Surgical scissors with bipolar coagulation feature

Claim 2

The surgical instrument as in Claim 1 having in addition electrical insulation means disposed to insulate said distal portion of the linkage means.

Claim 3

The surgical instrument as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said first and second scissors blades are a composite formed from stainless steel and a ceramic insulator.

Claim 4

The surgical instrument as in Claim 3 wherein said first and second scissors blades each include a metal blank having a ceramic layer affixed thereto, said ceramic layer on said first scissors blade being juxtaposed in face-to-face relation to said ceramic layer on said second scissors blade when said scissors blades are pivotally joined to thereby create a predetermined insulating gap between said metal blanks.

Claim 5

The surgical instrument as in Claim 4 wherein each of said ceramic layers has a beveled cutting edge.

Claim 6

The surgical instrument as in Claim 4 wherein said first and second scissors blades are pivotally joined by an insulating member.

Claim 7

The surgical instrument as in Claim 6 wherein said insulating member is a ceramic screw.

Claim 8

The surgical instrument as in Claim 6 wherein said insulating member includes an insulating sleeve and a bushing seal surrounding a metal screw.

Claim 9

The surgical instrument as in Claim 3 wherein said ceramic insulator is a member of the group including aluminum oxide and zirconia.

Claim 10

The surgical instrument as in Claim 5 wherein the metal blank of one of said first and second scissors blades includes a ramp surface on a predetermined area thereof, said ramp surface maintaining said beveled cutting edge of the ceramic layer on said first blade in rubbing contact with said beveled cutting edge of the ceramic layer on said second blade when said first and second blades are pivoted relative to one another.

Claim 11

A surgical instrument for mechanically shearing tissue and for cauterizing tissue and coagulating blood and other body fluids, comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween; (b) first and second scissors blades pivotally joined and electrically insulated from one another, along their entire lengths, said scissors blades being affixed to said distal end of said tubular member; (c) means affixed to said proximal end of said tubular member for pivoting one of said first and second scissors blades relative to the other, said means comprising: (i) a first handle member having first and second ends, said first end being affixed to said proximal end of said tubular member and said second end terminating in a finger grip; (ii) a second handle member having first and second ends, said first end including a finger grip, said first handle member being pivotally joined to said second handle member at a location between first and second ends of each; (iii) an elongated, longitudinally rigid rod having a proximal end, a distal end and extending through said lumen of said tubular member, said proximal end of said rigid rod being coupled to said second end of said second handle member; and (iv) electrically insulated means for coupling said distal end of said rigid rod to one of said first and second blades; and (d) means for applying a radio frequency voltage across said first and second scissors blades.

Claim 12

The surgical instrument as in Claim 11 wherein said means for coupling said distal end of said rigid rod to one of said first and second blades comprises an articulating linkage.

Claim 13

The surgical instrument as in Claim 11 wherein said elongated tubular member is electrically conductive and coated on its exterior surface with an electrically insulating polymer.

Claim 14

The surgical instrument as in Claim 13 wherein said means for applying an RF voltage across said first and second scissors blades includes: (a) a first electrical lead adapted to be coupled to an electrosurgical generator and connected to said rigid rod at said proximal end thereof; and (b) a second electrical lead adapted to be coupled to an electrosurgical generator and to said tubular member.

Claim 15

The surgical instrument as in Claim 13 wherein said second electrical lead is coupled to said tubular member by an axially movable conductive member.

Claim 16

The surgical instrument as in Claim 15 wherein said axially movable conductive member is a wave spring disposed within said lumen of said tubular member and engaging said tubular member at a plurality of points along the length thereof.

Claim 17

The surgical instrument as in Claim 12 wherein the outside diameter of said elongated tubular member and the maximum transverse dimension of said first and second scissors blades when in a closed position are generally equal and of a size permitting them to be passed through the working lumen of an endoscope or trocar.

Claim 18

The surgical instrument as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the articulating linkage is covered with an insulating cover to thereby provide electrical insulation to the linkage.

Claim 19

The surgical instrument as claimed in Claim 18 wherein a proximal portion of each of the blades is covered by an electrically insulated elastic boot.