Material Fusing Apparatus, System and Method of Use

• US 20110073594A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Bonn, Kenlyn S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,024,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/759
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0019 vibrating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1853 Monopole antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/64 Heating using microwaves containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted to be heated by microwaves B65D81/3446
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/80 Apparatus for specific applications stoves or ranges F24C7/02

Abstract

A microwave material fusing apparatus for fusing two or more layers of material is disclosed. The apparatus includes an end effector including a radiating strike plate and a non-radiating fusing arm. The radiating strike plate is adapted to receive microwave energy from a microwave energy source and configured to radiate microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source. The non-radiating fusing arm is disposed in substantial opposition to the radiating strike plate and includes a conductive tip on the distal end. The conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing arm is configured to compress material therebetween such that upon activation of the microwave energy source, microwave energy is transferred between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.

Claims

1. A microwave material fusing apparatus, comprising:

an end effector including;

a radiating strike plate adapted to receive microwave energy from a microwave energy source and configured to radiate microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source; and

a non-radiating fusing arm disposed in substantial opposition to the radiating strike plate, the non-radiating fusing arm including a conductive tip on a distal end thereof,

wherein the conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing arm and the radiating strike plate are selectably movable relative to one another to compress material therebetween such that upon activation of the microwave energy source, microwave energy is transferred between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.

2. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end effector is configured to release a burst of focused energy that travels between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate to fuse the material.

3. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end effector further includes:

a closure mechanism connected to the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm,

wherein in a first condition, the closure mechanism positions the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm in a spaced-apart relationship, and

wherein in a second condition, the closure mechanism positions the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip such that a material fusing gap is formed therebetween.

4. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the material fusing gap between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing arm in the second condition is related to at least one of a property of the material therebetween, the density of the radiated microwave energy and the amount of energy delivered to the material.

5. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the energy level of the microwave energy signal is related to the material fusing gap between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate and a dielectric property of the material between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate.

6. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the microwave energy is transferred between the conductive tip and a strike point of the radiating strike plate.

7. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the strike point is the radial center formed on the radiating strike plate.

8. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein material fusing is initiated after the material fusing gap meets a threshold distance between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate.

9. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism is pivotally attached to the radiating strike plate and to the non-radiating fusing arm, wherein the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm rotate relative to one another to compress the material.

10. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism is slidably attached to the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm such that the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm rotate relative to one another in a parallel manner to compress the material.

11. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing further includes:

a clamping trigger connected to the closure mechanism and configured to actuate the closure mechanism between the first condition and the second condition.

12. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein material fusing is initiated after the applied pressure exceeds a threshold.

13. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm are adapted to fuse tissue.

14. A method of fusing material, comprising the steps of:

providing an end effector including a radiating strike plate adapted to receive microwave energy from a microwave energy source and configured to radiate microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source and a non-radiating fusing arm disposed in substantial opposition to the radiating strike plate, the non-radiating fusing arm including a conductive tip on a distal end thereof;

compressing material between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip; and

activating the microwave energy source to transmit energy between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.

15. A system for fusing material, comprising:

a microwave generator configured to generate a microwave energy signal;

a material fusing apparatus connected to the microwave generator by a microwave energy transmission line, the material fusing apparatus including;

an end effector including a radiating strike plate adapted to receive microwave energy from the microwave generator and configured to radiate microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave generator and a non-radiating fusing arm disposed in substantial opposition to the radiating strike plate, the non-radiating fusing arm including a conductive tip on a distal end thereof.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the end effector is configured to release a burst of focused energy that travels between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate to fuse material therebetween.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the end effector further includes:

a closure mechanism connected to the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm,

wherein in a first condition, the closure mechanism positions the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm in a spaced-apart relationship, and

wherein in a second condition, the closure mechanism positions the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing arm such that a material fusing gap is formed therebetween.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the material fusing gap between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing aim in the second condition is related to at least one of a property of the material therebetween, the density of the radiated microwave energy and the amount of energy delivered to the material.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the energy level of the microwave energy signal is related to the material fusing gap between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate and a dielectric property of the material between the conductive tip and the radiating strike plate.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the microwave energy is transferred between the conductive tip and a strike point formed on the radiating strike plate.