# US 11,026,741 B2 · Electrosurgical seal plates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,741 B2 - Document ID: US11026741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/259,366 - Filed: 2019-01-28 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-28 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Kim V. Brandt; Allan G. Aquino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026741B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) - B32B 37/12: characterised by using adhesives - B32B 38/0036: {Heat treatment (for heating or cooling of layers during lamination B32B37/06, B32B37/08)} - B32B 38/10: Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically - C23F 1/02: Local etching - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - B32B 2038/0076: {Curing, vulcanising, cross-linking} - B32B 2311/12: Copper - B32B 2535/00: Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter - Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - Y10T 29/5313: Means to assemble electrical device - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - C23F: NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE (working metal by laser beams B23K26/00; desurfacing by applying flames B23K7/00; working of metal by electro-erosion B23H; producing decorative effects by removing surface material, e.g. by engraving, by etching, B44C1/22; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F); INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An end effector configured for use with an electrosurgical device, the end effector comprising: a first jaw member including a seal plate, the seal plate including a plurality of retention features configured to operably engage the seal plate to an overmolding material; and a second jaw member operably coupled to the first jaw member such that at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is movable relative to the other between an open condition and a closed condition, the second jaw member including a seal surface including a recess defined therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is movable relative to the first jaw member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer extending from the recess and configured to maintain a gap distance between the seal plate of the first jaw member and the seal surface of the second jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The end effector according to claim 4, wherein the spacer extends above the seal surface of the second jaw member a distance in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The end effector according to claim 4, wherein the spacer includes a hemispherical configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The end effector according to claim 4, wherein the spacer includes a cylindrical configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The end effector according to claim 4, wherein the spacer includes a square configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The end effector according to claim 4, wherein the spacer includes a triangular configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The end effector according to claim 4, further comprising an adhesive disposed within the recess and configured to retain the spacer within the recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of spacers is disposed within the recess. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The end effector according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of spacers is arranged in a grid-like configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the seal plate of the first jaw member or the seal surface of the second jaw member includes a knife slot defined therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the seal surface of the second jaw member includes a knife slot defined therein and a first spacer is disposed within the recess on a first side of the knife slot and a second spacer is disposed in a second recess defined within the seal surface on a second side of the knife slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein each retention feature of the plurality of retention features extends from a side of the seal plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of retention features defines a curved portion configured to secure the seal plate to the overmolding material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the recess is configured to accommodate a spacer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer operably coupled to at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member and configured to maintain a gap distance between the first seal plate of the first jaw member and the seal surface of the second jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed condition.