Jaw structure with distal post for electrosurgical instruments
First Claim
1. An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a first jaw comprising a first energy delivery surface, a first distal end, and a first proximal end;
a second jaw comprising a second energy delivery surface, a second distal end, and a second proximal end, wherein the first and second jaws are pivotally coupled at the first and second proximal ends, such that at least one of the first and second jaws is configured for movement between a closed position where the first and second distal ends are in proximity and the first and second energy delivery surfaces face each other, and an open position where the first and second distal ends are spaced apart;
an electrically conductive member protruding from the second jaw, wherein the electrically conductive member is in proximity to the second distal end; and
a pivot in proximity to the first and second proximal ends, wherein the electrically conductive member and the pivot cooperate to maintain a gap between the first energy delivery surface and the second energy delivery surface in the closed position, wherein the electrically conductive member is in contact with the first jaw in the closed position, wherein the pivot is fixed in position to finalize a distal gap distance between the first and second energy delivery surfaces in proximity to the first and second distal ends and a proximal gap distance between the first and second energy delivery surfaces in proximity to the first and second proximal ends, and wherein the distal gap distance is different from the proximal gap distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument is disclosed which includes a first jaw, a first energy delivery surface, a first distal end, and a first proximal end. A second jaw of the end effector includes a second energy delivery surface, a second distal end, and a second proximal end. The end effector also includes an electrically conductive gap setting member which defines a distal gap distance between the first and second energy delivery surfaces. At least one pivot is fixed to one of the jaws to set a proximal gap distance between the first and second energy delivery surfaces. A method for making an end effector and a method for assembling an end effector for an electrosurgical instrument are also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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a first jaw comprising a first energy delivery surface, a first distal end, and a first proximal end; a second jaw comprising a second energy delivery surface, a second distal end, and a second proximal end, wherein the first and second jaws are pivotally coupled at the first and second proximal ends, such that at least one of the first and second jaws is configured for movement between a closed position where the first and second distal ends are in proximity and the first and second energy delivery surfaces face each other, and an open position where the first and second distal ends are spaced apart; an electrically conductive member protruding from the second jaw, wherein the electrically conductive member is in proximity to the second distal end; and a pivot in proximity to the first and second proximal ends, wherein the electrically conductive member and the pivot cooperate to maintain a gap between the first energy delivery surface and the second energy delivery surface in the closed position, wherein the electrically conductive member is in contact with the first jaw in the closed position, wherein the pivot is fixed in position to finalize a distal gap distance between the first and second energy delivery surfaces in proximity to the first and second distal ends and a proximal gap distance between the first and second energy delivery surfaces in proximity to the first and second proximal ends, and wherein the distal gap distance is different from the proximal gap distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for making an end effector of an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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providing a first jaw of the end effector, wherein the first jaw comprises a first energy delivery surface, a first proximal end, and a first distal end; providing a second jaw of the end effector, wherein the second jaw comprises a second energy delivery surface, a second proximal end, a second distal end, and an electrically conductive member protruding from the second jaw in proximity to the second distal end; positioning a spacer comprising a predetermined thickness between the first jaw and the second jaw in proximity to the first proximal end and the second proximal end; moving at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw toward the other one of the first jaw and the second jaw until the movement of the at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is limited by the spacer such that a proximal gap distance is defined between the first and second energy delivery surfaces which substantially equals the predetermined thickness of the spacer, and until the electrically conductive member is in contact with the first energy delivery surface such that a distal gap distance is defined by the electrically conductive member between the first and second energy delivery surfaces, wherein the proximal gap distance is different than the distal gap distance; positioning at least one pivot in proximity to the first and second proximal ends; fixing the at least one pivot to one of the first jaw and the second jaw; and removing the spacer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for assembling an end effector of an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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providing a first jaw of the end effector, wherein the first jaw comprises a first energy delivery surface, a first proximal end, and a first distal end; providing a second jaw of the end effector, wherein the second jaw comprises a second energy delivery surface, a second proximal end, a second distal end, and an electrically conductive member protruding from the second jaw in proximity to the second distal end; sandwiching a spacer comprising a predetermined height between the first jaw and the second jaw to set a minimum gap between the first energy delivery surface and the second energy delivery surface in proximity to the first and second proximal ends while the electrically conductive member is in contact with the first energy delivery surface, wherein the predetermined height of the spacer is different than a height of the electrically conductive member; positioning at least one pivot in proximity to the first and second proximal ends; fixing the at least one pivot to one of the first jaw and the second jaw; and removing the spacer.
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Specification