Vessel sealing device with fine dissection function

Abstract

An electrosurgical forceps includes a first elongated shaft member including a first handle member and a first jaw member having a first tissue contacting surface, and a second elongated shaft member including a second handle member and a second jaw member having a second tissue contacting surface. At least one of the first and second handle members is movable relative to the other between an open position, a first approximated position where the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are diametrically opposed to one another, and a second approximated position where the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are laterally offset from one another. A handle connector assembly is selectively engageable with the second handle member and is configured to selectively communicate electrosurgical energy between the first and second tissue contacting surfaces when the first and second handle members are disposed in the first approximated position.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical system comprising:
 an end effector including a first jaw member having a first tissue contacting surface and a second jaw member having a second tissue contacting surface, at least one of the first or second tissue contacting surfaces configured to communicate electrosurgical energy between the first and second tissue contacting surfaces, each of the first and second tissue contacting surfaces including a base surface laterally disposed relative to a raised surface, the base surface and the raised surface connected by an intermediate wall, the raised surface and the intermediate wall defining a shear edge at an intersection therebetween, the first and second jaw members movable between an open position, a first approximated position where the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are diametrically opposed to one another, and a second approximated position where the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are laterally offset from one another.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical system of  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate wall is perpendicular to the base and raised surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including the base and raised surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical system of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal portion of each of the first and second jaw members only includes the base surface. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical system of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal portion of each of the first and second jaw members extends linearly along an axis and the distal portion of each of the first and second jaw members curves away from the proximal portion. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second tissue contacting surfaces include guide surfaces at distalmost ends of the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the guide surfaces extends from the raised surface and twists across the base surface. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical system of  claim 2 , wherein, in the second approximated position, the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are longitudinally offset from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical system of  claim 2 , further including a robot arm, and the end effector is adapted to couple to the robot arm. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , further including a control device and an operating console, the robot arm connected to the control device and telemanipulatable by the operating console. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical system of  claim 11 , wherein the operating console includes at least one manual input device, and the end effector is movable between the open position, the first approximated position, and the second approximated position through movement defined by the at least one manual input device. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical system comprising:
 an end effector including a first jaw member having a first tissue contacting surface and a second jaw member having a second tissue contacting surface, the first and second tissue contacting surfaces defining complementary stepped surfaces, the first and second jaw members movable between an open position, a first approximated position where the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are diametrically opposed to one another, and a second approximated position where the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are laterally and longitudinally offset from one another.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second tissue contacting surfaces includes a base surface laterally disposed relative to a raised surface, the base surface and the raised surface connected by an intermediate wall, the raised surface and the intermediate wall defining a shear edge at an intersection therebetween and wherein, when the first and second jaw members are in the first approximated position, the base and raised surfaces of the first tissue contacting surface are opposed to the raised and base surfaces of the second tissue contacting surface, respectively, and when the first and second jaw members are disposed in the second approximated position, the raised surfaces of the first and second tissue contacting surfaces are opposed to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first or second tissue contacting surfaces is configured to communicate electrosurgical energy between the first and second tissue contacting surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including the base and raised surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical system of  claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion of each of the first and second jaw members only includes the base surface. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical system of  claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion of each of the first and second jaw members extends linearly along an axis and the distal portion of each of the first and second jaw members curves away from the proximal portion. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical system of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second tissue contacting surfaces define complementary guide surfaces at distalmost ends of the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical system of  claim 19 , wherein each of the guide surfaces extends from the raised surface and twists across the base surface. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical system of  claim 13 , further including a robot arm, and the end effector is attached to the robot arm.