Abstract: A surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism drives blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between the jaw members. To help the trigger mechanism push blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of blade has a graduated flexibility that easily bends to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of the blade may be provided with a low friction coating so that it can easily slide between the jaw members.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism drives blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between the jaw members. To help the trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of blade has a graduated flexibility that easily bends to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of the blade may also be provided with a low friction coating so that it can easily slide between the jaw members.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and a blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism is arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between the jaw members. In order to help the trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of the blade has a graduated flexibility such that it can more easily bend to the shape of the jaw members.

Abstract: A jaw member for an electrosurgical instrument is manufactured by providing a jaw housing (1) having a longitudinal jaw section (2), and an electrically conductive plate (11) including one or more passages (14) therein. The electrically conductive plate is disposed on the jaw section of the jaw housing, and placed into a mold (15). A flowable insulating material (18) is injected into the mold to secure the electrically conductive plate to the jaw housing, such that the flowable material (18) flows through the one or more passages (14) to form one or more stop members (21) that project a predetermined distance from the electrically conductive plate.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. The end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and a blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism is arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between jaw members. In order to help trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of the blade has a graduated flexibility such that it can more easily bend to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of blade may also be provided with a low friction coating.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument with a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (2), (3). A first sealing electrode (9) is located on the first jaw member (2), while a second sealing electrode (10) is located on the second jaw member (3). One or both of the sealing electrodes are provided with electrically conductive stop members (12), the one or more stop members maintaining a predetermined spacing between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position. One or more insulating members (14), (17), (19) are present to prevent the conductive stop members from causing an electrical short between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position.

Abstract: A jaw member for an electrosurgical instrument is manufactured by providing a jaw housing (18) having a longitudinal jaw section (19), and an electrically conductive plate (1). The electrically conductive plate is placed into a mould, and a first flowable insulating material (15) is injected into the mould such that the flowable material (15) forms one or more stop members (16) that project a predetermined distance from the electrically conductive plate. The jaw housing (18) and the electrically conductive plate (1) are then placed into a second mould, and a second flowable material (25) is injected into the mould to secure the electrically conductive plate (1) to the jaw housing (18).

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument having an end-effector capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by handle that is moveable relative to instrument to move end effector between two conditions. Providing a simplified latching mechanism for this moveable handle, which latching mechanism is formed of single integrally formed component arranged to engage with handle to allow end effector to be retained in one condition, thus leaving user's hand free to perform other functions of instrument. Therefore, a user may use surgical instrument to grasp tissue between end effector by activating end effector using handle, then use latch mechanism to latch handle in the end effector activation position, allowing surgeon to remove his hand from handle and perform some other task.

Abstract: An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members movable between an open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, and a closed position in which the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A first sealing electrode is located on the first jaw member, and a second sealing electrode is located on the second jaw member. One or more stop members are disposed on the sealing electrodes, the one or more stop members being formed of a compliant material such that they are capable of deforming when the jaw members are moved to their closed position with tissue grasped therebetween.

Abstract: An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (2), (3), movable between an open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, and a closed position in which sealing surfaces of the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A first sealing electrode (9) is located on the first jaw member (2), while a second sealing electrode (10) is located on the second jaw member (3). One or both of the sealing surfaces are provided with electrically conductive stop members (12), the one or more stop members maintaining a predetermined spacing between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position. One or more insulating members (14), (17), (19) are present to prevent the conductive stop members from causing an electrical short between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument having several improvements and advantages over the prior art. Surgical instrument has an end-effector capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by handle that is moveable relative to instrument to move end effector between two conditions. Providing a simplified latching mechanism for this moveable handle, which latching mechanism is formed of single integrally formed component arranged to engage with handle to allow end effector to be retained in one condition, thus leaving user's hand free to perform other functions of instrument. Therefore, a user may use surgical instrument to grasp tissue between end effector by activating end effector using handle, then use latch mechanism to latch handle in the end effector activation position, allowing surgeon to remove his hand from handle and perform some other task.

Abstract: An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. The end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and a blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism is arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between jaw members. In order to help trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of the blade has a graduated flexibility such that it can more easily bend to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of blade may also be provided with a low friction coating.

Abstract: An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (2), (3), movable between an open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, and a closed position in which sealing surfaces of the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A first sealing electrode (9) is located on the first jaw member (2), while a second sealing electrode (10) is located on the second jaw member (3). One or both of the sealing surfaces are provided with electrically conductive stop members (12), the one or more stop members maintaining a predetermined spacing between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position. One or more insulating members (14), (17), (19) are present to prevent the conductive stop members from causing an electrical short between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument with a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (2), (3). A first sealing electrode (9) is located on the first jaw member (2), while a second sealing electrode (10) is located on the second jaw member (3). One or both of the sealing electrodes are provided with electrically conductive stop members (12), the one or more stop members maintaining a predetermined spacing between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position. One or more insulating members (14), (17), (19) are present to prevent the conductive stop members from causing an electrical short between the first and second sealing electrodes when the jaw members are in their closed position.

Abstract: An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (2), (3), movable between an open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, and a closed position in which the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. A first sealing electrode (11) is located on the first jaw member, and a second sealing electrode (15) is located on the second jaw member. One or more stop members (21), (22), (25), (26) are disposed the sealing electrodes, the one or more stop members being formed of a compliant material such that they are capable of deforming when the jaw members (2), (3) are moved to their closed position with tissue grasped therebetween.

Abstract: A jaw member for an electrosurgical instrument is manufactured by providing a jaw housing (18) having a longitudinal jaw section (19), and an electrically conductive plate (1). The electrically conductive plate is placed into a mould, and a first flowable insulating material (15) is injected into the mould such that the flowable material (15) forms one or more stop members (16) that project a predetermined distance from the electrically conductive plate. The jaw housing (18) and the electrically conductive plate (1) are then placed into a second mould, and a second flowable material (25) is injected into the mould to secure the electrically conductive plate (1) to the jaw housing (18).

Abstract: A multi-stage dilution device, comprising a first stage dilution apparatus (A), and a second stage dilution apparatus (B), each of the stage dilution device comprising:—(i) a housing (1) having a diluent inlet (7); (ii) a sample inlet (2) having a sample introducer within the housing (1) adapted to introduce the sample at an introducer point (4) within the housing (1); and, (iii) a mixing conduit (5) mounted at least partially within the housing (1), the mixing conduit (5) having an inlet section comprising a mouth (10), and a fluid outlet (8), and a throat section (9) capable of producing a pressure drop within the mixing conduit (5), the pressure drop being sufficient to draw sample through the sample inlet (2); the introducer point (4) of the sample inlet (2) being proximate the mixing conduit inlet; and wherein the fluid output (8) of the first stage dilution apparatus (A) is in communication with the sample inlet (2) of the second stage dilution apparatus (B).