US 2013/0085496 A1 · Surgical Forceps

Abstract

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members, each jaw member including a tissue sealing plate disposed thereon. One or both of the jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members defines a first channel extending therethrough and an opening in the tissue sealing plate thereof that is aligned with the first channel. A stop member having a pre-determined configuration is removably engaged within the first channel. At least a portion of the stop member is configured to extend through the opening of the tissue sealing plate to define a minimum gap distance between the tissue sealing plates of the jaw members when the jaw members are disposed in the approximated position.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A forceps, comprising:

an end effector assembly including a pair of jaw members, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including an electrically-conductive tissue sealing plate disposed thereon, at least one of the jaw members defining a first channel extending longitudinally therethrough, the tissue sealing plate of the at least one jaw member defining an opening therethrough in alignment with the first channel;
and
a stop member removably engaged within the first channel, at least a portion of the stop member configured to extend through the opening of the tissue sealing plate toward the other jaw member to define a minimum gap distance between the tissue sealing plates of the jaw members when the jaw members are disposed in the approximated position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical Forceps

Life of this patent

Surgical Forceps

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18