Gap control in electrosurgical instruments using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene
An electrosurgical device having a pair of jaws, at least one electrode supported by one of the pair of jaws, and a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene positioned in covering relation to at least a portion of the at least one electrode. The sheet may have a porosity of between thirty and ninety percent. The sheet may have a plurality of pores with an average diameter of between 0.2 and 1.0 micrometers.
1. An electrosurgical device, comprising:
a pair of jaws;
at least one electrode supported by one of the pair of jaws; and
a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene positioned in covering relation to at least a portion of the at least one electrode, wherein the sheet has a porosity of between thirty and ninety percent.
2. The electrosurgical device of claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a plurality of pores with an average diameter of between 0.2 and 1.0 micrometers.
3. A method of protecting an electrosurgical device, comprising the steps of:
providing an electrosurgical device having a pair of jaws and at least one electrode supported by one of the pair of jaws; and
positioning a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in covering relation to a portion of the at least one electrode, wherein the sheet has a porosity of between thirty and ninety percent.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sheet has a porosity of between thirty and ninety percent.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sheet has a plurality of pores with an average diameter of between 0.2 and 1.0 micrometers.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of positioning a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in covering relation to a portion of the at least one electrode comprises the step of adhering the sheet to the at least one electrode using an adhesive.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of positioning a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in covering relation to a portion of the at least one electrode comprises the step of forming an overmold over a portion of the sheet.
8. A method of operating an electrosurgical device, comprising the steps of:
providing an electrosurgical device having a pair of jaws, at least one electrode supported by one of the pair of jaws, and a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in covering relation to a portion of the at least one electrode, wherein the sheet has a porosity of between thirty and ninety percent;
closing the electrosurgical device about a portion of tissue to be treated; and
energizing the electrosurgical device to accomplish a surgical procedure without any shorting between the electrodes.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sheet has a porosity of between thirty and ninety percent.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sheet has a plurality of pores with an average diameter of between 0.2 and 1.0 micrometers.