Application of non-stick coatings onto jaws of electrosurgical tissue sealing instruments
Inventors
Mandula, Rajanikanth • Nelli, Naveen Kanth • GUTTI, RAVI SEKHAR • Yellayi, Bhargav Sarma
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12458997-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A coating assembly for coating jaws of an electrosurgical instrument includes a dispensing device and a jaw applicator. The dispensing device has a non-stick coating material contained therein and includes a discharge port. The jaw applicator includes an applicator body defining a cavity therein. The applicator body includes a first wall and a second wall disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and the cavity extends therebetween. Each of the first and second walls has openings defined therethrough that are in open communication with the cavity. The discharge port of the dispensing device is configured to engage the jaw applicator in a fluid tight manner to define a flow path for the non-stick coating material that extends out of the discharge port, into the cavity of the applicator body, and out of the openings defined in the first and second walls.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to electrosurgical forceps and end effectors having sealing-plate jaws, together with a coating assembly and coating system for coating jaw tissue-engaging surfaces with a non-stick coating to reduce tissue sticking and eschar build-up. A dispensing device contains a non-stick coating material and includes a discharge port that delivers the non-stick coating material to a jaw applicator.
The jaw applicator has an applicator body defining a cavity between spaced first and second walls, and the first and second walls include openings in open communication with the cavity. The discharge port engages the jaw applicator in a fluid tight manner to define a flow path in which the non-stick coating material flows out of the discharge port, into the cavity, and out through the openings onto the jaw tissue-engaging surfaces.
The coating assembly also includes a brush assembly with longitudinally slidable brushes and cleaning bristles positioned relative to the jaw applicator to remove eschar and support handling of non-stick coating on the jaw surfaces. In an alternative embodiment, the jaw applicator uses pre-formed layers of non-stick coating on outer surfaces of the jaw applicator without openings, where closed jaws press the coating layers and the coating is cured by heating during electrosurgical operation.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. The independent claims cover fluid-tight delivery of non-stick coating material through a cavity and wall openings, and layered non-stick coating on outer surfaces of a jaw applicator with longitudinally slidable brushes.
Fluid-tight dispensing to a cavity with wall openings
A coating assembly for coating jaws of an electrosurgical instrument including a dispensing device with non-stick coating material and a discharge port, and a jaw applicator with an applicator body defining a cavity between a first wall and a second wall, the first and second walls having openings in open communication with the cavity, wherein the discharge port engages the jaw applicator in a fluid tight manner to define a flow path that extends out of the discharge port, into the cavity, and out through the openings.
Layered non-stick coating on wall outer surfaces with longitudinally slidable brush
A coating assembly for coating jaws of an electrosurgical instrument including a jaw applicator with an applicator body having a first wall and a second wall with inner surfaces facing one another and outer surfaces facing outwardly; a first layer of non-stick coating material disposed on the outer surface of the first wall; a second layer of non-stick coating material disposed on the outer surface of the second wall; and a first brush disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the first wall, the first brush being longitudinally slidable along an axis parallel to a central longitudinal axis and along the outer surface of the first wall.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on delivering non-stick coating to sealing-plate jaw tissue-engaging surfaces either via a fluid-tight discharge port and a cavity with openings forming a defined flow path, or via non-stick coating layers on jaw applicator outer surfaces together with longitudinally slidable brushes.
Stated Advantages
Reduce tissue sticking.
Reduce eschar build-up.
Documented Applications
Coating jaws of an electrosurgical instrument, including sealing-plate jaws and tissue-engaging surfaces, using a coating assembly/system intended to reduce tissue sticking and eschar build-up.
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