Patent ID: 11857247
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body; and
(c) an end effector configured to grasp tissue and transmit RF energy to the grasped tissue, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a first jaw member comprising a first tissue grasping feature and a set of teeth, wherein the first tissue grasping feature comprises an electrode surface electrically insulated from the set of teeth, and
(ii) a second jaw member, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably coupled to the first jaw member between an open position, a partially closed position, and a closed position, wherein the second jaw member comprises:
(A) a longitudinal proximal taper which tapers longitudinally, the longitudinal proximal taper comprising a proximal electrode surface terminating at a proximal end,
(B) a longitudinal distal taper which tapers longitudinally, the longitudinal distal taper comprising a distal electrode surface terminating at a distal end, wherein the distal electrode surface is configured to engage the set of teeth of the first jaw member in the partially closed position and the closed position at an engagement location, and
(C) a juncture interposed between the proximal electrode surface and the distal electrode surface, wherein the distal electrode surface tapers continuously from the juncture to the engagement location with the set of teeth of the first jaw member,
wherein the juncture is configured to be spaced further from the first tissue grasping feature compared to the proximal end and the distal end while the second jaw is in the partially closed position,
wherein, while in the closed position, the proximal electrode surface and the distal electrode surface are configured to deform in response to a bending force generated by the set of teeth engaging the distal electrode surface of the longitudinal distal taper, as compared to the proximal electrode surface and the distal electrode surface in the partially closed position, to define a gap with the first tissue grasping feature between the proximal end and the distal end.