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US 2004/0176756 A1Published application
Tubular resistance heater with electrically insulating high thermal conductivity core for use in a tissue welding device
AssigneeStarion Instruments Corporation
InventorThomas H. McGaffigan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resistance heater for use in a tissue sealing and cutting device, including a tubular heating element adapted to conduct current therethrough; and a thermally conductive electrical insulator disposed within the tubular heating element.
Claims49
A resistance heater for use in a tissue sealing and cutting device, comprising:
- a tubular heating element adapted to conduct current therethrough;
- and
- a thermally conductive electrical insulator disposed within the tubular heating element.
A system for sealing and cutting tissue, comprising:
- a body comprising a pair of opposing working surfaces that may be moved together and apart;
- and
- a resistance heater disposed on at least one of the working surfaces, wherein the resistance heater comprises a tubular heating element adapted to conduct current therethrough and a thermally conductive electrical insulator disposed within the tubular heating element.
A method of cutting or sealing tissue with a thermal tissue welding device, comprising:
- grasping the tissue between two opposing working surfaces of the thermal tissue welding device, wherein a resistance heater is disposed on at least one of the working surfaces, and wherein the resistance heater comprises a tubular heating element and a thermally conductive electrical insulator disposed within the tubular heating element;
- and
- passing current through the tubular heating element, thereby causing heating of the resistance heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.