SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTROSURGICAL SEAL PLATES

• US 20170354459A1
• Filed: 08/29/2017
• Published: 12/14/2017
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,188,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• 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

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. An end effector configured for use with an electrosurgical forceps device, the end effector comprising:

a first jaw member comprising a first sealing surface including a plurality of flanges configured to secure the sealing surface to an overmolding material; and

a second jaw member operably coupled to the first jaw member such that at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is movable relative to the other between an open condition and a closed condition, the second jaw member including;

a second sealing surface having a recess defined therein; and

a spacer extending from the recess and configured to maintain a gap distance between the first and second sealing surfaces when the first and second jaw members are in the closed condition.

9. The end effector according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesive disposed within the recess and configured to retain the spacer within the recess.

10. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member.

11. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the second jaw member is movable relative to the first jaw member

12. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the spacer extends above the second sealing surface a distance in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.005 inches.

13. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the spacer includes a hemispherical configuration.

14. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the spacer includes a cylindrical configuration.

15. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the spacer includes a square configuration.

16. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the spacer includes a triangular configuration.

17. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of spacers is disposed within the recess defined by the second sealing surface.

18. The end effector according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of spacers is arranged in a grid-like configuration.

19. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first sealing surface or the second sealing surface includes a knife slot defined therein.

20. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein the second sealing surface includes a knife slot defined therein and a first spacer is disposed within the recess on a first side of the knife slot and a second spacer is disposed in a second recess defined within the second sealing surface on a second side of the knife slot.

21. The end effector according to claim 8, wherein each flange of the plurality of flanges extends from a side of the first sealing surface.