Method of Manufacturing Tissue Seal Plates
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorsGlenn A. Horner, Christina A. Oliver, Kim V. Brandt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members, each jaw member having a jaw housing and a seal plate. The seal plate is associated with the jaw housing and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. A portion of the exterior surface defines a tissue contacting surface and at least a portion of the interior surface includes a conductive element that is disposed thereon. The conductive element facilitates soldering a wire lead thereto for electrical communication with the seal plate.
Claims8
An end effector assembly, comprising:
- a pair of opposing jaw members, each jaw member including:
- a jaw housing;
- and
- a seal plate associated with the jaw housing, the seal plate including an interior surface and an exterior surface, at least a portion of the exterior surface defining a tissue contacting surface, and at least a portion of the interior surface including a conductive element disposed thereon, wherein the conductive element facilitates soldering a wire lead thereto for electrical communication with the seal plate.
A method of manufacturing an end effector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a seal plate having interior and exterior surfaces;
- plating at least a portion of the interior surface of the seal plate with a conductive element;
- etching at least a portion of the seal plate to remove at least a portion of the conductive element;
- and
- soldering an electrical lead to the conductive element.
A method of manufacturing an end effector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a seal plate having interior and exterior surfaces;
- forming a groove on the interior surface;
- plating at least a portion of the interior surface of the seal plate proximate the groove with a conductive material;
- and
- soldering an electrical lead to the seal plate via the conductive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.