Metallized components and surgical instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10925663-B2
Application number	US-201816192564-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus and related methods are described. The apparatus is described that includes a structural metal element including a metallic foam layer. The apparatus also includes a second metal element and a nonmetallic spacer. The nonmetallic spacer arranged between the structural metal element and the second metal element, the metallic foam layer joined to the nonmetallic spacer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a structural metal element including a metallic foam layer;
a second metal element; and
a nonmetallic spacer arranged between the structural metal element and the second metal element, the metallic foam layer joined to the nonmetallic spacer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metallic foam layer is formed integral with the structural metal element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the metallic foam layer is a separate layer from the structural metal element and bonded to the structural metal element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 is a medical instrument.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the medical instrument is a tissue sealing medical instrument,
wherein the structural metal element, the second metal element, and the nonmetallic spacer form a jaw element of the tissue sealing medical instrument.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second nonmetallic spacer on an external surface of the second metal element;
a second metallic foam layer on the second nonmetallic spacer; and
a joint formed between the second metal element and the second nonmetallic spacer using the second metallic foam layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second nonmetallic spacer is one of a group consisting of:
a polymeric component;
a ceramic component;
a ceramic-polymer composite component;
a glass component; and
an undoped silicon component; and
an alumina-filled epoxy component.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 ,
wherein the medical instrument is a tissue sealing medical instrument,
wherein the second metal element is a sealplate, and
wherein the second nonmetallic spacer is a nonmetallic sealplate spacer is on an external surface of the sealplate.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second metallic foam layer is formed on the second nonmetallic spacer by at least one of:
glue,
injection molding,
hot glue type attach,
hot pressing,
pressing,
scrubbing, and
ultrasonic welding.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second metallic foam layer includes a honey-comb structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metallic foam layer includes a honey-comb structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metallic foam layer is joined to the nonmetallic spacer by at least one of:
glue,
injection molding,
hot glue type attach,
hot pressing,
pressing,
scrubbing, and
ultrasonic welding.

Assignees

• Hutchinson Technology
• Mound Laser & Photonics Center Inc

Inventors

• Davis Michael W
• Riemer Douglas P
• Olsen Clark T
• Lagergren Steven R
• Pesavento Paul V

Classifications

• B23K2101/12

  Vessels · CPC title

• A61B2018/00095

  high, i.e. heat conducting · CPC title

• B23K20/10

  making use of vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic welding · CPC title

• B23K2103/08

  Non-ferrous metals or alloys · CPC title

• B23K20/233

  without ferrous layer · CPC title