Electrosurgical device having a dielectric seal

• US 7,311,706 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Sartor, Joe D., Schoenman, Arthur, Kelm, Vernita
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/878,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 606/34, 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/48, 606/49, 606/50, 606/32, 606/40, 606/37, 604/21, 604/22, 604/3, 607/115, 607/116, 607/145, 607/146, 264/259, 264/261, 264/263, 264/271.11, 264/271.14, 264/279
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00035 pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/04 for driving the stage of lowest order with variable ratio of drive G06M1/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/083 by mechanical means counting of stacked objects G06M9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/18 with subsequent sliding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/014 Application surgical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/04 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/66 Structural association with built-in electrical component coupling devices having concentrically or coaxially-arranged contacts H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a seal in an electrosurgical device includes placing components of the electrosurgical device within an elongated housing section, the housing section including an actuator opening, introducing the housing section within a mold filled with a liquid thermoplastic elastomer and allowing the elastomer to flow within the housing, forming an elastomeric inwardly-extending lip portion circumferentially surrounding an opening at a distal end of the electrosurgical device for introducing an electrode therein, and allowing the molded elastomer to cure and become integral with the housing to seal the components within the molded elastomer contained within the housing section. The method may also include the step of forming an elastomeric actuator seal around the actuator opening.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a seal in an electrosurgical device, said method comprising the steps of:

placing components of the electrosurgical device within an elongated housing section, said housing section including an actuator opening;

introducing the housing section within a mold filled with a liquid thermoplastic elastomer and allowing the elastomer to flow within the housing;

forming an elastomeric inwardly-extending lip portion circumferentially surrounding an opening at a distal end of the electrosurgical device for introducing an electrode therein; and

allowing the molded elastomer to cure and become integral with the housing to seal the components within the molded elastomer contained within the housing section.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming an elastomeric actuator seal around the actuator opening.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of insert molding two inserts within the actuator seal to identify the culling and coagulating modes.