(19)
(11) EP 1 952 777 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
29.10.2008 Bulletin 2008/44

(43) Date of publication:
06.08.2008 Bulletin 2008/32

(21) Application number: 08006917.2

(22) Date of filing: 22.01.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61B 18/14(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IE IT

(30) Priority: 06.04.2001 WO PCT/US01/11340

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
02705907.0 / 1372511

(71) Applicant: Codivien AG
8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall (CH)

(72) Inventors:
  • Couture, Gary M.
    Longmont CO 80501 (US)
  • Dycus, Sean T.
    Broomfield CO 80020 (US)
  • James, Jeremy Scott
    Westminster CO 80031 (US)
  • Johnson, Kristin D.
    Louisville CO 80027 (US)
  • Moses, Michael C.
    Boulder CO 80304 (US)
  • Nguyen, Lap P.
    Longmont CO 80501 (US)
  • Schechter, David A.
    Longmont CO 80503 (US)
  • Shields, Chelsea
    Portland Oregon 97219 (US)
  • Tetzlaff, Philip Mark
    Austin TX 78749 (US)
  • Warzecha, Michael R.
    Longmont CO 80501 (US)

(74) Representative: HOFFMANN EITLE 
Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 07-04-2008 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Vessel sealer and divider


(57) An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:
a housing having an elongated shaft attached thereto, the elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
a longitudinally reciprocating knife assembly of severing tissue proximate the seal;
a handswitch attached to the housing allowing a user to selectively energize the jaw members; and
a pair of non-conductive stop members disposed on an inner facing surface of at least one of the jaw members and at least one additional stop member disposed on the same inner facing surface of the same jaw member positioned in spaced relation to said pair of non-conductive stop members, said non-conductive stop members being dimensioned to regulate the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween.