Patent ID: 8361072
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, comprising: a pair of first and second shaft members each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable about a pivot from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; at least one of the jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing plate adapted to communicate electrosurgical energy to tissue held therebetween; and a flexible insulating boot disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of at least one jaw member proximal to the electrically conductive sealing plate of the at least one jaw member, the flexible insulating boot having a distance dimension between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the flexible insulating boot, the at least one of the jaw members defining a length dimension extending from the distal end of the at least one of the jaw members to a proximal position therealong, the distal portion of the flexible insulating boot extending to the proximal position of the at least one jaw member defining the length dimension, the proximal portion and the distal portion of the flexible insulating boot disposed such that the flexible insulating boot remains in a substantially stationary position relative to the length dimension of the at least one jaw member and the distance dimension of the flexible insulating boot during pivoting of the at least one jaw member about the pivot.