Covidien LP

Richard M Ferrell

Craig A Keller

Guillaume Lessard

An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members include tissue-contacting surfaces that define a tissue grasping area. One of the jaw members includes an electrically-insulating body, an interior electrode, and an exterior electrode. The interior electrode is positioned interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. A portion of the interior electrode forms part of the tissue-contacting surface. The exterior electrode is positioned exteriorly of the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. At least one portion of the exterior electrode: extends along the outer back surface of the body, is disposed within the body, and is positioned adjacent the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue.

Electrosurgical devices including transverse electrode configurations

A method of sealing tissue includes providing an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and one or both of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes disposed on either side of the interior electrode. The method further includes grasping tissue between the first and second jaw members and conducting energy between the interior and exterior electrodes to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. During tissue sealing, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes boils faster than tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Electrosurgical devices including transverse electrode configurations and methods relating to the same

An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members cooperate to define a tissue grasping area. One or both of the jaw members includes an inner electrode. One or both of the jaw members includes first and second outer electrodes disposed on either side of the inner electrode. The inner and outer electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue. The inner and outer electrodes define different configurations such that, upon conduction of energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area, tissue disposed adjacent the outer electrodes is boiled before boiling of tissue disposed adjacent the inner electrodes.

An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members define opposed tissue-contacting surfaces that cooperate to define a tissue grasping area within which tissue is grasped when the jaw members are moved to the approximated position. At least one of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and at least one of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue. The interior electrodes are disposed interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area, while the exterior electrodes are disposed exteriorly. As a result, upon conduction of energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes is boiled before boiling of tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

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Denver, CO, United States of America

Richard M Ferrell