Covidien LP

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Allan G Aquino

Kim V Brandt

Andy Buersmeyer

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.

Electrosurgical seal plates

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument, an electrosurgical power generating source, and a controller. The electrosurgical instrument includes a shaft extending from a housing. The shaft includes a distal end configured to support an end-effector assembly. The end-effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movably mounted with respect to one another and moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. At least one of the jaw members includes a temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate defining a bottom surface. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the bottom surface. The controller is configured to control one or more operating parameters associated with the electrosurgical power generating source based on one or more signals indicative of a tissue impedance value and indicative of a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors.

Temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate configured for use in an electrosurgical jaw member, electrosurgical system including same, and methods of controlling vessel sealing using same

Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders (e.g., RFID transponders, dumb transponders) are accounted for via an accounting system using a number of antennas and interrogators/readers. The antennas and interrogators/readers are included on a cannula of the trocar so the tagged medical procedure related objects passing through the cannula are detected. A first set of antennas and RFID interrogator(s) interrogate a first portion of the cannula, such as proximate a proximal end at which the medical procedure related objects are introduced to the cannula. A second set of antennas and RFID interrogator(s) interrogate a second portion of the cannula, such as proximate a distal end at which objects exit the cannula for use in a medical procedure. A data store may maintain information including a current status or count of each supply, for instance, as entering or exiting the cannula.

Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during clinical procedures, employing a trocar

A knife assembly of a surgical end effector assembly includes a knife body defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second arms. The first arm has a first head including a cutting edge at a distal end thereof and the second arm has a second head. The first head is pivotable relative to the second head to reduce a cutting height during translation of the knife assembly through a knife channel defined within the end effector assembly.

Surgical instruments including knife assemblies with reducible cutting height

System for manufacturing electrosurgical seal plates

An end-effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movably mounted with respect to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes a temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate having a tissue-contacting surface and a bottom surface. A first layer is disposed on one or more portions of the bottom surface of the temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate. The first layer includes an electrically-insulative material. One or more openings are formed in the first layer. One or more electrically-conductive traces are formed over the electrically-insulative material and associated with the one or more openings. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the bottom surface of the temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate and associated with the one or more openings. The one or more openings are each configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more temperature sensors therein. The one or more temperature sensors are electrically coupled to the one or more electrically-conductive traces.

Temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate and methods of manufacturing same

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.

Vessel sealing instrument with reduced thermal spread and method of manufacture therefor

Method of manufacturing electrosurgical seal plates

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, an inner tissue engaging surface, and an insulating layer disposed therebetween. 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 jaws include a tissue-contacting seal plate having obverse and reverse surfaces. A series of ribs extend from the reverse surface of the seal plate into an insulating layer, which, in turn, is affixed to a jaw housing. The ribbed structure of the seal plate reduces thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures, leading to improved surgical outcomes.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Allan G Aquino