Surgical instruments with removable components

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a handle coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy. A pair of opposed jaw members is operatively coupled to a distal end of the handle such that the jaw members selectively move between open and closed positions. A base supported on one of the jaw members includes a mechanical mating feature and an electrically conductive region in electrical communication with the source of electrosurgical energy. A selectively removable seal plate includes a complementarily engaging a mechanical mating feature and an electrically conductive region positioned to contact the electrically conductive region of the base when the mechanical mating features of the base and seal plate are engaged. The complimentarily-engaging mechanical mating features include a pair of spaced protrusions and a pair of spaced recesses open to opposing sides of the base or the seal plate such that the seal plate may be twisted onto the base.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An end effector, comprising:
 a pair of opposed jaw members;   a base supported on at least one of the pair of opposed jaw members, the base having an electrically conductive region;   a seal plate supported on the base and including an electrode surface having a bore extending through the electrode surface; and   at least one protrusion constructed of an electrically isolative material and extending upwardly from the base, through the bore of the seal plate, and beyond the electrode surface of the seal plate such that the at least one protrusion maintains a gap between the pair of opposed jaw members when the pair of opposed jaw members are moved to a closed position.   
     
     
         22 . The end effector according to  claim 21 , wherein the gap maintained is between about 0.001 inches and about 0.006 inches. 
     
     
         23 . The end effector according to  claim 21 , wherein the bore is configured to receive the at least one protrusion in a friction fit engagement. 
     
     
         24 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle assembly; and   a pair of opposed jaw members operatively coupled to a distal end of the handle assembly, at least one jaw member of the pair of opposed jaw members including:
 a base having a mechanical mating feature; 
 a flexible circuit disposed on the base and including an electrically conductive region in electrical communication with the handle assembly; and 
 a seal plate supported on the base and including:
 a mechanical mating feature configured to engage the mechanical mating feature of the base to maintain the seal plate in position on the base; and 
 an electrically conductive region in electrical communication with the electrically conductive region of the flexible circuit. 
 
   
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 24 , further comprising an elongated shaft interconnecting the pair of opposed jaw members and the distal end of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the flexible circuit extends proximally into the elongated shaft from the at least one jaw member. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , further comprising a sliding joint defined between the at least one jaw member and the elongated shaft, wherein the flexible circuit is electrically coupled to the handle assembly through the sliding joint. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 27 , wherein the sliding joint includes an electrically conductive spring pin biased between the at least one jaw member and the elongated shaft to maintain electrical contact between the at least one jaw member and the elongated shaft during movement of the pair of opposed jaw members. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 24 , wherein the flexible circuit is constructed of a flexible polymer substrate that has a substantially flat configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 24 , wherein the flexible circuit includes a region of relatively greater flexibility than a remainder of the flexible circuit to facilitate movement of the pair of opposed jaw members. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 24 , wherein the mechanical mating feature of the base is an opening defined through the base, and wherein the mechanical mating feature of the seal plate is a post configured for receipt in the opening of the base to maintain the seal plate in position on the base and to maintain electrical continuity between the seal plate and the flexible circuit.