US 11,723,680 B2
Bipolar coagulating devices and vasectomy kits associated therewith
Robert A. Van Wyk, St. Pete Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to Signati Medical Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Robert A. Van Wyk, St. Pete Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/709,675.
Application 17/709,675 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/338,115, filed on Jun. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,291,493.
Application 17/338,115 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/150,313, filed on Jan. 15, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/150,313 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/700,393, filed on Dec. 2, 2019, granted, now 11,291,581.
Application 17/150,313 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/709,675.
Application 17/709,675 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/700,393, filed on Dec. 2, 2019, granted, now 11,291,581.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/995,188, filed on Jan. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/917,325, filed on Dec. 3, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218375 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61F 6/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/282 (2013.01) [A61F 6/20 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2808 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bipolar coagulating device for excising a length of vas deferens, wherein said bipolar device comprises of:
a. a proximal handpiece comprised of upper and lower handle portions rotatably joined together at a hinge, wherein said proximal handpiece defines a longitudinal axis of the device that, viewed in plan view, extends through the center of said handpiece proximal to said hinge; and
b. a distal clamping portion characterized by a pair of opposingly-faced, upper and lower coagulating jaws, wherein each of said jaws is (i) movable between open and closed positions, and (ii) provided with mating distal tips and inner edges, whereby, when said jaws are in the closed position and viewed in a plan view, said mating distal tips are angularly offset from said longitudinal axis and said mating inner edges engage to define an interior perimeter comprised of (1) an open central slot that terminates in (2) a lateral opening sized to permit said distal clamping portion to be positioned around a tissue-capturing distal end of a surgical instrument capable of retaining an isolated length of vas deferens;
further wherein:
said coagulating jaws are configured to tightly close about the tissue-capturing distal end of said surgical instrument and thereby define (i) a first area of clamped vas tissue disposed between said closed coagulating jaws and (ii) a second area of vas tissue that includes said length of vas deferens isolated by the tissue-capturing distal end of said surgical instrument; and
said bipolar device is configured to coagulate said first area of clamped vas tissue upon activation.