US6086586A — Bipolar tissue grasping apparatus and tissue weld…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

Tissue grasping apparatus comprising: first and second elongated grasping jaws, each jaw including a tissue contacting surface in face-to-face relation with the tissue contacting surface of the other jaw; said grasping jaws being relatively movable for grasping tissue between said tissue contacting surfaces; the tissue contacting surfaces of said jaws comprising an insulating material; at least two electrode surfaces carried adjacent said tissue contacting surfaces of each said jaw and disposed to engage said tissue when grasped, the two electrode surfaces on said first law being in face-to-face relation with the two electrode surfaces on said second jaw, and the facing electrode surfaces being of like polarity, said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said electrode surfaces; whereby, when tissue is grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces electrical current may be caused to flow between said electrode surfaces and through the tissue grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

Tissue grasping apparatus comprising: first and second elongated grasping jaws, each jaw including a tissue contacting surface in face-to-face relation with the tissue contacting surface of the other jaw; said grasping jaws being relatively movable for grasping tissue between said tissue contacting surfaces; the tissue contacting surfaces of said jaws comprising an insulating material; at least two electrode surfaces carried adjacent said tissue contacting surfaces of each said jaw and disposed to engage said tissue when grasped, the two electrode surfaces on said first law being in face-to-face relation with the two electrode surfaces on said second jaw, and the facing electrode surfaces being of like polarity, said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said electrode surfaces; whereby, when tissue is grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces electrical current may be caused to flow between said electrode surfaces and through the tissue grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the tissue contacting surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetraflouroethylene, polypropylene-polystyrene, polycarbonate, or ABS.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating material of the tissue contacting surface comprises a transparent material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The tissue grasping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the density of the electrical current through the tissue is greater in the tissue disposed between the insulating material on said jaws than in the tissue contacting the electrode surfaces.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tissue contacting surfaces of said first and second jaws each have opposed elongated edges and said electrode surfaces are located on the edges of the tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insulating material comprises a non-stick material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode surfaces comprise a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, or gold.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 140 words

Tissue grasping apparatus comprising: two grasping jaws, each jaw including an insulating tissue contacting surface; said grasping jaws being relatively movable for grasping tissue between said tissue contacting surfaces; said jaws further comprising two spaced-apart electrode surfaces adjacent said insulating tissue contacting surface, said jaws being in generally face-to-face relationship to provide a first face-to-face electrode surface pair, face-to-face insulating surfaces, and a second face-to-face electrode surface pair; said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said one and said other electrode surface pairs, the electrode surfaces comprising a particular face-to-face electrode surface pair being of like polarity; and whereby, when tissue is grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces electrical current may be caused to flow between said one and other electrode surface pairs and through the tissue grasped between said insulating surfaces.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 140 words

Tissue grasping apparatus comprising: two grasping jaws, each jaw including an insulating tissue contacting surface; said grasping jaws being relatively movable for grasping tissue between said tissue contacting surfaces; said jaws further comprising two spaced-apart electrode surfaces adjacent said insulating tissue contacting surface, said jaws being in generally face-to-face relationship to provide a first face-to-face electrode surface pair, face-to-face insulating surfaces, and a second face-to-face electrode surface pair; said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said one and said other electrode surface pairs, the electrode surfaces comprising a particular face-to-face electrode surface pair being of like polarity; and whereby, when tissue is grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces electrical current may be caused to flow between said one and other electrode surface pairs and through the tissue grasped between said insulating surfaces.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the insulating surface of each tissue contacting surface comprises a non-stick material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the non-stick material is selected from the group consisting of polytetraflouroethylene, polypropylene-polystyrene, polycarbonate, or ABS.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the insulating surface of each tissue contacting surface comprises a transparent material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The tissue grasping apparatus of claim 8 wherein the density of the electrical current through the tissue is greater in the tissue disposed between the insulating material on said jaws than in the tissue contacting said face-to-face electrode surfaces.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrodes surfaces comprise a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, or gold.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 162 words

A method of promoting coagulation in tissue, comprising: providing a pair of grasping jaws, each jaw including an insulating tissue contacting surface in face-to-face relation with the tissue contacting surface of the other jaw, said jaws further comprising two spaced-apart electrode surfaces adjacent said insulating tissue contacting surface, said jaws providing first face-to-face electrode surface pair, face-to-face insulating surfaces, and a second face-to-face electrode surface pair, said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said first and said second electrode surface pairs, the electrode surfaces comprising a particular electrode surface pair being of like polarity; closing said jaws on tissue to be coagulated, with said tissue contacting surfaces in contact with said tissue; connecting said electrode surfaces to a current source to create a current flow between said first and said second electrode surface pairs and through tissue located between said tissue contacting surfaces to promote coagulation of tissue grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 162 words

A method of promoting coagulation in tissue, comprising: providing a pair of grasping jaws, each jaw including an insulating tissue contacting surface in face-to-face relation with the tissue contacting surface of the other jaw, said jaws further comprising two spaced-apart electrode surfaces adjacent said insulating tissue contacting surface, said jaws providing first face-to-face electrode surface pair, face-to-face insulating surfaces, and a second face-to-face electrode surface pair, said electrode surfaces being connectable to a power source for providing an electrical current between said first and said second electrode surface pairs, the electrode surfaces comprising a particular electrode surface pair being of like polarity; closing said jaws on tissue to be coagulated, with said tissue contacting surfaces in contact with said tissue; connecting said electrode surfaces to a current source to create a current flow between said first and said second electrode surface pairs and through tissue located between said tissue contacting surfaces to promote coagulation of tissue grasped between said tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the insulating surface of each tissue contacting surface comprises a non-stick material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 15 wherein the non-stick material is selected from the group consisting of polytetraflouroethylene, polypropylene-polystyrene, polycarbonate, or ABS.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14 wherein in insulating surface of each tissue contacting surface comprises a transparent material.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the tissue to be coagulated is grasped between the insulating surfaces of said jaws.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 141 words

Bipolar electrosurgical apparatus comprising a pair of jaws that are relatively movable toward and away from one another, each of said jaws including a non-conductive tissue contacting surface, said tissue contacting surfaces of said jaws being face-to-face relation with one another for contacting tissue located between said jaws as they move toward one another, each of said jaws including: first and second spaced apart electrodes adjacent each of said tissue contacting surfaces for connection to different terminals of an RF generator to generate electrical current flow therebetween, said first and second electrodes of one jaw being in opposed relation, respectively, with first and second electrodes of the other jaw; and said first electrodes of each jaw being connectable to one terminal of an RF generator and said second electrodes of each jaw being connectable to another terminal of an RF generator.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 141 words

Bipolar electrosurgical apparatus comprising a pair of jaws that are relatively movable toward and away from one another, each of said jaws including a non-conductive tissue contacting surface, said tissue contacting surfaces of said jaws being face-to-face relation with one another for contacting tissue located between said jaws as they move toward one another, each of said jaws including: first and second spaced apart electrodes adjacent each of said tissue contacting surfaces for connection to different terminals of an RF generator to generate electrical current flow therebetween, said first and second electrodes of one jaw being in opposed relation, respectively, with first and second electrodes of the other jaw; and said first electrodes of each jaw being connectable to one terminal of an RF generator and said second electrodes of each jaw being connectable to another terminal of an RF generator.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 19 in which said tissue contacting surface of each jaw is stick resistant.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 19 in which said tissue contacting surface of each jaw comprises a transparent material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 19 in which said tissue contacting surface of each jaw comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetraflouroethylene, polypropylene-polystyrene, polycarbonate, or ABS.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 39 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 19 wherein the density of electrical current flow through tissue grasped between said jaws is greater in the tissue disposed between said spaced electrodes than in the tissue disposed between said opposed electrodes.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electrodes comprise a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, or gold.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 167 words

A bipolar electrosurgical apparatus comprising a pair of facing jaws that are relatively movable toward and away from one another: each of said jaws including a generally flat stick-resistant tissue contacting surface having a length defined by proximal and distal ends and a width defined by sides, said tissue contacting surface of each of said jaws being substantially identical in shape and in opposed relation to one another for contacting tissue located between said jaws as the jaws move toward one another; first and second electrodes for connection to different terminals of an RF generator to generate electrical current flow therebetween; one of said first and second electrodes being located on one or the other of said jaws on one side of said tissue contacting surface and the other of said electrodes being located on one or the other of said jaws on the other side of said tissue contacting surface; and whereby current flowing between said electrodes flows through tissue located between said tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 167 words

A bipolar electrosurgical apparatus comprising a pair of facing jaws that are relatively movable toward and away from one another: each of said jaws including a generally flat stick-resistant tissue contacting surface having a length defined by proximal and distal ends and a width defined by sides, said tissue contacting surface of each of said jaws being substantially identical in shape and in opposed relation to one another for contacting tissue located between said jaws as the jaws move toward one another; first and second electrodes for connection to different terminals of an RF generator to generate electrical current flow therebetween; one of said first and second electrodes being located on one or the other of said jaws on one side of said tissue contacting surface and the other of said electrodes being located on one or the other of said jaws on the other side of said tissue contacting surface; and whereby current flowing between said electrodes flows through tissue located between said tissue contacting surfaces.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 25 in which said tissue contacting surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene-polystyrene, polycarbonate, or ABS.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 25 in which said tissue contacting surface comprises a transparent material.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 50 words

The bipolar electrosurgical apparatus of claim 25 wherein the density of electrical current flow through the tissue grasped between said jaws is greater in the tissue disposed between said opposed tissue contacting surfaces than in the tissue in contact with said first electrodes or said second electrodes on said jaws.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the electrodes comprise a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, or gold.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-11	2004-01-10	2004-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-11	2008-01-10	2008-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-11	2012-01-10	2012-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Bipolar tissue grasping apparatus and tissue welding method

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