Pressure Sensing Sealing Plate

• US 20110270252A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brandt, Kim V., Oliver, Christina A., Horner, Glenn A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/52
• 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 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/03 Assembling devices that include piezoelectric or electrostrictive parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49007 Indicating transducer

Abstract

An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezoelectric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Claims

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

a support base;

an electrical jaw lead;

a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead, the sealing plate having a stainless steel layer and at least one piezoelectric sensor; and

an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

2. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insulative plate is a flex circuit comprising:

a plastic substrate; and

a circuit trace having at least one contact coupled thereto, the at least one contact is coupled to the at least one piezoelectric sensor.

3. The end effector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the contact is configured to operatively couple to a controller via a contact trace.

4. The end effector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric sensor is raised relative to the sealing plate and is configured to create a gap between opposed sealing plates of the jaw members.

5. An electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising:

a housing having at least one shaft that extends therefrom;

a handle assembly operably coupled to the housing;

an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the at least one shaft including a pair of opposing jaw members, at least one of the jaw members comprising;

a support base;

an electrical jaw lead;

a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead, the sealing plate having a stainless steel layer and at least one piezoelectric sensor; and

an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

6. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the insulative plate is a flex circuit comprising:

a plastic substrate; and

a circuit trace having at least one contact coupled thereto, the at least one contact is coupled to the at least one piezoelectric sensor.

7. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the contact is configured to operatively couple to a controller via a contact trace.

8. The end effector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric sensor is raised relative to the sealing plate and is configured to create a gap between opposed sealing plates of the jaw members.

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

creating a sealing plate by forming a stainless steel layer into the sealing plate;

applying a first mask to the stainless steel layer, wherein the first mask exposes a portion of the stainless steel layer;

etching the exposed portion of stainless steel layer to create at least one hole in the stainless steel layer and removing the mask;

creating an insulative plate by;

providing a plastic substrate;

adhering a conductive layer to the plastic substrate;

applying a second mask to the conductive layer, wherein the second mask exposes a portion of the conductive layer to outline at least one circuit trace and at least one contact; and

etching the exposed portion the conductive layer and removing the mask;

providing a support base;

attaching the insulative plate to the support base;

attaching the sealing plate on top of the insulative plate so that the at least one hole of the sealing plate overlaps the at least one contact of the insulative plate; and

coupling a piezoelectric sensor to the at least one contact of the insulative plate.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric sensor is disposed in the at least one hole of the sealing plate.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric sensor is raised relative to the sealing plate and is configured to create a gap between opposed sealing plates of the jaw members.