Electrosurgical bipolar forceps with a rocking jaw part

Abstract

The invention relates to electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) comprising a clamping arrangement (20) formed by a first, in particular lower, jaw part (40) and a second, in particular upper, jaw part, wherein, according to the invention, the first jaw part (40) comprises an electrically conductive, in particular metal, carrier part (50) and an electrically conductive, in particular metal, rocker part (54) mounted on the carrier part (50) so as to be pivotable about a rocker axis (52), wherein a through-hole (58) of the rocker part (54), comprising the rocker axis (52), is aligned with a through-hole (56) of the carrier part (50) comprising the rocker axis (52), and an electrically conductive, in particular metal, sleeve (60) is accommodated in the through-holes (56, 58), and wherein the rocker part (54) of the first jaw part (40) is pretensioned by means of a spring mechanism (80) in a distal direction towards the second jaw part (46), in particular upwards, in relation to the rocker axis (52).

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] Aesculap AG

[0003] At Aesculap Square

[0004] 78532 Tuttlingen

[0005] General Power of Attorney: 752190 . 9

[0006] 03920014WO 17.09.2025

[0007] BUR / MAY

[0008] Title: Electrosurgical bipolar forceps with a rocking motion

[0009] mouth part

[0010] Description

[0011] The disclosure relates to an electrosurgical bipolar forceps for preparation, in particular grasping and / or cutting and / or sealing of tissue and / or vessels in surgical applications.

[0012] Such an electrosurgical bipolar forceps comprises a first arm and a second arm, the arms being pivotally mounted relative to each other by a swivel joint. Distally extending from the swivel joint, the forceps have a clamping arrangement with a first clamping surface forming a first electrode and a second clamping surface forming a second electrode. Proximal extending from the swivel joint, the forceps have a handle for user operation. The distal direction refers to the direction away from the user during intended use, and the proximal direction refers to the direction towards the user.

[0013] Electrosurgical bipolar forceps are generally known as surgical sealing and cutting instruments. For sealing, tissue or vessels held between the clamping surfaces of the clamping assembly are subjected to a high-frequency (HF) current flowing between electrodes on the two clamping surfaces. A mechanical blade is used for cutting.

[0014] The first arm of the pliers comprises a first, in particular lower, jaw section, and the second arm of the pliers comprises a second, in particular upper, jaw section. The clamping arrangement is formed by the first and the second jaw sections. The pliers are designed such that the clamping surfaces, and thus the electrodes of the clamping arrangement, move away from each other when the pliers are opened and towards each other when the pliers are closed.

[0015] The present disclosure is based on the objective of providing an improved clamping arrangement. In particular, the handling of the pliers is to be improved and reliable operation is to be ensured.

[0016] According to the invention, the first jaw part comprises an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, support part and an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, rocker part pivotably mounted on the support part about a rocker axis, wherein a through-bore of the rocker part encompassing the rocker axis is aligned with a through-bore of the support part encompassing the rocker axis, and a sleeve is received in the through-bores, and wherein the rocker part of the first jaw part is biased distally to the second jaw part with respect to the rocker axis, in particular upwards, by means of a spring mechanism. The rocker-like arrangement of the rocker part on the support part facilitates the grasping of tissue or vessels by allowing a front section of the rocker part of the first jaw part to pivot upwards distally.The second jaw section is pre-tensioned, thereby reducing the distal distance between the clamping surfaces of the two jaw sections. This ensures that when the forceps are closed, the two distal clamping surfaces make contact first. This allows for compensation of vessel or tissue thickness during grasping and prevents the vessel or tissue from being pushed forward out of the clamping arrangement when the forceps are closed.

[0017] When a sufficiently high clamping force is applied to the clamping arrangement, the clamping surfaces align themselves parallel or at least almost parallel to each other, so that a uniform force distribution for surface pressure over the clamping surfaces is enabled and thus the most uniform sealing possible can be achieved.

[0018] The sleeve, in conjunction with the through-holes, provides the rocker-like support for the rocker arm. Furthermore, the sleeve enables current flow from the carrier part and the sleeve to the rocker arm. In this way, despite the multi-part design of the first jaw section, reliable current flow to the electrode, formed by the first clamping surface on the rocker arm of the first jaw section, is ensured. The energy is supplied from an RF power source via an electrical conductor, in particular a cable, to the clamp and within the clamp via instrument branches connected to the jaw sections.

[0019] To provide the rocker-like bearing, it is sufficient if the sleeve is movably mounted in the through-holes, either relative to the through-hole of the rocker part or relative to the through-hole of the support part. With the respective other

[0020] The sleeve can be fixed in the through-hole, for example, by being pressed in. Even if the sleeve is movably mounted relative to both through-holes of the carrier part, reliable current conduction can be ensured. For example, it is designed so that when the pliers are closed, by applying a sufficiently high clamping force to the clamping arrangement of the jaws, the sleeve can be pressed against the carrier part by the force acting on the rocker part, thus providing an electrically conductive connection from the carrier part via the sleeve to the rocker part. Due to the design, an electrically conductive contact from the carrier part via the sleeve to the rocker part can be permanently present, even when the pliers are open. This can be the case, in particular, if the sleeve is mounted without play in the through-holes.In any case, pressing the sleeve against the carrier part using the rocker arm can improve the contact, thus providing improved electrically conductive contact and therefore ensuring reliable current flow.

[0021] A captive arrangement of rocker part and support part can be achieved, for example, by fixing, in particular pressing, the sleeve into one of the through holes of rocker part and support part, wherein this through hole then has a smaller diameter than the respective other through hole.

[0022] Another embodiment provides that a plastic pin, particularly one hot-riveted, is inserted through the sleeve, securely holding the rocker arm, the sleeve, and the support part together. The plastic pin is formed, for example, by a suitable forming process. The plastic pin comprises, for example, a rivet head, particularly a setting head, and a locking head on both sides outside the through-holes. The hot riveting, especially of the locking head, creates a permanent, positive-locking connection and thus provides reliable protection against loss. The plastic pin is made, for example, of a thermoplastic polymer material, such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PA (polyamide), POM (polyoxymethylene), or PEEK (polyetheretherketone).

[0023] It can be advantageous if the plastic pin, which is particularly hot-riveted, is fused to an insulating cover, especially also made of a thermoplastic polymer material, of the carrier part. For example, a locking head of the plastic pin can be fused to the insulating cover. The insulating cover of the carrier part provides thermal and / or electrical insulation and serves to protect surrounding tissue that should not be damaged when using the pliers.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, the spring mechanism comprises a distal and a proximal section with respect to the rocker axis, and a connecting section linking the distal and proximal sections across the rocker axis. The spring mechanism comprises, for example, a spring, in particular a flat spring, with a distal and a proximal section, in particular a flat section, and a curved connecting section. The spring mechanism is arranged, for example, between the rocker part and the support part. As long as the rocker axis, for example, the sleeve and / or the plastic pin, prevents the support part and rocker part from being lost, the spring mechanism is also arranged in a way that prevents loss. It can further be provided that the spring mechanism is attached to the support part proximally with respect to the rocker axis by means of the proximal section.The proximal section includes, for example, a recess, particularly a through-hole, which interacts with a complementary projection of the support part. Attachment is achieved, for example, by welding, soldering, or adhesive bonding. The distal section serves to pre-tension the rocker arm. Proximal attachment with respect to the rocker axis improves the captive fastening of the spring mechanism by securing it to the support part of the first jaw section. Proximal attachment also simplifies assembly, as the spring is already held in place by the support part before the rocker arm is mounted, thus preventing it from being lost during this assembly step.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment, the support part comprises two aligned through-holes, and the through-hole of the rocker part is arranged between the two through-holes of the support part. Advantageously, at least a portion of the connecting section is slotted and designed to receive the section of the rocker part in which the through-hole is provided. This means that the section of the rocker part with the through-hole penetrates the slot provided in the connecting section of the spring mechanism.

[0026] Alternatively, the rocker section can also include two aligned through-holes, so that the through-hole of the support section is then arranged between the two through-holes of the rocker section. In this case, the plastic pin can be fused with an insulating cover of the rocker section. In this case, the connecting section of the spring mechanism is advantageously at least partially tapered, i.e., it has a smaller lateral dimension than the proximal and distal sections of the spring mechanism.

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment, the rocker arm comprises an insulating cover, in particular an overmolding. The insulating cover is made of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic polymer material. The insulating overmolding serves for thermal and / or electrical insulation to the outside. According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one spacer and / or several spacers are arranged on the first clamping surface of the first jaw part formed by the rocker arm and / or on a second clamping surface formed by the second jaw part. The spacer(s) are, in particular, non-conductive spacers, for example made of ceramic or another suitable material, which, in the closed state of the instrument, create a defined gap between the two clamping surfaces and thus between the two electrodes.

[0028] Further embodiments relate to a method for manufacturing an electrosurgical bipolar forceps according to the described embodiments or for manufacturing parts of the electrosurgical bipolar forceps.

[0029] The process includes the following steps:

[0030] - Arranging the rocker part of the first jaw part on the support part of the first jaw part, such that a through-hole of the first rocker part aligns with a through-hole of the support part,

[0031] - Arranging a sleeve in the through holes,

[0032] - Passing a plastic stiff through the sleeve and forming, in particular riveting the plastic stiff in a forming process, in particular a hot riveting process.

[0033] It can prove advantageous if the plastic pin, in particular a rivet head, of the plastic stiff fuses with the insulating cover of the carrier part in the forming process, in particular hot riveting.

[0034] The method may further include a step for providing the insulating cover of the support part, in particular by pressing the insulating cover to the support part and / or by pressing components of the insulating cover together. This step may be carried out in particular before arranging and connecting the rocker part and the support part.

[0035] The method may further include a step to arrange the spring mechanism on the support part and connect a proximal section of the spring mechanism to the support part. This step may, in particular, be performed before arranging and connecting the rocker part and the support part.

[0036] The method can further include a step for arranging at least one spacer and / or several spacers on the first clamping surface formed by the rocker part of the first jaw part and / or on a second clamping surface formed by the second jaw part. This step can be carried out, in particular, before arranging and connecting the rocker part and the support part.

[0037] The process can further include a step for providing the insulating cover, in particular an overmolding, of the rocker element. The insulating cover can, for example, be produced by overmolding the rocker element as an insert in an injection molding process. This step can be carried out, in particular, before arranging and joining the rocker element and the support element.

[0038] Further advantages will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. Here, the same reference numerals in different figures denote identical or at least functionally comparable elements. When describing individual figures, reference is also made, where appropriate, to elements from other figures. Figure 1 shows, in schematic form, an electrosurgical bipolar forceps according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0039] Figs. 2 to 8 are detailed views of the electrosurgical bipolar forceps from Fig. 1;

[0040] Fig. 9 a) - d) Exemplary process steps of a method for manufacturing an electrosurgical bipolar forceps according to Fig. 1.

[0041] Figure 1 shows an electrosurgical bipolar forceps 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. The forceps are used, for example, for dissecting, in particular grasping and / or cutting and / or sealing tissue and / or vessels in surgical applications.

[0042] The pliers 10 comprise a first leg 12 and a second leg 14, the legs being pivotably mounted relative to each other by a pivot joint 16. In the distal direction 18 extending from the pivot joint 16, the pliers 10 have a clamping arrangement 20 with at least one first clamping surface 24 forming a first electrode 22 and at least one second clamping surface 28 forming a second electrode 26. In the proximal direction 30 extending from the pivot joint 16, the pliers 10 have a handle arrangement 32 for handling the pliers 10 by a user.

[0043] For sealing, tissue held between the clamping surfaces 24, 28 of the clamping arrangement 20 is subjected to a high-frequency (HF) current flowing between the electrodes 22, 26 on the two clamping surfaces 24, 28. The energy supply from an HF power source to the forceps 10 is provided, for example, via an electrical line 34, in particular a cable. A mechanical blade (not shown) is used for cutting. Figure 2 shows a jaw assembly 36 of the forceps 10. The jaw assembly 36 forms, so to speak, the basic framework of the first and second arms of the forceps 10. The jaw assembly 36 comprises a first jaw assembly 38 with a first, in particular lower, jaw 40 and a first instrument branch 42, and a second jaw assembly 44 with a second, in particular upper, jaw 46 and a second instrument branch 48.The first jaw assembly 38 is assigned to the first leg 12 and the second jaw assembly 44 is assigned to the second leg 14, respectively, each being a part of the first or the second leg 12, 14 thereof. Figure 3 shows the first jaw assembly 38 in an isolated view.

[0044] The clamping arrangement 20 is formed by the first and second jaw parts 40, 46. The pliers 10 are designed such that the clamping surfaces 24, 28 and thus the electrodes 22, 26 of the clamping arrangement 20 move away from each other when the jaws 12, 14 are opened and move towards each other when the pliers 10 are closed.

[0045] According to the illustrated embodiments, the first jaw part 40 comprises a metallic support part 50 and a metallic rocker part 54 pivotably mounted on the support part 50 about a rocker axis 52, see Fig. 3.

[0046] The rocking bearing is explained below with reference to figures 4 to 8, which show various detailed views of the first jaw part 40 or parts thereof.

[0047] Figure 4 shows the carrier part 50 and an associated insulating cover 70 in an exploded view. The insulating cover 70 encloses the carrier part 50 in an approximately semi-shell-like manner according to the illustrated embodiment, see Figure 3. Figure 5 shows the rocker part 54 and an associated insulating cover 72 in an exploded view. In this example, the insulating cover 72 of the rocker part 54 is designed as an overmolding, whereby at least side surfaces 74 of the rocker part 54 are insulated, see Figure 6. The first clamping surface 24 or the electrode 22 of the first jaw part 40 is formed in this example by a surface 76 on a top surface 78 of the rocker part 54.On the first clamping surface 24 of the first jaw part 40 formed by the rocker part 54, several spacers are arranged which, in the closed state of the instrument, create a defined gap between the two clamping surfaces 24, 28 and thus between the two electrodes 22, 26.

[0048] In the following figures, the support part 50 and the rocker part 54 are shown partly without the insulating covers 70, 72 for the purpose of representing and illustrating components hidden by them.

[0049] Figure 6 shows the first jaw part 40 in an exploded view. The support part 50 includes two through-holes 56 and the rocker part 54 includes one through-hole 58. The through-holes 56 and 58 each encompass the rocker axis 52. The rocker axis 52 can, but does not necessarily have to, run concentrically through the through-holes 56 and 58.

[0050] A metallic sleeve 60 is received in the through-holes 56, 58. The sleeve 60, in conjunction with the through-holes 56, 58, provides the rocker-like support for the rocker section. Furthermore, the sleeve enables current to flow from the support section 50 and the sleeve 60 to the rocker section 54. In this way, despite the multi-part design of the first jaw section 40, a reliable current flow to the electrode 22, formed by the first clamping surface 24 on the rocker section 54 of the first jaw section 40, can be ensured. The energy supply is provided from an RF power source (not shown) via the cable 34 to the clamp 10 and, within the clamp 10, via instrument branches 42, 48 connected to the jaw sections 40, 46, to the jaw sections 40, 46.

[0051] According to the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 60, the support part 50 and the rocker part 54 are held together securely by a hot-riveted plastic pin 62 inserted through the sleeve 60.

[0052] In the example, the plastic pin 62 comprises a rivet head 64, in particular a setting head 66 and a locking head 68, on both sides outside the through holes 56. In the example, the hot-riveted plastic pin 62, namely the locking head 68 of the plastic stiff s 62, is fused with the insulating cover 70 of the carrier part.

[0053] According to the illustrated embodiment, the first jaw part 40 comprises a spring mechanism 80. By means of the spring mechanism 80, the rocker arm 54 of the first jaw part 40 is biased distally towards the second jaw part 46 with respect to the rocker axis 52, in particular upwards, cf. Fig. 7. This arrangement reduces the distal distance between the clamping surfaces 24, 28 of the clamping arrangement 20 of the two jaw parts 40, 46, so that when the pliers 10 are closed, the two clamping surfaces 24, 28 make contact distally first.

[0054] When a sufficiently high clamping force is applied to the clamping arrangement 20, the clamping surfaces 24, 28 align themselves parallel or at least almost parallel to each other, so that a uniform force distribution for surface pressure over the clamping surfaces 24, 28 is enabled, cf. Fig. 2.

[0055] According to the illustrated embodiment, the spring mechanism 80 is designed as a flat spring, see Fig. 8. The flat spring 80 comprises, with respect to the rocker axis 52, a distal section 82, in particular a flat section, and a proximal section 84, in particular a flat section, and a curved connecting section connecting the distal section 82 and the proximal section 84 across the rocker axis. The flat spring 80 is attached to the support part 50 proximally with respect to the rocker axis 52 by means of the proximal section 84. The proximal section includes suitable means for attachment, for example, a through-opening 86, which interacts with a suitable projection 88 of the support part 50 engaging therein. The distal section 82 provides the distal preload of the rocker part. A connecting part 90 is formed between the distal section 82 and the proximal section 84 of the flat spring.In the example, the connecting part 90 is curved along the perimeters 92 of the through holes 56 of the support part 50.

[0056] Figure 9 illustrates the steps for manufacturing a pair of pliers 10.

[0057] According to Fig. 9 a), the rocker part 54 of the first jaw part 40 is first arranged on the support part 50 of the first jaw part 40, such that the through bore 58 of the first rocker part 54 is aligned with the through bores 56 of the support part 50.

[0058] According to Fig. 9 b), the sleeve 60 is arranged in the through bores 56, 58 of rocker part 54 and support part 50.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 9c), the plastic pin 62 is inserted through the sleeve 60. On one side of the through-holes 56 is the pre-fabricated setting head 66 of the plastic stiff s 62.

[0060] According to Fig. 9 d ) on the other side of the through holes 56 the locking head 68 is formed in a hot riveting process and the plastic pin 62 is riveted in place.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) with a first arm (12) and a second arm (14), wherein the arms (12) are pivotably mounted relative to one another by a pivot joint (16), wherein the forceps (10) has a clamping arrangement (20) extending distally (18) from the pivot joint (16) with a first clamping surface (24) forming a first electrode (22) and a second clamping surface (28) forming a second electrode (26), and wherein the forceps (10) has a handle arrangement (32) extending proximally (30) from the pivot joint (16) for handling the forceps (10) by a user, wherein the first arm (12) comprises a first, in particular lower, jaw section (40) and the second arm (14) comprises a second, in particular upper, jaw section, and the clamping arrangement (20) is formed by the first and the second jaw section. (40, 46) is formed, characterized in that the first jaw part (40) is an electrically conductive, in particular metallic,The support part (50) comprises an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, rocker part (54) pivotably mounted on the support part (50) about a rocker axis (52), wherein a through-bore (58) of the rocker part (54) encompassing the rocker axis (52) is aligned with a through-bore (56) of the support part (50) encompassing the rocker axis (52), and an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, sleeve (60) is received in the through-bores (56, 58), and wherein the rocker part (54) of the first jaw part (40) is biased distally to the second jaw part (46) with respect to the rocker axis (52), in particular upwards, by means of a spring mechanism (80).

2. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to claim 1, wherein in a closed state of the forceps (10) by applying a sufficiently high clamping force to the clamping arrangement (20) of the jaw parts (40, 46), the sleeve (60) can be pressed against the carrier part (50) by the force acting on the rocker part (54), and thus an electrically conductive connection from the carrier part (50) via the sleeve (60) to the rocker part (54) can be provided.

3. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein a plastic pin (62), in particular hot-riveted, is inserted through the sleeve (60) which holds the rocker part (54), the sleeve (60) and the carrier part (50) together in a loss-proof manner.

4. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to claim 3, wherein the plastic pin (62) is at least partially fused with an insulating cover (70) of the carrier part (50).

5. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring mechanism (80) comprises a distal section (82) and a proximal section (84) with respect to the rocker axis (52), and in particular the spring mechanism (80) with the proximal section (84) is attached proximally to the carrier part (50) with respect to the rocker axis (52).

6. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier part (50) comprises two aligned through holes (56), and the through hole (58) of the rocker part (54) is arranged between the two through holes (56) of the carrier part (50).

7. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rocker arm (54) is a insulating cover (72), in particular overmolding, comprises .

8. Electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spacer (94) and / or several spacers (94) are arranged on a first clamping surface (24) of the first jaw part (40) formed by the rocker part (54) and / or on a second clamping surface (26) formed by the second jaw part (46).

9. Method for manufacturing an electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in particular for manufacturing components of the electrosurgical bipolar forceps (10), the method comprising the following steps: - Arranging the rocker part (54) of the first jaw part (40) on the support part (50) of the first jaw part (40) such that a through-hole (58) of the rocker part (54) is aligned with a through-hole (56) of the support part (50), - Arranging a sleeve (60) in the through holes (56, 58) , - Inserting a plastic stiffener (62) through the sleeve (60) and forming, in particular riveting, the plastic stiffener in a forming die, in particular a He iß niet verfahr en .

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the plastic pin (62), in particular a rivet head (64), of the plastic stiff (62) is fused with the insulating cover (70) of the carrier part (50) in the forming process, in particular hot riveting process.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a step for providing the insulating cover (70) of the carrier part (50), in particular by pressing the insulating cover (70) with the carrier part (50) and / or by pressing components of the insulating cover together (70) .

12. Method according to claim one of claims 9 to 11, comprising a step for arranging a spring mechanism (80) on the support part (50) , and in particular connecting a proximal section (84) of the spring mechanism (80) to the support part (50) .

13. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, comprising a step for arranging at least one spacer (94) and / or several spacers (94) on the first clamping surface (24) formed by the rocker part (54) of the first jaw part (40) and / or on a second clamping surface (28) formed by the second jaw part (46).

14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, comprising a step for providing an insulating cover for the rocker part.

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