US 12,127,781 B2
Vessel sealing instrument with seal plates for directing the flow of energy
Samuel W. Tobey, Erie, CO (US); James D. Allen, IV, Broomfield, CO (US); Kenlyn S. Bonn, Lakewood, CO (US); Jennifer R. Mchenry, Denver, CO (US); and William E. Robinson, Erie, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/917,585.
Prior Publication US 2021/0401485 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1442 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00428 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A jaw member comprising:
a support base;
an insulator supported within the support base; and
a sealing plate extending from a proximal end of the support base to a distal end of the support base, the sealing plate including a sealing surface configured to contact tissue and an outwardly facing surface opposite the sealing surface supported on the insulator, the sealing surface having at least two impedance zones, the at least two impedance zones having different impedance values and being contiguous and in electrical contact with one another at the sealing surface, wherein the sealing plate includes a first conductive material disposed at a proximal end of the sealing plate and a second conductive material positioned over at least a portion of the first conductive material and extending distally therefrom across the sealing surface to a distal end of the sealing plate.