Material fusing apparatus, system and method of use

• US 9,024,237 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bonn, Kenlyn S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mondt, Johannes P
• Application Number:
  US12/568,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/679
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0019 vibrating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1853 Monopole antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/64 Heating using microwaves containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted to be heated by microwaves B65D81/3446
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/80 Apparatus for specific applications stoves or ranges F24C7/02

Abstract

A microwave material fusing apparatus for fusing two or more layers of material is disclosed. The apparatus includes an end effector including a radiating strike plate and a non-radiating fusing arm. The radiating strike plate is adapted to receive microwave energy from a microwave energy source and configured to radiate microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source. The non-radiating fusing arm is disposed in substantial opposition to the radiating strike plate and includes a conductive tip on the distal end. The conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing arm is configured to compress material therebetween such that upon activation of the microwave energy source, microwave energy is transferred between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.

Claims

1. A microwave material fusing apparatus, comprising:

an end effector including;

a strike plate that receives a microwave energy signal from a microwave energy source and radiates microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source; and

a fusing arm disposed in substantial opposition to the strike plate, the fusing arm including a pointed conductive tip formed with a conductive material on a distal end thereof,

wherein the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm and the strike plate are selectably movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position in which the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm is oriented perpendicularly relative to the strike plate and only the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm and the strike plate compress a material disposed therebetween such that upon activation of the microwave energy source, microwave energy is transferred between the strike plate and the pointed conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.

2. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end effector is configured to release a burst of focused energy that travels between the pointed conductive tip and the strike plate to fuse the material.

3. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end effector further includes:

a closure mechanism connected to the strike plate and the fusing arm,

wherein in the open position, the closure mechanism positions the strike plate and the fusing arm in a spaced-apart relationship, and

wherein in the closed position, the closure mechanism positions the strike plate and the pointed conductive tip such that a material fusing gap is formed therebetween.

4. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the material fusing gap between the strike plate and the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm in the closed position is related to at least one of a property of the material therebetween, the density of the radiated microwave energy and the amount of energy delivered to the material.

5. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the energy level of the microwave energy signal is related to the material fusing gap between the pointed conductive tip and the strike plate and a dielectric property of the material between the pointed conductive tip and the strike plate.

6. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the microwave energy is transferred between only the pointed conductive tip and a strike point of the strike plate.

7. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the strike point is a radial center formed on the strike plate.

8. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein material fusing is initiated after the material fusing gap meets a threshold distance between the pointed conductive tip and the strike plate.

9. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism is pivotally attached to the strike plate and to the fusing arm, wherein the strike plate and the fusing arm rotate relative to one another to compress the material.

10. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism is slidably attached to the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm such that the radiating strike plate and the non-radiating fusing arm rotate relative to one another in a parallel manner to compress the material.

11. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the end effector further includes:

a clamping trigger connected to the closure mechanism and configured to actuate the closure mechanism between the open position and the closed position.

12. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein material fusing is initiated after an applied pressure applied to the material exceeds a threshold.

14. A microwave material fusing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position, only an endmost edge of the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm and the strike plate compress the material therebetween.

13. A method of fusing material, comprising the steps of:

providing an end effector including a strike plate that receives a microwave energy signal from a microwave energy source and radiates microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source and a fusing arm disposed in substantial opposition to the strike plate, the fusing arm including a pointed conductive tip formed with a conductive material on a distal end thereof wherein the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm and the strike plate are selectably movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position in which the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm is oriented perpendicularly relative to the strike plate and only the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm and the strike plate compress a material disposed therebetween;

compressing the material between only the strike plate and the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm; and

activating the microwave energy source to transmit energy between the strike plate and the pointed conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.

15. A method of fusing material according to claim 13, wherein in the closed position, only an endmost edge of the pointed conductive tip of the fusing arm and the strike plate compress the material therebetween.