| abstract |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bipolar electrosurgical instrument capable of fusing tissue without requiring a suture and a surgical clip. A bipolar electrosurgical instrument in which jaws are provided with opposing sealing surfaces for grasping blood vessels and vascular tissue. An open lockbox provides lateral support to the pivot and maintains lateral plane alignment. Ratchets provided on the inner and outer members of the instrument keep the closing force applied to the tissue constant during the sealing procedure. Each member shank portion is adjusted to provide an appropriate spring force that holds the sealing surface together. During surgery, the instrument is used to grab and clamp vascular tissue and pass a bipolar electrosurgical current through the clamped tissue. In one embodiment, the sealing surface is partially insulated to prevent a short circuit when the jaws are closed. In other embodiments, the sealing surface is removably attached to the jaws. [Selection] Figure 1 |