US-12622744-B2 - Electrosurgical instrument

US12622744B2US 12622744 B2US12622744 B2US 12622744B2US-12622744-B2

Abstract

An end effector assembly of a surgical instrument includes opposing first and second jaw members. A first sealing plate is positioned on the first jaw member. The first sealing plate defines a first surface facing the second jaw member. A second sealing plate is positioned on the second jaw member. The second sealing plate defines a second surface facing the first jaw member. A mesa is formed in the first sealing plate. The mesa protrudes from the first surface toward the second surface in the second position of the first and second jaw members. A material is disposed on the mesa. The mesa and the material define a stop member. The stop member maintains a gap distance between the first and second surfaces when the first and second jaw members are in the second position.

Inventors

Monte S. Fry
Curtis M. Siebenaller
Michael C. Cullen
William P. Verwys
Anthony J. Sanzari
Eric B. Carmichael

Assignees

COVIDIEN LP

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221110

Claims (10)

1 . An end effector assembly for a surgical instrument, comprising: a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled with each other such that at least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other of the first or second jaw members from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a first sealing plate positioned on the first jaw member, the first sealing plate defining a first surface facing the second jaw member; a second sealing plate positioned on the second jaw member, the second sealing plate defining a second surface facing the first jaw member; a mesa formed in the first sealing plate and having a top surface spaced from the first surface, the mesa protruding from the first surface toward the second surface in the second position of the first and second jaw members; and a material disposed on the top surface of the mesa by depositing fluid onto the top surface and hardening the fluid, wherein the material is separated from the first surface by the mesa and at least partially defines a stop member, the stop member configured to maintain a gap distance between the first and second surfaces when the first and second jaw members are in the second position.
2 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the first sealing plate or the second surface of the second sealing plate is an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface.
3 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , further including a knife and knife channel defined in at least one of the first or second jaw members, the knife longitudinally extendable within the knife channel.
4 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members further includes a jaw insert and an insulator configured to electrically insulate the first and second sealing plates from the jaw inserts of the first and second jaw members.
5 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material includes a heat-resistant ceramic material.
6 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material includes an electrically non-conductive plastic.
7 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gap distance is from about 0.001 inches to about 0.010 inches.
8 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second jaw members includes an insulator coupled thereto, the insulator configured to electrically insulate the first sealing plate from the first jaw member, or the second sealing plate from the second jaw member.
9 . The end effector assembly of claim 8 , further including a knife and a knife channel, wherein the insulator is configured to guide the knife into the knife channel.
10 . The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material disposed on the mesa defines a dome shape.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/278,649 filed Nov. 12, 2021, the entire contents of which being incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to electrosurgical instruments for grasping, treating, and/or dividing tissue. BACKGROUND Instruments such as electrosurgical forceps are commonly used in open and endoscopic surgical procedures to coagulate, cauterize and seal tissue. Such forceps typically include a pair of jaw members that can be controlled by a surgeon to grasp targeted tissue, such as, e.g., a blood vessel. The jaw members may be approximated to apply a mechanical clamping force to the tissue, and are associated with at least one electrode to permit the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the tissue. The combination of the mechanical clamping force and the electrosurgical energy has been demonstrated to join adjacent layers of tissue captured between the jaw members. When the adjacent layers of tissue include the walls of a blood vessel, sealing the tissue may result in hemostasis, which may facilitate the transection of the sealed tissue. SUMMARY Provided in accordance with aspects of the disclosure is an end effector of a surgical instrument including opposing first and second jaw members. The opposing first and second jaw members are operably coupled with each other such that at least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other of the first or second jaw members from a first position in which the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position in which the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. A first sealing plate is positioned on the first jaw member. The first sealing plate defines a first surface facing the second jaw member. A second sealing plate is positioned on the second jaw member. The second sealing plate defines a second surface facing the first jaw member. A mesa is formed in the first sealing plate. The mesa protrudes from the first surface toward the second surface in the second position of the first and second jaw members. A material is disposed on the mesa. The mesa and the material define a stop member. The stop member maintains a gap distance between the first and second surfaces when the first and second jaw members are in the second position. According to aspects of the disclosure, the first surface of the first sealing plate or the second surface of the second sealing plate is an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface. According to aspects of the disclosure, a knife and knife channel are defined in at least one of the first or second jaw members. The knife is longitudinally extendable within the knife channel. According to aspects of the disclosure, each of the first and second jaw members includes a jaw insert and an insulator configured to electrically insulate the first and second sealing plates from the jaw inserts of the first and second jaw members. According to aspects of the disclosure, the material includes a heat-resistant ceramic material. According to aspects of the disclosure, the material includes an electrically non-conductive plastic. According to aspects of the disclosure, the gap distance is from about 0.001 inches to about 0.010 inches. According to aspects of the disclosure, at least one of the first or second jaw members includes an insulator. The insulator is configured to electrically insulate the first sealing plate from the first jaw member, or the second sealing plate from the second jaw member. According to aspects of the disclosure, the insulator is configured to guide a knife into a knife channel. According to aspects of the disclosure, the material on the mesa is spaced apart from the first surface of the first sealing plate. According to aspects of the disclosure, the material disposed on the mesa defines a dome shape. According to aspects of the disclosure, the material disposed on the mesa is deposited onto the at least one mesa as a fluid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrosurgical forceps according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 2A is an enlarged, perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 1 depicted with a pair of jaw members in an open configuration. FIG. 2B is an enlarged, perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 1 depicted with the pair of jaw members in a closed configuration. FIG. 3 is a partial, proximal-facing perspective view of a distal portion of a jaw actuation mechanism of the end effector of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial, distal-facing perspective view of the distal portion of the jaw actuation mechani