Latching mechanism for in-line activated electrosurgical device

Abstract

A surgical device includes a housing, an elongated shaft, an end effector, and an actuation mechanism. The housing pivotally supports a movable handle between unactuated, first actuated, and a second actuated positions. The elongated shaft extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector has a pair of opposed jaw members that are movable between an open configuration in which the jaw members are spaced apart from one another and a closed configuration in which the jaw members are closer together. The actuation mechanism is configured to transition the end effector between the open and closed configurations as the movable handle is pivoted between the unactuated and first actuated positions and to maintain the end effector in the closed configuration when the moveable handle is between the first and second actuated positions.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of sealing tissue with a surgical device, the method comprising:
 positioning targeted tissue between jaw members of an end effector of a surgical device with the jaw members in an open configuration;   compressing a movable handle of the surgical device from an unactuated position to a first actuated position such that the jaw members are transitioned to a clamped configuration, the surgical device maintaining the jaw members in the clamped configuration when the movable handle is in the first actuated position; and   compressing the movable handle from the first actuated position to a second actuated position beyond the first actuated position to activate delivery of electrosurgical energy to the targeted tissue between the jaw members, the movable handle mechanically decoupled from the end effector between the first and second actuated positions.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein compressing the movable handle from the unactuated position to the first actuated position includes engaging a first link with a segmented gear coupled to the movable handle to rotate the first link about an opening defined in a first portion to transition the jaw members to the clamped configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein compressing the movable handle from the first actuated position to the second actuated position includes disengaging the segmented gear from the first link such that the movable handle is free to move independent of the jaw members between the first and second actuated positions. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein compressing the movable handle from the first actuated position to the second actuated position includes activating a button with the movable handle to activate delivery of electrosurgical energy. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein compressing the movable handle of the surgical device from the unactuated position to the first actuated position includes engaging, via the segmented gear, an actuation gear of a first portion of the first link when the movable handle is transitioned between the unactuated position and the first actuated position. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first link includes a second portion, the second portion of the first link coupled to a first portion of a second link, and wherein engaging a first link with the segmented gear coupled to the movable handle to rotate the first link includes rotating the second portion of the first link and the first portion of the second link about an arc. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising moving the movable handle to transition the jaw members from the clamping configuration back to the open configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein moving the movable handle to transition the jaw members to the open configuration includes engaging an actuation gear of the first link via the segmented gear to rotate the first link so that a cam coupled to a second portion of the second link and disposed within a cam slot defined in a track coupled to a housing of the surgical device moves relative to a centerline of a shaft of the surgical device supporting the jaw members. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein, after the cam is positioned relative to the centerline of the shaft, the method includes distally urging a collar coupled to a third link to transition the jaw members to the open configuration, the third link having a first portion coupled to the second portion of the second link and a second portion coupled to the collar such that distal movement of the first portion of the second link causes the third link to distally translate the collar. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein compressing the movable handle from the first actuated position to the second actuated position includes disengaging the segmented gear from an actuation gear of a first portion of the first link. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising providing audible indicia via a clicker tab that the jaw members are in the clamped configuration. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising, during or after delivery of electrosurgical energy, compressing a knife trigger to advance a knife blade. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising transitioning the movable handle toward the unactuated position from the first or second actuated positions to transition the jaw members to the open configuration and engage the knife trigger to retract the knife blade. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein compressing the movable handle of the surgical device from the unactuated position to the first actuated position includes translating a collar coupled to a third link, the third link coupled to a second link that is coupled to the first link, the collar translated proximally so as to compress a biasing member until the jaw members are in the clamped configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein compressing the movable handle of the surgical device from the unactuated position to the first actuated position includes translating a collar coupled to a second portion of a third link, the third link having a first portion that is coupled to a second portion of the second link, the collar translated proximally so as to compress a biasing member until the jaw members are in the clamped configuration.