Electrosurgical hemostatic device including an anvil

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedance, thickness and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between one pole of a bipolar energy source located on one interfacing surface, and a second interfacing surface applying pressure in a predetermined range wherein one of the interfacing surfaces is positioned on an anvil with a specified preload and spring rate. A second pole is located one of the two interfacing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the second pole is located on the same interfacing surface as the first pole and an insulator electrically isolates the two poles. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using RF energy.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An end effector for an electrosurgical device, wherein said end effector comprises: 
       first and second jaw members;  
       first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces being capable of engaging tissue therebetween, and said end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein, said first jaw comprising an anvil having a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and three hundred fifty pounds per inch;  
       electrically isolated first and second poles comprising electrically opposite electrodes capable of conducting bipolar energy therethrough; wherein said first pole is comprised of one or more first electrodes of a first electrical potential; wherein said second pole is comprised of one or more second electrodes of a second electrical potential;  
       wherein at least one of said one or more first electrodes is located on at least one of said first and said second interfacing surfaces and wherein at least one of said one or more second electrodes is located on at least one of said first and second interfacing surfaces, so that bipolar energy may be communicated between said poles through the tissue; and  
       wherein each said one or more first electrodes is offset from each said one or more second electrodes, at said first and second interfacing surfaces.  
     
     
       2. The end effector of  claim 1  wherein said spring rate is approximately two hundred and seventy five pounds per inch. 
     
     
       3. The end effector  claim 1  wherein said anvil is pre-bent such that, when said first and second jaws are closed, with at least a portion of said first and second interfacing surfaces touching to create a zero gap, said anvil has a preload in a range of between approximately twelve pounds and eighteen pounds. 
     
     
       4. The end effector of  claim 1  wherein a portion of said second interfacing surface comprises a ridge extending from said second interfacing surface to form a tissue compression zone between interfacing surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The end effector of  claim 4  wherein current flowing between said first and second poles provides coagulation in the compression zone. 
     
     
       6. The end effector of  claim 1  wherein said end effector includes a cutting element mounted on said end effector to divide tissue engaged by said end effector when said cutting element is actuated to move said cutting element through said tissue. 
     
     
       7. The end effector of  claim 6  wherein said end effector further comprises at least one staple and at least one driver adapted to apply said at least one staple lateral to said cutting line. 
     
     
       8. The end effector of  claim 1  wherein said one or more first electrodes comprises an electrode having a relatively circular shape and is located on an outer circumference of said first interfacing surface. 
     
     
       9. The end effector of  claim 8  wherein said end effector includes a cutting element mounted on said end effector and being adapted to divide tissue engaged by said interfacing surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The end effector of  claim 9  wherein said end effector further comprises at least one staple and at least one driver adapted to drive said at least one staple through tissue 
     
     
       11. An electrosurgical instrument comprising: 
       a handle,  
       an actuating means coupled to said handle,  
       an end effector coupled to the distal end of said actuating means,  
       a means for communicating bipolar electrical energy from a biopolar energy source to said end effector,  
       said end effector including:  
       first and second jaw members,  
       a first interfacing surface,  
       a second interfacing surface,  
       a first pole comprising one or more first electrodes of a first electrical potential located on at least one of said interfacing surfaces,  
       a second pole comprising one or more second electrodes of a second electrical potential located on at least one of said interfacing surfaces, and  
       an insulator arranged to offset each of said one or more first electrodes from each of said one or more second electrodes, at said interfacing surfaces,  
       wherein said actuating means is capable of causing said end effector to engage tissue between the first interfacing surface and the second interfacing surface,  
       wherein said first jaw member is an anvil and wherein said anvil has a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and approximately three hundred fifty pounds per inch,  
       wherein said first pole and said second pole are comprised of electrically opposite electrodes capable of conducting electrical energy supplied from said means for communicating bipolar electrical energy from a bipolar energy source, through tissue adjaccent to said one or more first electrodes and said one or more second electrodes.  
     
     
       12. The electrosurgical device of  claim 11  wherein said spring rate is approximately two hundred and seventy five pounds per inch. 
     
     
       13. The electrosurgical device of  claim 11  wherein said anvil is pre-bent such that, when said first and second jaws are closed, with at least a portion of said first and second interfacing surfaces touching to create a zero gap, said anvil has a preload in a range of between approximately twelve pounds and approximately eighteen pounds. 
     
     
       14. An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector, wherein said end effector comprises: 
       first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween, and said end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein;  
       a cutting element arranged on said instrument to cut tissue engaged by said end effector when said cutting element is actuated, wherein said first interfacing surface includes a first slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element;  
       a cartridge containing at least one row of staples and at least one driver adapted to apply said staples to tissue engaged by said end effector, said cartridge having a second slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element, said first and second slots arranged to permit said cutting element to travel lateral to said at least one row of staples, said cartridge forming at least a portion of said second interfacing surface;  
       an anvil for receiving and forming said staples, said anvil forming at least a portion of said first interfacing surface which said anvil has a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and three hundred fifty pounds per inch;  
       electrically isolated first and second poles positioned on said first interfacing surface and comprising electrically opposite electrodes, wherein said first pole is comprised of first and second elongated substantially parallel electrodes arranged on opposite sides of said first slot and said second pole comprises an electrode positioned on said anvil;  
       first and second compression ridges extending from said first interfacing surface, wherein said first and second electrodes comprise at least a portion of said first and second compression ridges;  
       third and fourth electrically insulating compression ridges extending from said second interfacing surface;  
       a first tissue contacting surface on said first and second compression ridges;  
       a second tissue contacting surface on said third and fourth compression ridges; and  
       a recessed insulation region separating said first pole from said second pole wherein said recessed insulation region includes a recessed tissue contacting surface, said recessed tissue contacting surface being approximately level with said portion of !said first interfacing surface comprising said anvil.  
     
     
       15. The electrosurgical device of  claim 14  wherein spring rate is approximately two hundred seventy five pounds per inch. 
     
     
       16. The electrosurgical device of  claim 14  wherein said anvil is pre-bent such that, when said end effector is closed, with at least a portion of said first and second interfacing surfaces touching to create a zero gap, said anvil has a preload in a range of between approximately twelve pounds and eighteen pounds. 
     
     
       17. An electrosurgical instrument comprising: 
       a handle,  
       an actuating means coupled to said handle,  
       an end effector coupled to the distal end of said actuating means,  
       a means for communicating bipolar electrical energy from a bipolar energy source to said end effector,  
       said end effector comprising:  
       first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween, and said end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein;  
       a cutting element arranged on said instrument to cut tissue engaged by said end effector when said cutting element is actuated, wherein said first interfacing surface includes a first slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element;  
       a cartridge containing at least one row of staples and at least one driver adapted to apply said staples to tissue engaged by said end effector, said cartridge having a second slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element, said first and second slots arranged to permit said cutting element to travel lateral to said at least one row of staples, said cartridge forming at least a portion of said second interfacing surface;  
       an anvil for receiving and forming said staples, said anvil forming at least a portion of said first interfacing surface wherein said anvil has a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and three hundred fifty pounds per inch;  
       electrically isolated first and second poles positioned on said first interfacing surface and comprising electrically opposite electrodes, wherein said first pole is comprised of first and second elongated substantially parallel electrodes arranged on opposite sides of said first slot and said second pole comprises an electrode positioned on said anvil;  
       first and second compression ridges extending from said first interfacing surface, wherein said first and second electrodes comprise at least a portion of said first and second compression ridges;  
       third and fourth electrically insulating compression ridges extending from said second interfacing surface;  
       a first tissue contacting surface on said first and second compression ridges;  
       a second tissue contacting surface on said third and fourth compression ridges;  
       and  
       a recessed insulation region separating said first pole from said second pole wherein said recessed insulation region includes a recessed tissue contacting surface, said recessed tissue contacting surface being approximately level with said portion of said first interfacing surface comprising said anvil.  
     
     
       18. The electrosurgical device of  claim 17  wherein said spring rate is approximately two hundred seventy five pounds per inch. 
     
     
       19. The electrosurgical device of  claim 17 , wherein said anvil is pre-bent such that, when said end effector is closed, with at least a portion of said first and second interfacing surfaces touching to create a zero gap, said anvil has a preload in a range of between approximately twelve pounds and approximately eighteen pounds.