Abstract: A surgical instrument for performing three functions at the tip of a tube. The first function is for suction or irrigation of an area where surgery is being performed. The tubing can have a vacuum attached for sucking solid particles, liquids, gases or smoke from the area adjacent the end of the tubing. The tubing may also be used to pump fluids into the area adjacent the end of the tube to flush the area or apply a treatment. The tubing has an electrical current such that when the tube is applied to blood it will coagulate the blood. The tubing also has a cutting electrode for electrically cutting tissue. The cutting electrode extends out from the lumen of the tube and retracts therein when not in use. Therefore a surgeon has three instruments compactly arranged at his disposal at the distal end of the tube. Since the tube can be made long and thin it is useful when operating in a limited space and can be used in laparascopic or other microsurgeries. The tube is malleable for shaping it for ease of use.

Abstract: An electrosurgical coagulation instrument specifically designed to be insertable through a cannula for use in coagulating tissue during a laparoscopic or other scope-type procedure. The instrument has both bipolar forceps jaw paddles and bipolar needle electrodes. The needle electrodes are selectively extendable from the distal end of the instrument by manipulation of a knob member in a proximal handle. The needle electrodes can be extended to thereby enter certain tissue such as a tumor to thereby effectuate desiccation thereof and a gradual shrinkage.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical cutting and coagulating instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue in open surgery. The instrument comprises a handle member from which an electrically conductive first forceps rod and an electrically conductive second forceps rod extend in opposing relationship to each other. An electrically conductive wire extends from the handle member to reside within a longitudinal lumen of the second forceps rod. The first forceps rod is partially movable proximally within the handle member wherein a movable electrical conduit resides. Proximal movement of the first forceps rod causes the rod to contact and move the conduit which, in turn, causes distal movement of the conductive wire with which the conduit is in contact. Such distal wire movement causes the distal end of the wire to extend distally from the second forceps rod.

Abstract: A surgical scissors instrument having disposed at its distal end two bipolar electrode structures which function to coagulate tissue immediately prior to its being severed by scissor action. The instrument comprises a first scissors blade having a distal end and a second scissors blade having a distal end, wherein at least one of the blades is pivotable in relation to the other blade. A first electrically insulated bipolar electrode structure is disposed longitudinally distally from the distal end of the first scissors blade, and a second electrically insulated bipolar electrode structure is disposed longitudinally distally from the distal end of the second scissors blade. The instrument thereby permits a physician to precisely apply electrical energy only at the distal end of the scissor's blades, and to thereafter immediately cut coagulated tissue situated immediately forward of the blade members.

Abstract: A cutting coagulating bipolar electrosurgical forceps having a pair of jaws that can be moved from an opened to a closed disposition on tissue when grasping and coagulating. The jaws include a plurality of notched or opposed side edges thereof which define a plurality of tabs. The tabs on the first jaw member are offset relative to those of the second jaw member so that when the jaws are made to close, the tabs on the first jaw fall into the notches on the second jaw with the free ends of the tabs on corresponding side edges of each jaw member disposed collinearly relative to one another, but without making electrical contact between the pair of jaws.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tubular tissue structures, especially tubular ones, includes a pair of spaced-apart electrodes that are stationarily mounted at the distal end of an elongated tubular barrel. A hook-shaped cutting member has an incline segment thereon for cooperating with a ramp formed at the distal end of the instrument. A tubular body structure to be severed is first brought into contact with electrodes and subjected to a RF current sufficient to coagulate and seal the same. Actuation of a lever on the instrument's handle causes the hook-shaped cutting member to deflect into a space containing the tissue structure and with continued actuation in a proximal direction causing a cutting edge on the hook of the cutting member to pass through and sever the tissue structure.

Abstract: A bipolar biopsy device comprising two biopsy tissue collecting receptacles wherein at least one biopsy tissue collecting receptacle is pivotable in relation to the other and wherein each biopsy tissue collecting receptacle supports an electrode portion thereon to which current can flow and a cutting edge that is electrically insulated from the electrode portion. The electrode portion coagulates the tissue surrounding the cutting portion. The cut tissue sample is retained within the receptacles so that it maybe removed for biopsy purposes. Preferably, each biopsy receptacle is individually pivotable in relation to the other and the device is dimensioned to have utility in endoscopic or similar procedures.

Abstract: The present invention is a electrosurgical device having an elongated tubular member with a cutting and coagulating arrangement at its distal end and a handle at its proximal end. The coagulating and cutting instrument consists of two electrode jaw members with cutting blade extending therebetween. The cutting blade is connected to a movable rod extending through the lumen of the tubular member. A first and second conductor pair extend through the lumen of the tubular member in a spaced apart parallel arrangement with the cutting instrument and its movable rod extending therebetween. The first and second conductor pairs form the forceps jaws. The forceps jaws have a slot for receiving the cutting instrument therebetween. The handle member affixed to the proximal end of the tubular member includes a selector switch used for selecting a mode of movement of the jaws so that either unidirectional mode or a bidirectional mode can be selected.

Abstract: An adapter for interfacing a bipolar electrosurgical instrument to a monopolar electrosurgical generator comprises a pair of connectors, one having a single monopolar contact and the other having a pair of bipolar contacts is disposed between the active output terminal of the monopolar electrosurgical generator and the bipolar electrosurgical instrument. The adapter is configured to electrically connect the bipolar contacts at one end of the adapter in common with the monopolar contact at the other end. In accordance with a further embodiment, an electrical switch is provided on the electrosurgical instrument to selectively connecting both electrodes of the bipolar electrosurgical instrument to a single monopolar contact design to make with the monopolar electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical scissors for use in open or endoscopic surgery has a pair of opposed metal blade members pivotally joined to one another and to the distal end of the scissors itself by a rivet. Each of the blade members comprises a cutting blade having an electrode on the non-shearing surface. An intermediate insulative coating is disposed between each cutting blade and its associated electrode coating. The cutting blade is preferably fabricated from metal such as stainless steel and the electrode coating comprises metal traces deposited thereon through a mask to yield a desired pattern extending along but separated from the blade's cutting edge. Cutting is performed, steel-on-steel, without causing a short circuit between the blades which themselves may function as one of the bipolar electrodes.

Abstract: A hand operable bipolar scissors instrument comprising two interfacing pivotal blade members which are each an electrode electrically insulated from the other and individually pivotable in relation to each other. Each blade member comprises a substrate base upon which a layer of non-conductive material is secured on the interior surface thereof so that the non-conductive material of each blade member interfaces with that of the other at the meeting surfaces.

Abstract: A hand operable bipolar forceps instrument comprising two interfacing pivotal blade member's which are each an electrode individually pivotable in relation to each other. Pivotal movement of the blades is effectuated by two respective electrically-conductive rigid rods, each coupled to a respective blade member, extending through an elongated tubular member having disposed at its proximal end a scissors type handle whose hand operation causes the blade members to pivot in relation to each other. The rods are connectable proximally to an energy source to thereby electrically activate the blade members.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical device for coagulating and cutting tissue has an elongated tubular member from which a bipolar tissue cutting forceps and cutting instrument extends at the distal end. The cutting instrument is connected to a moveable rod extending through the lumen of the tubular member. A first and second conductor pair extend in spaced apart parallel arrangement to allow the cutting instrument and its moveable rod to extend therebetween. The first and second conductor pairs are operatively connected to the forceps jaws. A moveable guide member is disposed within the lumen of the elongated tubular member and has means for selectively engaging the first and second conductor pairs for closing and opening jaws of the forceps. The forceps jaws have a slot for receiving the cutting instrument therebetween. A handle member is fixed to the proximal end of the first tubular member.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical scissors instrument comprising a proximal portion having a proximal linear axis and a distal blade portion having blade members with a nonlinear axis in relation to the proximal linear axis. The blade members each comprise an electrically conductive outer surface and an electrically nonconductive inner surface, with the inner surface comprising a ceramic layer having a honed cutting edge. At least one, and preferably both, of the blade members can pivot in relation to each other. Pivoting of the blade members causes the honed cutting edge of the first blade member to wipe the honed cutting edge of the second blade member to thereby cause separation of tissue therebetween. The blade members in one preferred embodiment are curved in relation to the proximal linear axis, while the blade members in a second preferred embodiment are angled in relation to the proximal linear axis.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical scissors for use in open or endoscopic surgery has a pair of opposed blade members pivotally joined to one another and to the distal end of the scissors itself by a rivet which extends through a insulated bushing member. Each of the blade members comprises a blade support and a blade itself, each fabricated from metal, such as stainless steel. The blades are affixed to their associated supports by means of a suitable adhesive or adhesive composite material such as a fiberglass reinforced epoxy exhibiting dielectric properties. Cutting is performed, steel-on-steel, without causing a short circuit between the two blade supports which themselves function as the bipolar electrodes.

Abstract: A bipolar coagulation instrument comprising three concentric tubes, wherein the outer tube is generally rigid, the central tube is an electrically conductive metal in communication with an energy source, and the inner tube is electrically non-conductive. The distal end of the central tube extends beyond the distal end of the outer tube and functions as an electrode and first jaw of the coagulation instrument. The inner tube, which is translationally movable by an operator, has extending therethrough within its lumen a conductive lead whose distal end protrudes distally therefrom beyond the distal end of the outer tube and is configured at its distal end to function as an opposing second jaw to the first jaw. Translational movement of the inner tube distally forces the second electrode jaw toward the first electrode jaw to thereby bring the first and second jaws into contact with each other.

Abstract: A hand operable bipolar combination scissors and forceps instrument. The instrument comprises two interfacing blade members wherein at least one blade member is pivotable in relation to the other blade member and wherein each blade member is an electrode to which current can flow. Each blade member is shaped to cooperate with the other blade member to thereby form a distal forceps portion and a proximal scissors portion wherein the respective scissors portions are electrically insulated from each other along their interfacing surfaces. Preferably, each blade member is individually pivotable in relation to the other blade member, and the instrument is dimensioned to have utility in endoscopic or other similar procedures.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for the removal of tissue polyps and the like is disclosed. It features a bipolar pair of conductive electrodes for the cutting of tissue in which at least one electrode is moveable in relation to the other. These electrodes are mounted relative to an insulating plug, which is secured at the distal end of a tubular member. Pressure exerted on a thumb loop shifts the position of one electrode relative to the other. Upon application of RF voltage, the distance at which the electrodes are placed controls the amount of arcing which will occur between electrodes, when placed within a proper range. The electrodes are supplied with power from a standard RF energy source, controlled from a foot or hand switch. The insulating plug may further include metal traces disposed on the peripheral surface. When energized, these traces function as a bipolar pair of electrodes for effecting electrocoagulation of tissue and blood.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical scalpel comprising a handle having a pair of loop electrodes extending outwardly from the distal end thereof in parallel, spaced relation, such that the spacing defines a dielectric such as an air gap therebetween. When a RF voltage of a predetermined amplitude is applied across the two electrodes and they are drawn across tissue, cutting occurs by virtue of the arc established between the two electrodes. The electrodes may be formed from tungsten wire to withstand high operating temperatures and are sufficiently rigid to withstand the pressure forces encountered during electrosurgery without shorting together across the gap. The electrodes may be formed in various shapes, depending upon the nature of the cutting desired. Possible configurations include open rounded loops, open elongated loops, open triangular-shaped loops, L- or J-shaped hooks.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical scissors for use in open or endoscopic surgery has a pair of opposed blade members pivotally joined to one another and to the distal end of the scissors itself by a rivet which extends through a insulated bushing member. Each of the blade members comprises a blade support and a blade itself, each fabricated from metal, such as stainless steel. The blades are affixed to their associated supports by means of a suitable adhesive or adhesive composite material such as a fiberglass reinforced epoxy exhibiting dielectric properties. Cutting is performed, steel-on-steel, without causing a short circuit between the two blade supports which themselves function as the bipolar electrodes.