Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument, an electrosurgical power generating source, and a controller. The electrosurgical instrument includes a shaft extending from a housing. The shaft includes a distal end configured to support an end-effector assembly. The end-effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movably mounted with respect to one another and moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. At least one of the jaw members includes a temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate defining a bottom surface. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the bottom surface.

Abstract: A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument, an electrosurgical power generating source, and a controller. The electrosurgical instrument includes a shaft extending from a housing. The shaft includes a distal end configured to support an end-effector assembly. The end-effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movably mounted with respect to one another and moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. At least one of the jaw members includes a temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate defining a bottom surface. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the bottom surface.

Abstract: A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for the design and manufacturing of a knife with a robust double bevel cutting edge profile for use in surgical procedures. The double bevel cutting edge profile may be defined by a combination of a cutting edge angle and a radius of the cutting edge tip. In some embodiments, the cutting edge profile may be defined by a combination of a web thickness profile and a radius of the cutting edge tip. Numerical ranges are identified for each of the various geometric parameters which may define a cutting edge that provides sufficient knife sharpness over many cutting repetitions. In some embodiments a medical device, which implements a knife with a cutting edge, for use in surgical procedures is described.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezo electric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrode configuration configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. A pre-assembled jaw configuration including jaw members including respective first and second electrodes is provided. One or more stop members are positioned on the first electrode. The first and second electrodes are approximated toward one another for contact therebetween so as to form an at least one indentation on the second electrode.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly includes providing first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second, approximated position. One of the first and second jaw members includes a cavity defined therein and the other of the first and second jaw members includes a stop member configured to be inserted into the cavity. A gap-setting gauge is grasped between the first and second jaw members to define a gap-distance between the jaw members equivalent to a thickness of the gap-setting gauge. The first and second jaw members are set such that the jaw members are prevented from approximation beyond the gap-distance.

Abstract: A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.

Abstract: A knife assembly of a surgical end effector assembly includes a knife body defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second arms. The first arm has a first head including a cutting edge at a distal end thereof and the second arm has a second head. The first head is pivotable relative to the second head to reduce a cutting height during translation of the knife assembly through a knife channel defined within the end effector assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a jaw member of an end-effector assembly includes forming one or more stress-relief cavities within a sealing plate. Each one of the one or more stress-relief cavities defines a pad portion of an electrically-conductive surface of the sealing plate. The method also includes forming a stop member on each pad portion of the electrically-conductive surface of the sealing plate, performing an overmolding operation wherein the one or more stress-relief cavities is configured to prevent force applied to a bottom surface of the sealing plate during the overmolding operation from stressing each pad portion to avoid compromising adhesion between the stop member and the electrically-conductive surface of the sealing plate.

Abstract: A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.

Abstract: An end-effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movably mounted with respect to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes a temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate having a tissue-contacting surface and a bottom surface. A first layer is disposed on one or more portions of the bottom surface of the temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate. The first layer includes an electrically-insulative material. One or more openings are formed in the first layer. One or more electrically-conductive traces are formed over the electrically-insulative material and associated with the one or more openings. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the bottom surface of the temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate and associated with the one or more openings. The one or more openings are each configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more temperature sensors therein.