# US 9,750,561 B2 · System for manufacturing electrosurgical seal plates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,561 B2 - Document ID: US9750561B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/049,632 - Filed: 2016-02-22 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-28 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Kim V. Brandt; Allan G. Aquino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750561B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) - B32B 37/12: characterised by using adhesives - B32B 38/0036: {Heat treatment (for heating or cooling of layers during lamination B32B37/06, B32B37/08)} - B32B 38/10: Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically - C23F 1/02: Local etching - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - B32B 2038/0076: {Curing, vulcanising, cross-linking} - B32B 2311/12: Copper - B32B 2535/00: Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter - Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - Y10T 29/5313: Means to assemble electrical device - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - C23F: NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE (working metal by laser beams B23K26/00; desurfacing by applying flames B23K7/00; working of metal by electro-erosion B23H; producing decorative effects by removing surface material, e.g. by engraving, by etching, B44C1/22; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F); INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An end effector configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector comprising: a first jaw member having a first sealing surface including a plurality of flanges configured to secure the sealing surface to an overmolding material; and a second jaw member operably coupled to the first jaw member such that at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is movable relative to the other, the second jaw member having a second sealing surface and a spacer disposed within a pocket defined in the second sealing surface of the second jaw member, the spacer configured to maintain a desired gap distance between the first and second sealing surfaces when the first and second jaw members are in a closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the pocket has a depth of 0.002 inches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the pocket extends through a partial depth of the second sealing surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the spacer extends from the second sealing surface a distance that ranges from 0.005 inches to 0.01 inches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a hemispherical configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a cylindrical configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a square configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a triangular configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of spacers is disposed within the pocket defined in the second jaw member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The end effector according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of spacers is arranged in a grid-like configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The end effector according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of spacers is spaced relative to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first sealing surface or the second sealing surface includes a knife slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of flanges extend from a side of the first sealing surface.