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Publication Number
US-12708428-B2
Publication Date
2026-08-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A scissor style vessel sealer having a first shaft interconnected to a first jaw by a pivot plate that pivotally couples the first shaft to the first jaw by the pivot and also by a spring that is secured at one end to the first shaft and an opposing end to the pivot plate at a location offset from the pivot and a second shaft connected to a second jaw and pivotally coupled to the first jaw by the pivot. The first shaft and the second shaft are then pivotable from a jaws open position to a jaw closed position. Any further application of force results in the first shaft pivoting relative to the first jaw so that the additional force is not transmitted to the jaws. The first shaft pivoting relative to the first jaw may actuate a button associated with the second shaft.
Core Innovation
A scissor style vessel sealer includes a first shaft interconnected to a first jaw by a pivot plate, where the pivot plate is pivotally coupled to the first shaft and to the first jaw by a pivot and is also coupled to the first shaft by a spring secured at one end to the first shaft and at an opposing end to the pivot plate at a location offset from the pivot. A second shaft is connected to a second jaw and pivotally coupled to the first jaw by the pivot of the pivot plate.
The first shaft is free to pivot relative to the first jaw about the pivot in response to a predetermined amount of force applied to the first shaft. The spring provides a spring bias that couples the first shaft to the first jaw so that when the predetermined amount of force is applied the first shaft pivots relative to the first jaw.
The force limiting is provided by the spring-biased, pivot plate arrangement that allows relative pivoting after jaws fully close, including pivoting in a third position beyond a closed position. Relative pivoting can cause the first shaft to contact the second shaft, and such contact can actuate a button coupled to a switch to provide user feedback and to trigger additional events.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00016. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on a pivot plate and spring-biased force limiting mechanism for a scissor style vessel sealer, where a first shaft can pivot relative to a first jaw in response to a predetermined amount of force, including a method of providing force limiting.
Spring-biased pivot plate coupling a first shaft to a first jaw
A scissor style vessel sealer comprising a first shaft interconnected to a first jaw by a pivot plate, where the pivot plate is pivotally coupled to the first shaft and to the first jaw by a pivot and is also coupled to the first shaft by a spring secured at one end to the first shaft and at an opposing end to the pivot plate at a location offset from the pivot.
Free relative pivoting of the first shaft in response to predetermined force
A scissor style vessel sealer, comprising a first shaft interconnected to a first jaw by a pivot and a second shaft connected to a second jaw and pivotally coupled to the first jaw by the pivot, wherein the first shaft is free to pivot relative to the first jaw about the pivot in response to a predetermined amount of force applied to the first shaft.
Method of providing force limiting using an offset spring-biased pivot plate
A method of providing force limiting to a scissor style vessel sealer, comprising providing a first shaft interconnected to a first jaw by a pivot plate pivotally coupling the first shaft to the first jaw by a pivot connecting the first jaw to the pivot plate and also by a spring secured at one end to the first shaft and an opposing end to the pivot plate at a location offset from the pivot, and providing a second shaft connected to a second jaw and pivotally coupled to the first jaw by the pivot.
The claim set covers apparatus and method forms of a scissor style vessel sealer that uses a pivot plate and a spring offset from the pivot to bias coupling, so that a predetermined amount of force enables the first shaft to pivot relative to the first jaw for force limiting.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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