Electrosurgical instruments which reduces collateral damage to adjacent tissue
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another, comprising:
- a housing having at least one portion which removably engages at least one portion of the electrosurgical instrument; and
a pair of electrodes each including an electrically conductive sealing surface and an insulating substrate, the electrodes being removably engageable with respective end effectors of the electrosurgical instrument such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another,the dimensions of the insulating substrate differing from the dimensions of the electrically conductive sealing surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures,wherein the insulating substrate is made from a material having a Comparative Tracking Index of about 300 volts to about 600 volts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode assembly for use in combination with an electrosurgical instrument having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The electrode assembly includes a housing having one portion which is removably engageable with the electrosurgical instrument and a pair of electrodes each having an electrically conductive sealing surface and an insulating substrate. The electrodes are removably engageable with the end effectors of the electrosurgical instrument such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The dimensions of the insulating substrate are different from the dimensions of the electrically conductive sealing surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures.
1493 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another, comprising:
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a housing having at least one portion which removably engages at least one portion of the electrosurgical instrument; and a pair of electrodes each including an electrically conductive sealing surface and an insulating substrate, the electrodes being removably engageable with respective end effectors of the electrosurgical instrument such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another, the dimensions of the insulating substrate differing from the dimensions of the electrically conductive sealing surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures, wherein the insulating substrate is made from a material having a Comparative Tracking Index of about 300 volts to about 600 volts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument having a handle and at least one shaft for effecting movement of a pair of opposing end effectors relative to one another, comprising:
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a housing having at least one portion which removably engages at least one of the handle and the shaft; a pair of electrodes each having an electrically conductive sealing surface having a first geometric shape and an insulating substrate having a second geometric shape, the electrodes being removably engageable with respective end effectors of the instrument such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another, the second geometric shape of the insulating substrate differing from the first geometric shape of the sealing surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures; and wherein the insulating substrate is made from a material having a Comparative Tracking index of about 300 volts to about 600 volts. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrode assembly for use with a disposable electrosurgical instrument having a handle and at least one shaft for effecting movement of a pair of opposing end effectors relative to one another, comprising:
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a housing; a pair of electrodes each having an electrically conductive sealing surface having a first geometric shape and an insulating substrate having a second geometric shape, the electrodes being integrally associated with respective end effectors of the instrument such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another; wherein the second geometric shape of the insulating substrate differs from the first geometric shape of the sealing surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures, and wherein the insulating substrate has a Comparative Tracking index of about 300 volts to about 600 volts.
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Specification