End Effector Assembly for Electrosurgical Device and Method for Making the Same

• US 20090198233A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Chojin, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An end effector assembly for use with a forceps is provided. The end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members operatively connected to each other about a pivot. Each jaw member includes a structural support member having a seal plate secured thereto. Each of the seal plates defines a slot having a depth and configured to translate a knife blade therethrough. The combined depth of the slot is greater than the height of the knife blade.

Claims

1. An end effector assembly for use with a forceps, comprising:

a pair of opposing jaw members operatively connected to each other about a pivot, each jaw member including a structural support member 5 having a seal plate secured thereto, each of the seal plates defining a slot having a depth and configured to translate a knife blade therethrough, the combined depth of the slots being greater than the height of the knife blade.

2. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the structural supports includes at least one aperture extending therein configured to facilitate structural engagement of the structural support member to a respective seal plate.

3. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal plates are secured to their respective structural support members via at least one of welding, soldering and brazing.

4. The end effector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the type of weld is selected from the group consisting of resistance welding, ultrasonic welding, gas welding, energy beam welding, explosion welding, and solid state welding.

5. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the slots extend through the full thickness of the seal plates.

6. The end effector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal plates vary in thickness.

7. A method for manufacturing a jaw member of an end effector assembly for use with a forceps, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a structural support, the structural support including at least one aperture associated with a top surface thereof;

providing a seal plate, the seal plate defining a slot configured to translate a knife blade therethrough; and

utilizing the at least one aperture to gain access to couple the seal plates to the structural support.

8. The method of according to claim 7, wherein the step of utilizing comprises coupling the seal plate to the structural support by a process selected from the group consisting of welding, soldering and brazing.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of utilizing comprises coupling the seal plate to the structural support by a process selected from the group consisting of resistance welding, ultrasonic welding, gas welding, energy beam welding, explosion welding, and solid state welding.

10. An end effector assembly for use with a forceps, comprising:

a pair of opposing jaw members operatively connected to each other about a pivot, each jaw member including a structural support member having a seal plate secured thereto, each of the seal plates defining a slot having a depth and configured to translate a knife blade therethrough, the combined depth of the slot being greater than the height of the knife blade;

wherein each of the structural supports includes at least one aperture extending therein configured to facilitate structural engagement of the structural support member to a respective seal plate.

11. The end effector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one aperture extends through the full thickness of the seal plate.

12. The end effector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one aperture does not extend through the full thickness of the seal plate.