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Methods and devices for creating thermal zones within an electrosurgical instrument

  • US 9,931,157 B2
  • Filed: 09/15/2014
  • Issued: 04/03/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A surgical end effector, comprising:

  • first and second jaw members movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position to clamp tissue therebetween;

    an electrode having a single continuous conductive surface coupled to the first jaw member such that the electrode contacts tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members when in the closed position; and

    a plurality of electrical insulators disposed between the electrode and the first jaw member coupled thereto, the plurality of electrical insulators including a first electrical insulator having a first thermal conductivity and a second electrical insulator having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity, wherein at least one of the first thermal conductivity and the second thermal conductivity is constant, andwherein the electrode is divided into a plurality of thermal zones by at least one opening formed therein, the plurality of thermal zones including a first thermal zone and a second thermal zone, and the plurality of electrical insulators are arranged such that the first thermal zone contacts the first electrical insulator and the second thermal zone contacts the second electrical insulator.

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