Bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and sealing tubular tissue structures

摘要

An electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tubular tissue structures, especially tubular ones, includes a pair of spaced-apart electrodes that are stationarily mounted at the distal end of an elongated tubular barrel. A hook-shaped cutting member has an incline segment thereon for cooperating with a ramp formed at the distal end of the instrument. A tubular body structure to be severed is first brought into contact with electrodes and subjected to a RF current sufficient to coagulate and seal the same. Actuation of a lever on the instrument's handle causes the hook-shaped cutting member to deflect into a space containing the tissue structure and with continued actuation in a proximal direction causing a cutting edge on the hook of the cutting member to pass through and sever the tissue structure.