Surgical scissors with bipolar coagulation feature

Abstract

A bipolar electrosurgical scissors for use in open or endoscopic surgery has a pair of opposed blade members pivotally joined to one another and to the distal end of the scissors itself by a rivet which extends through a insulated bushing member. Each of the blade members comprises a blade support and a blade itself, each fabricated from metal, such as stainless steel. The blades are affixed to their associated supports by means of a suitable adhesive or adhesive composite material such as a fiberglass reinforced epoxy exhibiting dielectric properties. Cutting is performed, steel-on-steel, without causing a short circuit between the two blade supports which themselves function as the bipolar electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising: (a) first and second blade members .[.each.]..Iadd., at least one .Iaddend.comprising a laminated assembly of a metal blade defining a shearing surface, a metal blade support and an intermediate electrically insulative bonding/spacing layer for joining said blade to said blade support;   (b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;   (c) means coupled to .[.at least.]. one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and   (d) means for applying a voltage between the metal blade supports of said first and second blade members.   
     
     
       2. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 1 wherein said shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members and said blade support are curved. 
     
     
       3. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 2 wherein said intermediate, electrically insulating bonding/spacing layer is an epoxy material. 
     
     
       4. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 3 wherein said epoxy material includes a fiberglass-mat of a predetermined thickness therein. 
     
     
       5. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 3 wherein said epoxy material includes glass microspheres of a predetermined maximum diameter therein. 
     
     
       6. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 3 wherein said metal is stainless steel. 
     
     
       7. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising, in combination: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween;   (b) first and second blade members, .[.each.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.comprising a laminated assembly of a metal blade defining a shearing surface, a metal blade support and an intermediate electrically insulating spacing/bonding layer for joining said blade to said blade support;   (c) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members to the distal end of said elongated tubular member with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;   (d) a handle affixed to said proximal end of said tubular member;   (e) means coupled to said handle and extending through said lumen for imparting a scissors-like movement to .[.at least.]. one of said first and second blade members relative to the other; and   (f) means extending through said lumen for applying a voltage between said blade supports of said first and second blade members.   
     
     
       8. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 7 wherein said itnermediate electronically insulating bonding layer is an epoxy material. 
     
     
       9. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 8 wherein said epoxy material includes a fiberglass-mat of a predetermined thickness therein. 
     
     
       10. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 8 wherein said epoxy material includes glass microspheres of a predetermined maximum diameter therein. 
     
     
       11. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument as in claim 7 wherein said first and second blade members are curved. .Iadd. 
     
     
       12.  A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising: (a) first and second blade members each comprising a laminated assembly of a metal blade defining a shearing surface, a metal blade support and an intermediate electrically insulative bonding/spacing layer for joining said blade to said blade support;   (b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;   (c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissor-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and   (d) means for applying a voltage between the metal blade supports of said first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.13. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising, in combination:   (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween;   (b) first and second blade members, each comprising a laminated assembly of a metal blade defining a shearing surface, a metal blade support and an intermediate electrically insulating spacing/bonding layer for joining said blade to said blade support;   (c) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members to the distal end of said elongated tubular member with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;   (d) a handle affixed to said proximal end of said tubular member;   (e) means coupled to said handle and extending through said lumen for imparting a scissor-like movement to at least one of said first and second blade members relative to the other; and   (f) means extending through said lumen for applying to a voltage between said blade supports of said first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.14. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising:   (a) first and second blade members each having an inner shearing surface and a conductive portion, at least one of said blade members comprising a laminated assembly of an inner metal blade defining said inner shearing surface, an intermediate electrically insulative layer, and an outer metal conductive layer forming said conductive portion which is electrically insulated from said inner metal blade by said intermediate electrically insulative layer;   (b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members with their respective inner shearing surfaces facing one another;   (c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and   (d) means for applying a voltage between said conductive portions of said   
     
     
        first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.15.  An endoscopic scissors blade for use in a bipolar endoscopic instrument, said blade comprising: (a) an inner metal shearing surface;   (b) an intermediate electrically insulative layer;   (c) an outer metal conductive layer which is electrically insulated from said inner metal shearing surface by said intermediate electrically insulative layer; and   (d) means for coupling a source of voltage to said outer metal conductive layer..Iaddend..Iadd.16. An endoscopic scissors blade according to claim 15, further comprising:   (e) means for pivotally mounting said scissors blade; and   (f) means for coupling said scissors blade to a means for imparting a   
     
     
        pivotal movement to said scissors blade..Iaddend..Iadd.17.  An endoscopic scissors blade according to claim 15, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is a fiberglass blade support and said inner metal shearing surface and said outer metal conductive layer are laminated layers on said fiberglass blade   
     
     
        support..Iaddend..Iadd.18.  A bipolar electrosurgical scissors comprising: (a) a pair of blades, at least one blade of the pair having (i) an inner metal shearing surface;   (ii) an intermediate electrically insulative layer;   (iii) an outer metal conductive layer which is electrically insulated from said inner metal shearing surface by said intermediate electrically insulative layer; and     (b) means for coupling a source of voltage to said outer metal conductive layer..Iaddend..Iadd.19. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 18, further comprising:   (e) means for pivotally mounting said pair of blades; and   (f) means for coupling one of said scissors blade to a means for imparting a pivotal movement to said scissors blade..Iaddend..Iadd.20. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 18, wherein:   said intermediate electrically insulative layer is a fiberglass blade support and said inner metal shearing surface and said outer metal conductive layer are laminated layers on said fiberglass blade support..Iaddend..Iadd.21. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising:   (a) first and second blade members each comprising a laminated assembly of a metal blade defining a shearing surface, an intermediate electrically insulative layer, and a metal blade support which is electrically insulated from said metal blade by said intermediate electrically insulative layer;   (b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;   (c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissor-like movement relative to the others of said first and second blade members; and   (d) means for applying a voltage between the metal blade supports of said first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.22. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 21, wherein:   said shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members and said blade support are curved..Iaddend..Iadd.23. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 22, wherein:   
     
     
       said metal is stainless steel..Iaddend..Iadd.24.  A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising, in combination: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   (b) first and second blade members, each comprising a laminated assembly of a metal blade defining an inner shearing surface, an intermediate electrically insulative layer, and a metal blade support which is electrically insulated from said metal blade by said intermediate electrically insulative layer;   (c) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another;   (d) a handle affixed to said proximal end of said tubular member;   (e) means coupled to said handle and extending through said lumen for imparting a scissor-like movement to at least one of said first and second blade members relative to the other; and   (f) means extending through said lumen for applying a voltage between said blade supports of said first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.25. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 24 wherein:   said inner shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members are   
     
     
        curved..Iaddend..Iadd.26.  A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 24, wherein: said metal is stainless steel..Iaddend..Iadd.27. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising, in combination:   (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;   (b) first and second blade members each having an inner shearing surface and a conductive portion, at least one of said blade members comprising a laminated assembly of an inner metal blade defining said inner shearing surface, an intermediate electrically insulative layer, and an outer metal conductive layer forming said conductive portion which is electrically insulated from said inner metal blade by said intermediate electrically insulative layer;   (c) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members with their respective inner shearing surfaces facing one another;   (d) a handle affixed to said proximal end of said tubular member;   (e) means coupled to said handle and extending through said lumen for imparting a scissor-like movement to at least one of said first and second blade members relative to the other; and   (f) means extending through said lumen for applying a voltage between said conductive portions of said first and second blade   
     
     
        members..Iaddend..Iadd. 8.  A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 27, wherein: each of said first and second blade members comprises a laminated assembly of an inner metal blade defining said inner shearing surface, an intermediate electrically insulative layer, and an outer metal conductive layer forming said conductive portion which is electrically insulated from said inner metal blade by said intermediate electrically insulative layer..Iaddend..Iadd.29. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors comprising:   (a) first and second blade members each comprising an assembly of a metal shearing surface, an electrically conductive electrode, and an intermediate electrically insulative material disposed between and fixed to the metal shearing surface and the electrically conductive electrode;   (b) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting scissor-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and   (c) means for applying a voltage between the electrically conductive electrodes of said first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.30. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 29, wherein:   said metal shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members are curved..Iaddend..Iadd.31. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 30, wherein:   said intermediate, electrically insulative material is an epoxy material..Iaddend..Iadd.32. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 31, wherein:   said epoxy material includes a fiberglass-mat of a predetermined thickness therein..Iaddend..Iadd.33. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 31 wherein:   at least one of said metal shearing surface and said electrically   
     
     
        conductive electrode is made of stainless steel..Iaddend..Iadd.34.  A bipolar electrosurgical scissors comprising: (a) first and second blade members each comprising an assembly of a metal shearing surface, an electrically conductive electrode, and an intermediate electrically insulative layer disposed between and affixed to the metal shearing surface and the electrically conductive electrode, at least one of said first and second blade members having a pivot hole for mounting it relative to the other of said first and second blade members to allow a scissor-like movement of said at least one of said first and second blade members relative to the other of said first and second blade members;   (b) a reciprocating member coupled to said at least one of said first and second blade members and importing scissor-like movement to said at least one of said first and second blade members relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and   (c) first and second electrically conductive members coupled to respective electrically conductive electrodes and applying a voltage between the electrically conductive electrodes of said first and second blade members..Iaddend..Iadd.35. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 34, wherein:   said metal shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members are   
     
     
        curved..Iaddend..Iadd.36.  A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 35, wherein: said intermediate, electrically insulative layer is an epoxy material layer..Iaddend..Iadd.37. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 36, wherein:   said epoxy material includes a fiberglass-mat of a predetermined thickness therein..Iaddend..Iadd.38. A bipolar electrosurgical scissors according to claim 36, wherein:   at least one of said metal shearing surface and said electrically conductive electrode is made of stainless steel..Iaddend.