US 12,336,749 B2
Gap control via overmold teeth and hard stops
John R. Twomey, Longmont, CO (US); Dylan R. Kingsley, Broomfield, CO (US); James D. Allen, IV, Broomfield, CO (US); Sean T. O'Neill, Los Gatos, CA (US); and Jeffrey M. Roy, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/981,547.
Application 17/981,547 is a continuation of application No. 16/905,970, filed on Jun. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,490,954, issued on Nov. 8, 2022.
Application 16/905,970 is a continuation of application No. 15/927,629, filed on Mar. 21, 2018, granted, now 10,702,332, issued on Jul. 7, 2020.
Application 15/927,629 is a continuation of application No. 15/296,118, filed on Oct. 18, 2016, granted, now 9,931,159, issued on Apr. 3, 2018.
Application 15/296,118 is a continuation of application No. 14/718,748, filed on May 21, 2015, granted, now 9,468,490, issued on Oct. 18, 2016.
Application 14/718,748 is a continuation of application No. 14/578,953, filed on Dec. 22, 2014, granted, now 9,192,434, issued on Nov. 24, 2015.
Application 14/578,953 is a continuation of application No. 13/835,004, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, granted, now 8,939,975, issued on Jan. 27, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/672,347, filed on Jul. 17, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0054962 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); B29C 45/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1445 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1442 (2013.01); A61B 18/1482 (2013.01); B29C 45/14336 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2926 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00595 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/145 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02); B29L 2031/7546 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end effector for a surgical forceps, comprising:
first and second jaw members;
an overmold tooth extending from the first jaw member towards the second jaw member; and
a hard stop extending from the first jaw member towards the second jaw member further than the overmold tooth, the hard stop configured to control a gap distance between the first and second jaw members.