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Publication Number
US-12758298-B2
Publication Date
2026-10-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical instrument that will automatically clear any debris from a knife pathway in response to normal operation of the knife. The instrument has a pair of jaws formed from a first jaw member and a second jaw member that are pivotally mounted with respect to each other for movement between an open position and a closed position. The jaw members support sealing surfaces that have tracks formed therein to define a knife pathway for a knife blade used to sever sealed tissue that is trapped in the jaws. Each jaw member has a slot aligned with the distal end of the track to provide a point of egress for debris that accumulates in the knife track. As the knife is advanced along the knife pathway during normal operation, any debris will be driven toward the distal end of the knife pathway and out of the slots.
Core Innovation
The disclosed surgical instrument has a pair of pivoting jaws with sealing surfaces that each include a track. When the jaws are closed, the tracks align to define a knife pathway. A slot at the distal end of each jaw extends from its tip through the closed end of the corresponding track, placing the slot in communication with that track.
The described vessel sealer uses movement of a knife blade in the tracks to push debris through the communicating slots. The partial content also describes curved tracks and slots that extend beneath the sealing surfaces, reach at least halfway through the jaws, and are wider near the tracks than near the jaw tips. The supplied content does not include the background section, so its stated problem is not explicitly described.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover a surgical instrument with pivoting jaws, aligned tracks, and communicating distal slots, and a method of clearing debris from a vessel sealer. Five inventive features summarize the independent claims and the refinements described in the relevant dependent claims.
Pivoting jaws with aligned tracks and communicating slots
The surgical instrument has first and second jaw members that pivot between open and closed positions. Tracks in their sealing surfaces align in the closed position to define a knife pathway, and a distal slot in each jaw communicates with the closed end of its track.
Knife-driven debris removal
The method extends a knife blade within the tracks to push debris out through the first and second slots. The instrument claims also describe a knife blade movable toward the closed ends of the tracks and movement that ejects debris from at least one slot.
Slot placement and geometry
The dependent claims describe slots extending beneath the sealing surfaces and at least halfway through their respective jaw members. Each slot is narrower near the jaw tip and wider near its track.
Curved tracks
A dependent claim specifies that the first and second tracks are curved.
Slot-to-track communication during use
The dependent claims specify communication between each slot and its track end when the jaws are open and when they are closed with the knife fully extended, including during the debris-clearing operation.
The claims cover the jaw, track, knife-pathway, and slot arrangement, as well as using a knife blade to push debris out through the slots. Dependent claims further specify slot placement and dimensions, curved tracks, and slot-to-track communication in stated jaw and knife positions.
Stated Advantages
The knife blade pushes debris out through the slots during operation, clearing debris from the surgical instrument.
Documented Applications
A vessel sealer with pivoting jaws, sealing surfaces, tracks, and distal slots.
Clearing debris from a surgical instrument by extending a knife blade through the tracks to push debris out of the slots.
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