distal end and a first conductor tip proximal end, the first conductor tip having an electrically conductive surface area in a range of 0.006 to 0.017 square inches;   a first input conductor housing of the first forceps arm;   a first coating of an electrical insulator material over at least a portion of the first forceps arm, the first coating of the electrical insulator material having a coating thickness in a range of 0.005 to 0.008 inches;   a second forceps arm having a second forceps arm distal end and a second forceps arm proximal end;   a second forceps jaw of the second forceps arm having a second forceps jaw distal end and a second forceps jaw proximal end;   a second conductor tip of the second forceps arm having a second conductor tip distal end and a second conductor tip proximal end, the second conductor tip having an electrically conductive surface area in a range of 0.006 to 0.017 square inches;   a second input conductor housing of the second forceps arm;   a second coating of an electrical insulator material over at least a portion of the second forceps arm, the second coating of the electrical insulator material having a coating thickness in a range of 0.005 to 0.008 inches; and   an input conductor isolation mechanism configured to electrically isolate the first input conductor housing of the first forceps arm and the second input conductor housing of the second forceps arm wherein the first forceps arm proximal end is disposed in the input conductor isolation mechanism and the second forceps arm proximal end is disposed in the input conductor isolation mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein the first forceps arm has a mass in a range of 0.01 to 0.025 pounds. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a forceps arm aperture of the first forceps arm, the forceps arm aperture having an aperture perimeter length in a range of 4.0 to 7.0 inches. 
 
     
     
         4 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of a surface area of the first forceps arm to the electrically conductive surface area of the first conductor tip is in a range of 165.0 to 475.0. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a forceps arm superior incline angle of the first forceps arm, the forceps arm superior incline angle in a range of 150.0 to 170.0 degrees. 
 
     
     
         6 . The instrument of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a forceps arm inferior decline angle of the first forceps arm, the forceps arm inferior decline angle in a range of 140.0 to 160.0 degrees. 
 
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a forceps arm superior decline angle of the first forceps arm, the forceps arm superior decline angle in a range of 5.0 to 15.0 degrees. 
 
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a forceps arm inferior incline angle of the first forceps arm, the forceps arm inferior incline angle in a range of 15.0 to 30.0 degrees. 
 
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein an application of a force having a magnitude in a range of 0.35 to 0.70 pounds to a lateral portion of the first forceps arm and the second forceps arm is configured to cause the first forceps arm distal end to contact the second forceps arm distal end. 
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 9  wherein an application of a force having a magnitude of 0.50 pounds to the lateral portion of the first forceps arm and the second forceps arm is configured to cause the first forceps arm distal end to contact the second forceps arm distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein an application of a force having a magnitude in a range of 1.5 to 3.3 pounds to a lateral portion of the first forceps arm and the second forceps arm is configured to close the first forceps jaw and the second forceps jaw wherein the first forceps jaw distal end contacts the second forceps jaw distal end and the first forceps jaw proximal end contacts the second forceps jaw proximal end. 
     
     
         12 . The instrument of  claim 11  wherein an application of a force having a magnitude in a range of 2.5 pounds to the lateral portion of the first forceps arm and the second forceps arm is configured to close the first forceps jaw and the second forceps jaw wherein the first forceps jaw distal end contacts the second forceps jaw distal end and the first forceps jaw proximal end contacts the second forceps jaw proximal end. 
     
     
         13 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein the first forceps arm has an electrical conductivity in a range of 30.0×10 6  to 40.0×10 6  Siemens per meter. 
     
     
         14 . The instrument of  claim 13  wherein the first forceps arm has thermal conductivity in a range of 180.0 to 250.0 Watts per meter Kelvin. 
     
     
         15 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein the first forceps arm has a volume in a range of 0.12 to 0.23 cubic inches. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument of  claim 15  wherein the first forceps arm has a density in a range of 0.025 to 0.045 pounds per cubic inch. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument of  claim 16  wherein the first forceps arm has a modulus of elasticity in a range of 9.0×10 6  to 11.0×10 6  pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         18 . The instrument of  claim 17  wherein the first forceps arm has a shear modulus in a range of 3.5×10 6  to 4.5×10 6  pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 disposing a vessel in between a first conductor tip and a second conductor tip of a bipolar forceps;   creating a conduction zone of the vessel configured to facilitate movement of ions and electrons wherein the conduction zone is disposed between an electrically conductive portion of the first conductor tip and an electrically conductive portion of the second conductor tip; and   reducing electrodiffusion outside of the conduction zone.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 cauterizing the vessel wherein the cauterization is uniform; and 
 achieving a hemostasis of the vessel wherein the hemostasis is uniform.