System for manufacturing electrosurgical seal plates

• US 8,898,888 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brandt, Kim V., Aquino, Allan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARBES, CARL J
• Application Number:
  US13/358,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 295/921, 606/41, 606/45, 606/51, 606/52
• US Class Current: 29/729
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/0076 Curing, vulcanising, cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/12 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0036 Heat treatment for heating or cooling of layers during lamination B32B37/06, B32B37/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 1/02 Local etching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.

Claims

1. A system for manufacturing an end effector assembly configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the system comprising:

a photolithography module configured to etch at least one pocket on at least one seal plate of the end effector assembly;

a vacuum module configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the at least one pocket on the seal plate to each of the at least one pocket on the seal plate;

an adhesive dispensing module configured to dispense an adhesive into the at least one pocket on the seal plate; and

an optical module configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the at least one pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the at least one pocket.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including a module to cure the adhesive after the spacer has been positioned within each at least one pocket.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a retention feature is etched on the at least one seal plate and is configured to secure the at least one seal plate to at least one of a pair of jaw members of the end effector assembly.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a knife slot is etched into the at least one seal plate and is configured to receive a knife blade of the electrosurgical instrument.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one seal plate includes at least two materials laminated together, wherein at least one of the two materials is electrically conductive.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optical module includes one or more types of cameras to ensure that the spacer and the at least one pocket are aligned.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optical module includes one or more types of cameras to ensure that the spacer is positioned at a proper height relative to the at least one pocket.