Monopolar and bipolar functionality

Abstract

Surgical devices, systems, and methods are provided for applying monopolar energy and bipolar energy to tissue. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided with an end effector that has first and second jaws movable between an open position and a closed position, and a conductive member that extends through the end effector. The conductive member has a retracted position in which the conductive member is substantially disposed within the end effector and an extended position in which the conductive member extends at least partially distally beyond the end effector. The conductive member is configured to conduct energy through tissue adjacent thereto at least when the conductive member is in the extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical device, comprising:
 a housing;   an elongate shaft extending from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;   an end effector operatively connected to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector having first and second jaws, at least one of which is movable between an open position in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart from one another and a closed position in which the first and second jaws cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the first and second jaws being configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween;   a conductive member extending longitudinally through the first jaw and having a hook on a distal end thereof, the conductive member having a proximal-most position in which the hook is disposed substantially within the first jaw and is oriented toward the second jaw, and a distal-most position in which the hook is positioned distally to a distal end of the first jaw and is oriented away from the second jaw, the hook having a spot treatment portion protruding from the first jaw in the proximal-most position, the spot treatment portion being configured to apply energy to tissue in the proximal-most position; and   wherein longitudinal translation of the conductive member is configured to cause the hook to move between the proximal-most position and the distal-most position.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the conductive member is exposed to tissue adjacent to the first jaw in the proximal-most position such that energy can be applied to the tissue from the conductive member in the proximal-most position. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein longitudinal translation of the conductive member is configured to automatically rotate the hook from being oriented toward the second jaw to being oriented away from the second jaw. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical device of  claim 3 , wherein the first jaw includes a helical cam slot formed therein, and the conductive member includes a pin formed thereon and disposed within the cam slot such that distal longitudinal translation of the conductive member causes translation and rotation of the hook between the proximal-most position oriented toward the second jaw and the distal-most position oriented away from the second jaw. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein energy is supplied to the conductive member only in the distal-most position. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein energy is supplied to the first and second jaws only when the conductive member is in the proximal-most position. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaws are configured to transect tissue grasped therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically insulating sleeve extending along a proximal portion of the conductive member and terminating proximal to the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical method, comprising:
 positioning adjacent to tissue an exposed portion of a hook on a distal end of a conductive member partially disposed in a first jaw of an end effector on a distal end of a surgical device when the hook is in a proximal-most position relative to the first jaw;   actuating an energy assembly to supply energy to the conductive member to treat tissue located adjacent to the exposed portion of the hook;   distally translating the conductive member through the first jaw to a distal-most position to cause the hook disposed on the distal end of the conductive member to move from the proximal-most position in which the hook is disposed substantially within the first jaw and is oriented toward a second jaw of the end effector to a distal-most position in which the hook is positioned distally to a distal end of the first jaw and is oriented away from the second jaw; and   actuating an energy assembly to supply energy to the conductive member to treat tissue located adjacent to the hook.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical method of  claim 9 , further comprising, after actuating the energy assembly, proximally translating the conductive member through the first jaw to cause the hook to move from the distal-most position to the proximal-most position. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical method of  claim 9 , further comprising actuating a trigger assembly on the surgical device to cause at least one of the first and second jaws to move to a closed position and grasp tissue therebetween; and actuating an energy assembly on the surgical device to supply energy to the first and second jaws to seal tissue grasped therein. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical method of  claim 9 , further comprising actuating a cutting assembly on the surgical device to transect tissue grasped between the first and second jaws. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical method, comprising:
 positioning adjacent to tissue an end effector, having first and second jaws, on a distal end of an elongate shaft extending from a housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;   distally translating a conductive rod extending through the elongate shaft and through the first jaw along the first longitudinal axis to a proximal-most position, wherein in the proximal-most position, the conductive rod contacts an electrode on the first jaw to form part of a tissue contacting surface and an electrical pathway of the first jaw; and   actuating an energy assembly to supply energy to the first and second jaws to create a closed bipolar energy circuit allowing the first and second jaws to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , further comprising, after actuating the energy assembly, distally translating the conductive rod along the first longitudinal axis to a distal-most position, wherein in the distal-most position, the conductive rod is electrically isolated from the electrode on the first jaw and extends distally from the end effector; and
 actuating the energy assembly to supply energy to through the conductive rod to tissue adjacent thereto.   
     
     
         15 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , further comprising actuating a trigger assembly on the housing to cause at least one of the first and second jaws to move to a closed position and grasp tissue therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , further comprising articulating the end effector relative to the first longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft via an articulation joint on a distal end of the elongate shaft;
 wherein the conductive rod extends through the articulation joint and is configured to flex with the articulation joint during articulation of the joint.   
     
     
         17 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , further comprising axially translating the conductive rod when the articulation joint is articulated such that the first longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft intersects a second longitudinal axis of the end effector at a non-zero angle. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , further comprising exposing at least part of the conductive rod to tissue adjacent to the first jaw in the proximal-most position such that energy can be applied to the tissue from the conductive rod in the proximal-most position. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive rod has a conductive spring thereon that is slidably engageable with the electrode on the first jaw to allow energy to pass therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive rod has a hook formed on a distal-most end thereof, and the first jaw is configured to receive the hook in a distal end thereof