Apparatus and method for regulating tissue welder jaws

摘要

A surgical apparatus and methods for severing and welding tissue, in particular blood vessels. The apparatus includes an elongated shaft having a pair of relatively movable jaws at a distal end thereof. A first heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a first temperature and form a welded region within the tissue, while a second heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a second temperature and sever the tissue within the welded region. The first and second heating elements may be provided on the same or opposite jaws. A control handle provided on the proximal end of the elongated shaft includes controls for opening and closing the jaws, and may include an actuator for sending current through the first and second heating elements. The first and second heating elements may be electrically connected in series, and the first heating element may be bifurcated such that it conducts about one half of the current as the second heating element. A force-limiting mechanism provided either within the control handle, in the elongated shaft, or at the jaws limits the pressure applied to the tissue by the jaws to ensure that the tissue is severed and the ends effectively welded within a short amount of time.

主权项

1. A surgical method of severing a target tissue while welding the severed ends using a surgical apparatus, the surgical apparatus comprising a shaft and first and second jaws extending from a distal end of the shaft, wherein the first jaw is relatively movable with respect to the second jaw; the surgical apparatus further comprising a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected in series, wherein the first electrode is operatively associated with one of the first and second jaws and is adapted to weld tissue, and wherein the second electrode is operatively associated with one of the first and second jaws and is adapted to sever tissue, the method comprising:
welding and severing a target tissue by:
closing the jaws upon the target tissue; andelectrically energizing the first and second electrodes to form a welded region in the target tissue and sever the target tissue within the welded region.