Patent · US Active

Incorporating rapid cooling in tissue fusion heating processes

US7708735B2 · kind B2 · utility

308Cited by
697References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 2005
Grant dateMay 4, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/146
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electrode sealing assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue includes first and second jaw members which are movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue. The jaw members include electrically conductive sealing plates designed to selectively transmit electrosurgical energy to tissue disposed between the sealing plates. The jaw members also include a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second electrical connections on opposite sides of the jaw member. The first connection is configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection is configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.