Patent ID: 9668806
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: A61B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly including a pair of jaw members, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including an electrically-conductive tissue sealing plate disposed thereon, at least one of the jaw members defining a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof and a first channel extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis, the tissue sealing plate of the at least one jaw member defining an opening therethrough in alignment with the first channel; and a U-shaped stop member removably engaged within the first channel, the U-shaped stop member including a base portion disposed within the first channel and at least a portion extending from the base portion and configured to extend through the opening of the tissue sealing plate toward the other jaw member to define a minimum gap distance between the tissue sealing plates of the jaw members when the jaw members are disposed in the approximated position, wherein the base portion and the at least one portion extending from the base portion cooperate to define a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis, the second channel configured to permit reciprocation of a knife blade therethrough for cutting tissue grasped between the jaw members.