US 12,446,909 B2
Jaw assembly for a vessel sealer
Mason Williams, Denver, CO (US); Michael Olichney, Castle Rock, CO (US); and Alyssa Spomer, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to CONMED CORPORATION, Utica, NY (US)
Filed by CONMED CORPORATION, Utica, NY (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/646,274.
Prior Publication US 2019/0015124 A1, Jan. 17, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/11 (2006.01); A61B 17/22 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/282 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/1107 (2013.01); A61B 17/22031 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2906 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2919 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00607 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1412 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1432 (2013.01); A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A jaw assembly for a vessel sealing device, comprising:
an outer shaft terminating in a first clevis;
a first jaw member having first and second spaced apart hinge flanges, wherein both of the first and second spaced apart hinge flanges are pivotally mounted to the first clevis of the outer shaft for pivotal movement relative to the outer shaft;
a second jaw member having only a single third hinge flange extending therefrom, wherein the third hinge flange is positioned between the first and second hinge flanges of the first jaw member such that the single third hinge flange is immediately adjacent to both the first and second spaced apart hinge flanges and the third hinge flange is pivotally mounted to the first clevis of the outer shaft for pivotal movement relative to the outer shaft;
wherein the first clevis of the outer shaft is pivotally coupled to the first and second spaced apart hinge flanges and the third hinge flange by a pin to form a pivot consisting of the pin, the first and second spaced apart hinge flanges and the single third hinge flange so that the first and second spaced apart flanges of the first jaw member and the single third hinge flange of the second jaw member all can pivot relative to the outer shaft, wherein the pin has a shoulder normal to an axis of the pin produced by a change in diameter along an intermediate portion of the pin with the shoulder of the pin positioned in abutting relation to a lateral side of the single third hinge flange of the second jaw member and restricting transverse movement of the single third hinge flange within the outer shaft; and
a drive shaft positioned within the outer shaft and coupled to the first jaw member and the second jaw member by a second clevis that is coupled to corresponding first and second cam slots in the first and second hinge flanges and a third cam slot in the single third hinge flange so that axial movement of the drive shaft will cause the first hinge flange and the second hinge flange to pivot about the pin in a first direction and single third hinge flange to pivot about the pin in an opposite direction.