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:
May. 12, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 18, 2011
Duane E. Kerr, Loveland, CO (US);
Allan J. Evans, Golden, CO (US);
Arlan J. Reschke, Longmont, CO (US);
Robert M. Sharp, Boulder, CO (US);
William H. Nau, Jr., Longmont, CO (US);
Glenn A. Horner, Boulder, CO (US);
Mark J. Huseman, Broomfield, CO (US);
Duane E. Kerr, Loveland, CO (US);
Allan J. Evans, Golden, CO (US);
Arlan J. Reschke, Longmont, CO (US);
Robert M. Sharp, Boulder, CO (US);
William H. Nau, Jr., Longmont, CO (US);
Glenn A. Horner, Boulder, CO (US);
Mark J. Huseman, Broomfield, CO (US);
Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a handle coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy. A pair of opposed jaw members is operatively coupled to a distal end of the handle such that the jaw members selectively move between open and closed positions. A base supported on one of the jaw members includes a mechanical mating feature and an electrically conductive region in electrical communication with the source of electrosurgical energy. A selectively removable seal plate includes a complementarily engaging a mechanical mating feature and an electrically conductive region positioned to contact the electrically conductive region of the base when the mechanical mating features of the base and seal plate are engaged. The complimentarily-engaging mechanical mating features include a pair of spaced protrusions and a pair of spaced recesses open to opposing sides of the base or the seal plate such that the seal plate may be twisted onto the base.