Sealing Plate Temperature Control

• US 20110251611A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brandt, Kim V., Horner, Glenn A., Oliver, Christina A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,623,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. At least one of the jaw members has a support base and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and a copper layer formed on the underside of the stainless steel layer.

Claims

1. An end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members, at least one of the jaw members comprising:

a support base; and

a sealing plate having a stainless steel layer and a copper layer formed on an underside of the stainless steel layer.

2. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the jaw members further comprises an insulative plate between the support base and the sealing plate.

3. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical jaw lead coupled to the sealing plate with a weld.

4. The end effector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the electrical jaw lead is ultrasonically welded to the copper layer of the sealing plate.

5. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the copper layer is bonded to the stainless steel layer.

6. The end effector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the copper layer is bonded to the stainless steel layer by cladding.

7. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the copper layer is formed on a portion of the underside of the stainless steel layer.

8. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:

a housing;

a handle assembly;

a trigger assembly; and

an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members, each of the jaw members comprising;

a support base;

an electrical jaw lead; and

a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead, the sealing plate having a stainless steel layer and a copper layer formed on an underside of the stainless steel layer.

9. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein each of the jaw members further comprises an insulative plate between the support base and the sealing plate.

10. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the electrical jaw lead is coupled to the sealing plate with a weld.

11. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the electrical jaw lead is ultrasonically welded to the copper layer of the sealing plate.

12. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the copper layer is bonded to the stainless steel layer.

13. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the copper layer is bonded to the stainless steel layer by cladding.

14. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the copper layer covers a portion of the stainless steel layer.

15. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:

a pair of opposing shafts, each shaft having a handle at the proximal end of the shaft; and

an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members attached at a distal end of the pair of opposing shafts wherein the opposing jaw members move from a first position to a second position by moving the pair of opposing shafts relative to one another, at least one of the jaw members comprising;

a support base;

an electrical jaw lead; and

a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead, the sealing plate having a stainless steel layer and a copper layer formed on an underside of the stainless steel layer.

16. A method for constructing a jaw member of an end effector assembly, comprising:

forming a seal plate having a stainless steel layer and copper layer formed on an underside of the stainless steel layer;

affixing the seal plate atop an insulative plate;

affixing the seal plate and the insulative plate atop a support base;

encapsulating the seal plate, the insulative plate and the support base by an outer insulative housing by an overmolding process.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the seal plate, insulative plate and support bases are affixed together by a snap-fit, over-molding, stamping or ultrasonically welded.