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AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Yates, Philip Q. Shuster, Kenneth V. Moran, Chester O. Baxter, David A. Witt, James R. Giordano, Jesse J. Kuhns
Estimating the term…
An electrosurgical stapling instrument includes an end effector capable of applying bipolar RF energy into tissue. The end effector has a first pole electrode and a second pole electrode for forming an RF contact circuit with tissue. At least one of the electrodes may have a dielectric coating thereon to create a RF circuit with tissue. The dielectric coating can cover one of the electrodes to create a capacitive coupling circuit with tissue, or can have at least one open passageway extending through the dielectric coating to enable tissue contact with the electrode and the passage of RF energy therethrough. The dielectric coating on the electrode can be masked to create passageways through the dielectric, or the dielectric coating can be locally removed with a variety of techniques to form passageways. The dielectric coating may provide a barrier to prevent shorting between the dielectrically coated electrode and a conductive fastener embedded within tissue. Alternately, a cartridge coating can be used to reduce an electric surface sheet charge on the cartridge thermoplastic that can occur during the application of RF energy to tissue.
An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of receiving RF bipolar energy therein, said end effector comprising;
An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector for clamping and coagulating tissue, said end effector comprising;
An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of applying bipolar energy and placing at least one staple into tissue compressed therein, said end effector comprising;
An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector capable of applying bipolar energy and placing at least one staple into tissue compressed therein, said end effector comprising;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.