US 12,491,023 B2
Fine dissection end effector assembly
Kenneth E. Netzel, Loveland, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/061,846.
Prior Publication US 2022/0104868 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1447 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/2947 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00077 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00595 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
a housing including a handle and an elongated shaft extending therefrom supporting and end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including:
a first jaw member having a first jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon, the first jaw housing including a first U-shaped proximal flange having opposing sides defining a cuff therebetween, a lower edge of each side including a first cradle defined therein configured to secure a pivot bar therein, the first proximal flange configured to operably support a pivot therein; and
a second jaw member having a second jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon in opposition to the tissue engaging surface of the first jaw member, the second jaw housing including a second U-shaped proximal flange having opposing sides defining a cuff therebetween configured to receive the first proximal flange of the first jaw member, an upper edge of each side of the second proximal flange including a second cradle recessed into the upper edge of each side and configured to receive the pivot, the second proximal flange configured to operably engage the distal end of the elongated shaft; and
a drive tube selectively translatable within the elongated shaft, the drive tube including a drive member disposed at a distal end thereof operably secured to the pivot bar wherein actuation of the handle translates the drive member which, in turn, moves the pivot bar and the first cradle relative to the pivot to rotate the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member about the pivot supported within the second cradle, the pivot and the pivot bar maintaining a fixed distance relative to one another during translation of the drive member.