Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members include tissue-contacting surfaces that define a tissue grasping area. One of the jaw members includes an electrically-insulating body, an interior electrode, and an exterior electrode. The interior electrode is positioned interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. A portion of the interior electrode forms part of the tissue-contacting surface. The exterior electrode is positioned exteriorly of the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. At least one portion of the exterior electrode: extends along the outer back surface of the body, is disposed within the body, and is positioned adjacent the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue.

Abstract: A method of sealing tissue includes providing an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and one or both of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes disposed on either side of the interior electrode. The method further includes grasping tissue between the first and second jaw members and conducting energy between the interior and exterior electrodes to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. During tissue sealing, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes boils faster than tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members cooperate to define a tissue grasping area. One or both of the jaw members includes an inner electrode. One or both of the jaw members includes first and second outer electrodes disposed on either side of the inner electrode. The inner and outer electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue. The inner and outer electrodes define different configurations such that, upon conduction of energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area, tissue disposed adjacent the outer electrodes is boiled before boiling of tissue disposed adjacent the inner electrodes.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members define opposed tissue-contacting surfaces that cooperate to define a tissue grasping area within which tissue is grasped when the jaw members are moved to the approximated position. At least one of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and at least one of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue. The interior electrodes are disposed interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area, while the exterior electrodes are disposed exteriorly. As a result, upon conduction of energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes is boiled before boiling of tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Abstract: A method of sealing tissue includes providing an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and one or both of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes disposed on either side of the interior electrode. The method further includes grasping tissue between the first and second jaw members and conducting energy between the interior and exterior electrodes to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. During tissue sealing, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes boils faster than tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Abstract: A method of sealing tissue includes providing an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and one or both of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes disposed on either side of the interior electrode. The method further includes grasping tissue between the first and second jaw members and conducting energy between the interior and exterior electrodes to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. During tissue sealing, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes boils faster than tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members include tissue-contacting surfaces that define a tissue grasping area. One of the jaw members includes an electrically-insulating body, an interior electrode, and an exterior electrode. The interior electrode is positioned interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. A portion of the interior electrode forms part of the tissue-contacting surface. The exterior electrode is positioned exteriorly of the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. At least one portion of the exterior electrode: extends along the outer back surface of the body, is disposed within the body, and is positioned adjacent the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members include tissue-contacting surfaces that define a tissue grasping area. One of the jaw members includes an electrically-insulating body, an interior electrode, and an exterior electrode. The interior electrode is positioned interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. A portion of the interior electrode forms part of the tissue-contacting surface. The exterior electrode is positioned exteriorly of the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. At least one portion of the exterior electrode: extends along the outer back surface of the body, is disposed within the body, and is positioned adjacent the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members define opposed tissue-contacting surfaces that cooperate to define a tissue grasping area within which tissue is grasped when the jaw members are moved to the approximated position. At least one of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and at least one of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue. The interior electrodes are disposed interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area, while the exterior electrodes are disposed exteriorly. As a result, upon conduction of energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes is boiled before boiling of tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members include tissue-contacting surfaces that define a tissue grasping area. One of the jaw members includes an electrically-insulating body, an interior electrode, and an exterior electrode. The interior electrode is positioned interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. A portion of the interior electrode forms part of the tissue-contacting surface. The exterior electrode is positioned exteriorly of the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. At least one portion of the exterior electrode: extends along the outer back surface of the body, is disposed within the body, and is positioned adjacent the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue.

Abstract: A method of sealing tissue includes providing an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members includes an interior electrode and one or both of the jaw members includes first and second exterior electrodes disposed on either side of the interior electrode. The method further includes grasping tissue between the first and second jaw members and conducting energy between the interior and exterior electrodes to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. During tissue sealing, tissue disposed adjacent the exterior electrodes boils faster than tissue disposed adjacent the interior electrodes.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members cooperate to define a tissue grasping area. One or both of the jaw members includes an inner electrode. One or both of the jaw members includes first and second outer electrodes disposed on either side of the inner electrode. The inner and outer electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue. The inner and outer electrodes define different configurations such that, upon conduction of energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area, tissue disposed adjacent the outer electrodes is boiled before boiling of tissue disposed adjacent the inner electrodes.

Abstract: A headlamp assembly comprising a reflector defining an open front end, a lens adapted to close the open front end of the reflector to form a lamp chamber, a bulb mounted in the lamp chamber, and a mounting structure. The reflector and lens define respective annular flange portions which are seated together at an interface and the mounting structure is formed as an injection molding including an annular main body housing portion surrounding the reflector and an annular seal portion at the inner periphery of the main body portion encapsulating the seated together flange portions so as to seal the interface between the flange portions and seal the lamp chamber. Sealing of the lamp chamber is further facilitated by the provision of a series of annular grooves in the reflector flange portion and a series of annular ribs in the lens flange portion sized to fit in the respective annular grooves in the reflector flange portion.

Abstract: A lamp especially designed for use with plasma discharge light sources such as neon tubes. The lamp provides secondary reflective surfaces to ensure that each ray of light leaving the neon tube strikes at least one metallic reflective surface so as to reduce the troublesome RF characteristic of the neon tube and reduce the interference with other electronic equipment on board the vehicle.

Abstract: A lamp especially suitable for use as a headlamp in a motor vehicle. The lamp includes a lamp housing, a lens sealed to the housing and coacting with the housing to define a sealed chamber, and a lightbulb positioned in the chamber and operative to generate light within the chamber for projection through the lens to a location to be illuminated. The lamp further includes a compensator mechanism which is operative in response to variations in chamber temperature to compensatingly vary the chamber volume whereby to maintain an essentially constant pressure in the chamber irrespective of changes in the chamber temperature resulting from ambient temperature changes or from energization and de-energization of the lightbulb. In one disclosed embodiment the compensator mechanism comprises a bellows positioned exteriorally of the chamber and a conduit interconnecting the bellows and the chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a mirror mounted near the roof for reflecting an image generated by a display source. The display source and mirror are shaped and positioned to provide a virtual image of the image generated by the display source which is focused at infinity.

Abstract: A light assembly for a motor vehicle includes a light source and a parabolic reflector for reflecting light emanating from the light source in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A lens is included in the light assembly. The lens is made from a transparent material and is positioned to produce total internal reflection of a portion of the light emanating from the light source and parabolic reflector. The totally internally reflected light rays are projected in a direction transverse to the motor vehicle. This enables a single light assembly to satisfy safety requirements pertaining to light projection both in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle and in its transverse direction.