Method of manufacturing a jaw member of an electrosurgical end effector assembly
An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. Each of the jaw members has a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and an electrically insulative layer.
1. A method of manufacturing a jaw member of an electrosurgical end effector assembly, comprising:
bonding an electrically insulative layer to a sheet of stainless steel;
stamping the sheet of stainless steel to form an insulated tissue sealing surface;
coupling an electrical lead to the formed insulated tissue sealing surface, the electrical lead adapted to connect the formed insulated tissue sealing surface to an energy source;
engaging an exposed surface of the formed insulated tissue sealing surface to a support base; and
overmolding an insulative material about the support base to secure the formed insulated tissue sealing surface thereto.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming the support base from machined steel.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein overmolding an insulative material includes overmolding an insulative plastic material about the support base.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein bonding an electrically insulative layer further includes applying adhesive to the sheet of stainless steel.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein bonding an electrically insulative layer includes bonding polyimide to the sheet of stainless steel.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein bonding an electrically insulative layer includes heat treating the electrically insulative layer.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulative layer has a thickness of from about 0.001 inches to about 0.005 inches.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the formed insulated tissue sealing surface has a thickness of from about 0.005 inches to about 0.010 inches.