Surgical Instrument and Method for Use Thereof

Abstract

A surgical instrument for treating a tissue includes a handpiece and a tissue engaging portion arranged to be received by the handpiece. The tissue engaging portion includes first and second opposed jaw members having an open position and a closed position for engaging the tissue therebetween, where the first and second jaw members are arranged to receive surgical energy from a surgical generator. The tissue engaging portion further includes at least one cooling member spaced from at least one of the first and second jaw members, where the cooling member has an open position and a closed position for engaging the tissue. Positioning the jaw members in their closed position and applying surgical energy to the tissue allows for treatment of the tissue, and positioning the cooling member in its closed position provides at least one of a pressure gradient or a thermal gradient between the jaw members and the cooling member.

1 . A surgical instrument for treating a tissue, comprising:
 a handpiece; and   first and second opposed, electrically conductive cooling members having an open position and a closed position for engaging the tissue therebetween, the first and second cooling members containing a coolant and arranged to receive surgical energy from a surgical generator,   wherein positioning the cooling members in their closed position and applying surgical energy to the tissue allows for treatment of the tissue, and activating the coolant decreases the temperature of the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling members have an arm-like configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling members have a U-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling member comprises a first electrode and the second cooling member comprises a second electrode of opposite polarity from the first electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first actuator operably connected to the first and second cooling members for effecting movement thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump in communication with the first and second cooling members for circulating the coolant therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cooling members comprise a heat pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cooling members impart a Peltier effect. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor provided on the first and second cooling members.