Bipolar electrosurgical scissors

Claim 2

A hand operable bipolar electrosurgical scissors instrument comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; (b) two interfacing blade members disposed at the distal end of the tubular member and pivotally joined to one another, said blade members each being an electrode electrically insulated from the other along their respective entire lengths and to which current can flow, and further wherein each blade member is individually pivotable in relation to said elongated tubular member and to the other blade member from an open position to a closed position; and (c) a double lumen tube extending along the lumen of the elongated tubular member; (d) first and second elongated push rods, each having a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second push rods extending through the lumens of the double lumen tube and individually coupled at their distal ends to the two interfacing blade members; and (e) a handle disposed at the proximal end of the tubular member, the handle being coupled to the proximal ends of the first and second push rods and being hand operable to thereby produce pivotable action of the blade members.

Claim 3

The instrument as in claim 1 wherein said first and second push rods are electrically conductive and said double lumen tube is electrically nonconductive.

Claim 4

The instrument as in claim 2 wherein said lumens of said double lumen tube closely surround the first and second push rods to inhibit their bending when they are subjected to a compressive force.

Claim 5

A hand-operable bipolar electrosurgical scissors instrument comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; (b) an insulating hub member fixedly attached to the distal end of the elongated tubular member and having a pair of parallel, spaced apart, longitudinal bores extending therethrough, the hub member including a distal portion having two opposed generally flat surfaces and a transverse bore extending between the two opposed flat surfaces; (c) two interfacing blade members, each pivotally joined to the hub member by a pin extending through said transverse bore and individually abutting said two opposed flat surfaces, said blade members each having an electrode electrically isolated from the other along their respective entire lengths over their full range of movement and to which current can flow; (d) first and second electrically conductive push rods supported in parallel, spaced-apart relation along substantially their entire lengths within the lumen of said tubular member and extending from the proximal end of the tubular member and through the longitudinal bores in the hub member and individually pivotally coupled to the two interfacing blade members; and (e) a handle disposed at the proximal end of the tubular member, said handle being mechanically coupled to the first and second push rods and being hand operable to thereby produce pivotal action of the blade members.

Claim 6

A hand-operable bipolar electrosurgical scissors instrument comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; (b) an insulating hub member fixedly attached to the distal end of the elongated tubular member and having a pair of parallel, spaced apart, longitudinal bores extending therethrough, the hub member including a distal portion having two opposed generally flat surfaces and a transverse bore extending between the two opposed flat surfaces; (c) two interfacing blade members, each pivotally joined to the hub member by a pin extending through said transverse bore and individually abutting said two opposed flat surfaces, said blade members each having an electrode electrically isolated from the other along their respective entire lengths over their full range of movement and to which current can flow; (d) first and second electrically conductive push rods supported in parallel, spaced-apart relation along substantially their entire lengths within the lumen of said tubular member and extending from the proximal end of the tubular member and through the longitudinal bores in the hub member and individually pivotally coupled to the two interfacing blade members; and (e) a handle disposed at the proximal end of the tubular member, said handle being mechanically coupled to the first and second push rods and being hand operable to thereby produce pivotal action of the blade members.