# US 12,213,720 B2 · Jaw assemblies for electrosurgical instruments and methods of manufacturing jaw assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,720 B2 - Document ID: US12213720B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/346,730 - Filed: 2021-06-14 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-08 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: David M. Garrison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213720B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/085: {Forceps, scissors} - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - B23P 15/00: Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61B 2017/2936: {Pins in guiding slots} - A61B 2017/2939: {Details of linkages or pivot points} - A61B 2018/00077: {high, i.e. electrically conducting} - A61B 2018/00083: {low, i.e. electrically insulating} - A61B 2018/00589: {Coagulation} - A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/1457: {having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers} - B23K 3/087: {Soldering or brazing jigs, fixtures or clamping means} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A jaw assembly includes an electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure, a jaw member including a support base, and a non-electrically conductive member including a first portion configured to engage the electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure and a second portion configured to engage the support base of the jaw member. The non-electrically conductive member adapted to electrically isolate the electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure from the jaw member. The electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure and the non-electrically conductive member cooperatively define a longitudinally-oriented knife channel therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A jaw assembly, comprising: a first jaw member including a first arm, a first support base extending from the first arm, and an arm opening defined in the first arm; an electrically insulative jaw insert disposed adjacent the arm opening defined in the first arm; electrically insulative first bushing disposed at least partially within a first opening defined in the jaw insert, wherein an enlarged portion of the first bushing is larger than the first opening of the jaw insert to preclude the first bushing from passing entirely through the first opening of the jaw insert; a second jaw member including a second arm, and an opening defined in the second arm; a first pin disposed at least partially through the opening defined in the second arm of the second jaw member and at least partially through the first bushing; and a second pin disposed at least partially through a second opening defined in the second arm of the second jaw member and at least partially through a second opening defined in the jaw insert, wherein the enlarged portion of the first bushing is positioned between the first arm of the first jaw member and the second arm of the second jaw member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The jaw assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positioning of the enlarged portion of the bushing between the first arm of the first jaw member and the second arm of the second jaw member helps secure the second jaw member to the first jaw member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The jaw assembly according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged portion of the first bushing electrically isolates the first arm and the second arm from one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The jaw assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second jaw member includes a second support base extending from the second arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The jaw assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second support base is disposed in opposing relation to the first support base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The jaw assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulative second bushing disposed at least partially within the second opening of the jaw insert. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The jaw assembly according to claim 6, wherein the second bushing includes an enlarged portion larger than the second opening to preclude the second bushing from passing entirely through the second opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The jaw assembly according to claim 7, wherein the enlarged portion of the second bushing is positioned between the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The jaw assembly according to claim 6, wherein the second pin extends at least partially through the second bushing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The jaw assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are pivotal relative to one another about the first pin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The jaw assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure engaged with the first support base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The jaw assembly according to claim 11, wherein the second jaw member includes a second support base extending from the second arm, and further comprising a second electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure engaged with the second support base and disposed in opposing relation to the first electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure. ### Claim 13 A jaw assembly, comprising: a first jaw member including a first arm and a first support base extending from the first arm, wherein a first hole and a first slot are defined through an inwardly facing surface of the first arm; a second jaw member including a second arm and a second support base extending from the second arm, wherein a second hole and a second slot are defined through the second arm; an electrically insulative material including a first portion fixedly disposed on the inwardly facing surface, a second portion extending continuously from the first portion at least partially into the first hole defined in the first arm and fixedly disposed on an inner surface disposed within and defining the first hole, and a third portion extending continuously from the first portion at least partially into the first slot defined in the first arm and fixedly disposed on an inner surface disposed within and defining the first slot; a first pin disposed at least partially through the first hole of the first arm and at least partially through the second hole of the second arm; and a second pin disposed at least partially through the first slot of the first arm and at least partially through the second slot of the second arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The jaw assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a first electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure engaged with the first support base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The jaw assembly according to claim 13, wherein the second portion of the electrically insulative material electrically isolates the first pin from the first arm of the first jaw member, and wherein the third portion of the electrically insulative material electrically isolates the second pin from the first arm of the first jaw member. ### Claim 16 A jaw assembly, comprising: a first jaw member including an arm having first and second openings defined through an inwardly facing surface of the arm; a second jaw member; an electrically insulative material fixedly bonded to the arm, the electrically insulative material including a first portion fixedly disposed on the inwardly facing surface of the arm, a second portion extending continuously from the first portion into, and fixedly disposed within, the first opening, and a third portion extending continuously from the first portion into, and fixedly disposed within, the second opening; and first and second pins disposed at least partially through the first and second openings, respectively, of the arm to couple the first and second jaw members with one another, wherein the electrically insulative material electrically isolates the first pin from the arm, and wherein the electrically insulative material electrically isolates the second pin from the arm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The jaw assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first jaw member includes an electrically-conductive tissue-engaging structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The jaw assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first opening is a hole and wherein the second opening is a slot.