Vessel sealing instrument with reduced thermal spread and method of manufacture therefor
First Claim
1. An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
- a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable relative to the other to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member including;
an electrode having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall extending from the tissue contacting surface, the side wall including a series of ribs and a series of spaces therebetween; and
an insulator, wherein a portion of the insulator is disposed within each space of the series of spaces,wherein the series of ribs and the portions of the insulator are configured to define a current flow path from the side wall towards the tissue contacting surface such that electrosurgical energy is inhibited from propagating to untargeted tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw housing, a seal plate having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall, and an insulating region disposed on the side wall of the seal plate. The instrument includes the ability to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. The insulating region enables precision overmolding of the jaw housing to the seal plate, while advantageously reducing thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable relative to the other to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member including; an electrode having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall extending from the tissue contacting surface, the side wall including a series of ribs and a series of spaces therebetween; and an insulator, wherein a portion of the insulator is disposed within each space of the series of spaces, wherein the series of ribs and the portions of the insulator are configured to define a current flow path from the side wall towards the tissue contacting surface such that electrosurgical energy is inhibited from propagating to untargeted tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable relative to the other to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member including; an electrode having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall extending from the tissue contacting surface, the side wall configured to define a current flow path of electrosurgical energy from the side wall towards the tissue contacting surface; and an insulator disposed along at least a part of the side wall, the insulator configured to inhibit propagation of the current flow path of electrosurgical energy from the side wall to untargeted tissue. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification