Vessel sealer and divider with non-conductive stop members

Abstract

An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The jaws members are connected to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal. At least one non-conductive and spaced-apart stop member is disposed on an inner-facing surface of the jaw members to regulate the gap distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween. The forceps also includes a longitudinally reciprocating knife which severs the tissue after sealing at a location which is proximate the sealing site.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of manufacturing a sealing plate of an end effector assembly, comprising:
 forming depressions in a sealing surface of a first jaw member to create stop members projecting from an opposite side of the sealing surface, the sealing surface configured to couple to an electrical energy source to energize the sealing surface; and   depositing a ceramic material atop each stop member to create nonconductive stop members along the sealing surface of the first jaw member, the nonconductive stop members configured to control a separation distance between the first jaw member and an opposing second jaw member and to prevent electrical energy from conducting between the first and second jaw members at locations of the nonconductive stop members as the sealing surface of the first jaw member is energized by the electrical energy source.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein depositing a ceramic material includes thermally spraying the ceramic material onto the stop members. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein forming depressions includes stamping the depressions into the sealing plate. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein stamping the depressions includes blanking, shearing, hot forming, cold forming, drawing, bending, coining, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein forming the depressions includes protruding the stop members from about 0.001 inches to about 0.005 inches from the sealing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein forming the depressions includes protruding the stop members from about 0.002 inches to about 0.003 inches from the sealing surface.