The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 18, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 04, 2012
Kristin D. Johnson, Louisville, CO (US);
Gary M. Couture, Longmont, CO (US);
Jeffrey R. Unger, Longmont, CO (US);
Robert M. Sharp, Boulder, CO (US);
David M. Garrison, Longmont, CO (US);
Sean T. Dycus, Zurich, CH;
David Hixson, Longmont, CO (US);
Craig Weinberg, Denver, CO (US);
Kristin D. Johnson, Louisville, CO (US);
Gary M. Couture, Longmont, CO (US);
Jeffrey R. Unger, Longmont, CO (US);
Robert M. Sharp, Boulder, CO (US);
David M. Garrison, Longmont, CO (US);
Sean T. Dycus, Zurich, CH;
David Hixson, Longmont, CO (US);
Craig Weinberg, Denver, CO (US);
Covidien AG, , CH;
Abstract
An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein.