Surgical tissue sealer

US10327834B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Covidien LP · US

Inventors

• Joanna Ackley · Boulder, US
• James D. Allen, IV · Broomfield, US
• Ryan C. Artale · Boulder, US
• Kim V. Brandt · Loveland, US
• Dennis W. Butcher · Longmont, US
• Edward M. Chojin · Boulder, US
• Gary M. Couture · Longmont, US
• James S. Cunningham · Boulder, US
• David M. Garrison · Longmont, US
• Keir Hart · Lafayette, US
• Russell D. Hempstead · Lafayette, US
• Glenn A. Horner · Boulder, US
• Daniel A. Joseph · Golden, US
• Duane E. Kerr · Loveland, US
• Dylan R. Kingsley · Broomfield, US
• Peter M. Mueller · Suwanee, US
• Jessica E. C. Olson · Frederick, US
• Sean T. O'Neill · Los Gatos, US
• Jason T. Sanders · Longmont, US
• Robert M. Sharp · Boulder, US
• John R. Twomey · Longmont, US
• Jeffrey R. Unger · Longmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 25, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 3, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49895
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.