Tissue fusion instrument and method to reduce the adhesion of tissue to its working surfaces
OwnerFrancis T. McGreevy, Katherine R. Pavlovskyinventors
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Abstract
Tissue sticking is substantially reduced or eliminated altogether by smoothing a working surface of a ceramic material or material with a ceramic-like surface microstructure of a tissue fusion instrument to an Ra in the range of less than 0.15 to 0.40 microns. The ceramic material may be aluminum nitride. Reducing or eliminating tissue sticking is particularly advantageous when fusing tissue.
Claims24
One of an electrothermal or electrosurgical instrument having a working surface from which energy is applied to tissue during a surgical procedure and which, reduces sticking of tissue to the working surface during the procedure, wherein the working surface is formed of ceramic material and the working surface has a smoothness defined by an Ra of no greater than 0.40 microns.
A method of reducing sticking of tissue to a working surface of one of an electrothermal or electrosurgical instrument after applying energy to tissue during one of a tissue fusion or a tissue fusion and simultaneous cutting procedure, wherein the working surface is formed of ceramic material and the working surface which has a smoothness defined by an Ra of no greater than 0.40 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.