US5779701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bipolar endoscopic surgical scissor blades and instrument incorporating the same
Assignee: Boston Scientific Miami Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-27
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2015-04-27
Abstract
Abstract Endoscopic bipolar scissor blades are formed in a laminate assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer, an intermediate electrically insulating layer, and an inner face layer which is a coating of titanium dioxide, chromium dioxide, or zirconium dioxide. In one embodiment, the conductive layer is a metal blade, while the insulating material is a ceramic which is fixed to the metal blade. In a second preferred embodiment, the insulating layer and the inner face layer are applied simultaneously by coating the metal blade with a mixture of ceramic and titanium dioxide, chromium dioxide, or zirconium dioxide. In a third embodiment, the insulating layer is a molded ceramic blade, and the electrically conductive layer is metalized or otherwise fixed to the ceramic blade. In all embodiments, the cutting edges and shearing surfaces are insulated from the electrodes, and no short circuit can form between the electrodes even though the cutting edges and shearing surfaces are metal. Each of the embodiments may be applied to straight or curved scissor blades. A bipolar endoscopic instrument utilizing blades according to the invention is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Sean McBrayer
- 👤 Juergen Andrew Kortenbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1445; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/0088; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2945; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1412; A61B2018/1415; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/1432; A61B2018/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising: a) first and second blade members each comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, said inner face layer forming a shearing surface of said blade member; b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another; c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and d) means for applying a voltage between the outer electrically conductive layers of said first and second blade members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue comprising: a) first and second blade members each comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, said inner face layer forming a shearing surface of said blade member; b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members together with their respective shearing surfaces facing one another; c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and d) means for applying a voltage between the outer electrically conductive layers of said first and second blade members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: each of said first and second blade members further comprises an intermediate electrically insulative layer between said outer electrically conductive layer and said inner face layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is a ceramic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is alumina.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said inner face layer comprises titanium dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said outer conductive layer is applied to said intermediate electrically insulative layer by one of gluing, sputtering, metalizing, thermal spraying, and plating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein: said outer conductive layer and said intermediate electrically insulative layer are not coextensive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said inner face layer comprises a mixture of a ceramic and said element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein: said ceramic is alumina.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein: said inner face layer comprises a mixture of alumina and titanium dioxide in a ratio by weight of between 75/25 and 95/5 of said alumina to said titanium dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein: said ratio is approximately 87/13 of said alumina to said titanium dioxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members are curved.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said outer conductive layer is stainless steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: said outer conductive layer and said inner face layer are not coextensive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising: a) first and second blade members each having an inner shearing surface and a conductive portion, at least one of said blade members comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, and defining said inner shearing surface; b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members with their respective inner shearing surfaces facing one another; c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and d) means for applying a voltage between said conductive portions of said first and second blade members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue, comprising: a) first and second blade members each having an inner shearing surface and a conductive portion, at least one of said blade members comprising a laminated assembly of an outer electrically conductive layer and an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, and defining said inner shearing surface; b) means for pivotally joining said first and second blade members with their respective inner shearing surfaces facing one another; c) means coupled to at least one of said first and second blade members for imparting a scissors-like movement relative to the other of said first and second blade members; and d) means for applying a voltage between said conductive portions of said first and second blade members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said at least one of said blade members further comprises an intermediate electrically insulative layer between said outer electrically conductive layer and said inner face layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is a ceramic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is alumina.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said inner face layer comprises titanium dioxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said outer conductive layer is applied to said intermediate electrically insulative layer by one of gluing, sputtering, metalizing, thermal spraying, and plating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein: said outer conductive layer and said intermediate electrically insulative layer are not coextensive.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said inner face layer comprises a mixture of a ceramic and said element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 22, wherein: said ceramic is alumina.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 23, wherein: said inner face layer comprises a mixture of alumina and titanium dioxide in a ratio by weight of between 75/25 and 95/5 of said alumina to said titanium dioxide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 24, wherein: said ratio is approximately 87/13 of said alumina to said titanium dioxide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said shearing surfaces of said first and second blade members are curved.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said outer conductive layer is stainless steel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: said outer conductive layer and said inner face layer are not coextensive.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
69 words
An endoscopic scissor blade for use in a bipolar endoscopic instrument, said blade comprising: a) an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, and defining an inner shearing surface; b) an outer electrically conductive layer which is electrically insulated from said inner shearing surface; and d) means for coupling a source of voltage to said outer electrically conductive layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
69 words
An endoscopic scissor blade for use in a bipolar endoscopic instrument, said blade comprising: a) an inner face layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide, and defining an inner shearing surface; b) an outer electrically conductive layer which is electrically insulated from said inner shearing surface; and d) means for coupling a source of voltage to said outer electrically conductive layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 29, further comprising: e) means for pivotally mounting said scissor blade; and f) means for coupling said scissor blade to a means for imparting a pivotal movement to said scissor blade.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 29, further comprising: e) an intermediate electrically insulative layer between said outer electrically conductive layer and said inner face layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 31, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is a ceramic.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 32, wherein: said intermediate electrically insulative layer is alumina.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 31, wherein: said inner face layer comprises titanium dioxide.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 31, wherein: said outer conductive layer is applied to said intermediate electrically insulative layer by one of gluing, sputtering, metalizing, thermal spraying, and plating.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 31, wherein: said outer conductive layer and said intermediate electrically insulative layer are not coextensive.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 29, wherein: said inner face layer comprises a mixture of a ceramic and said element selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and chromium dioxide.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 37, wherein: said ceramic is alumina.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 38, wherein: said inner face layer comprises a mixture of alumina and titanium dioxide in a ratio by weight of between 75/25 and 95/5 of said alumina to said titanium dioxide.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument according to claim 39, wherein: said ratio is approximately 87/13 of said alumina to said titanium dioxide.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 29, wherein: said inner shearing surface is curved.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 29, wherein: said outer conductive layer is stainless steel.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscopic scissor blade according to claim 29, wherein: said outer conductive layer and said inner face layer are not coextensive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |