Non-Stick electroconductive amorphous silica coating

• US 5,549,604 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aydil, Eray, Sutcu, Maz, Gentelia, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/254,072
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27-29, 606/32-34, 606/37-42, 606/45-52, 607/100-102, 607/115, 607/116, 128/639-642
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0097 Cleaning probe surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/402 Silicon dioxide

Abstract

The cutting surfaces of electrosurgical instruments are provided with an electroconductive coating of an inorganic silicon-containing non-stick material such as amorphous silica deposited thereon by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical cutting instrument comprising a stainless steel body having a cutting edge, said stainless steel body having a non-stick, electroconductive coating of substantially pure amorphous silica deposited on at least the cutting edge by plasma enhanced chemical vapor, said coating being of a thickness that provides electroconductivity when subjected to electrical source generated hemostatic and cauterizing currents during surgery.

2. An electrosurgical cutting instrument according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of said coating is 0.5 to 1.5 micrometers.

3. An electrosurgical cutting instrument according to claim 1 wherein said body is a stainless steel blade.

4. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the stainless steel body comprises stainless steel surgical scissors.

5. An electrosurgical cutting instrument according to claim 3 wherein the coated blade possesses a dielectric strength ranging from 5 to 50 volts per micrometer.

6. An electrosurgical cutting instrument comprising a stainless steel body having a cutting edge, said stainless steel body having a non-stick, electroconductive coating of an inorganic disilicide deposited on at least the cutting edge of said instrument, said coating being of a thickness that provides electroconductivity when subjected to electrical source generated hemostatic and cauterizing currents during surgery.

7. An electrosurgical cutting instrument according to claim 6 wherein said inorganic disilicide comprises molybdenum disilicide.

8. An electrosurgical cutting instrument according to claim 6 wherein said inorganic disilicide comprises tungsten disilicide.

9. A process for the manufacture of an electrosurgical instrument comprising coating at least the cutting edge of a stainless steel electrosurgical instrument with substantially pure amorphous silica, said coating imparting non-stick characteristics to the cutting edge and being of a thickness that provides electroconductivity when subjected to electrical source generated hemostatic and cauterizing currents during surgery.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the thickness of said coating is 0.5 to 1.5 micrometers.

11. A process according to claim 9 wherein said body is a stainless steel blade.

12. A process according to claim 9 wherein the stainless steel body comprises stainless steel surgical scissors.

13. A process according to claim 9 wherein the surface on which said silica is deposited is pretreated to rough and chemically alter the surface so as to increase adhesion thereto of the deposited amorphous silica.

14. A process for the manufacture of an electrosurgical instrument comprising coating at least the cutting edge of a stainless steel electrosurgical instrument with an inorganic disilicide, said coating imparting non-stick characteristics to the cutting edge and being of a thickness that provides electroconductivity when subjected to electrical source generated hemostatic and cauterizing currents during surgery.

15. A process according to claim 14 wherein the inorganic disilicide comprises molybdenum disilicide.

16. A process according to claim 14 wherein the inorganic disilicide comprises tungsten disilicide.