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:
Feb. 16, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 22, 2011
Jason L. Harris, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey S. Swayze, Hamilton, OH (US);
Foster B. Stulen, Mason, OH (US);
Gregory W. Johnson, Milford, OH (US);
Prasanna Malaviya, Mason, OH (US);
Paul Guerra, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Jason L. Harris, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey S. Swayze, Hamilton, OH (US);
Foster B. Stulen, Mason, OH (US);
Gregory W. Johnson, Milford, OH (US);
Prasanna Malaviya, Mason, OH (US);
Paul Guerra, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, unknown;
Abstract
A surgical instrument can comprise an end effector including a plurality of jaws which can be configured to compress tissue therebetween. The end effector can further comprise one or more electrodes which can be configured to direct a flow of electrical current through the tissue in order to heat the tissue and denature collagen and/or other proteins within the tissue. As the tissue cools, the collagen and/or other proteins can renature and thereby seal the tissue. In certain embodiments, the end effector of the surgical instrument can further comprise movable portions which can apply a tension force to the tissue surrounding the tissue being sealed. In various circumstances, the tension force can reduce the over-denaturation, shrinkage, and/or other damage to the surrounding tissue caused by heat flowing from the end effector during the sealing process.