Patent ID: 7160299
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy, comprising the steps of: providing a vessel sealing instrument having opposing jaw members which are movable relative to one another to compress tissue therebetween, the vessel sealing instrument having at least one stop member affixed thereto for regulating the distance between opposing jaw members; providing a biomaterial by extracting collagen from the biomaterial and confirming the absence of collagen from the biomaterial; positioning the biomaterial in abutting relation to tissue; grasping the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members; compressing the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm energizing the jaw members with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the tissue such that the biomaterial and the tissue reform into a single, fused mass.