Importance

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Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument and method for making and using the same are provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes a stainless steel blade having two major opposed surfaces connected by two edge surfaces, with each surface plated with an intermediate layer comprising a substantially non-toxic metal having a hardness of at least about 130 on a Knoop scale and an electrical resistivity not exceeding about 15 microhm-cm at 20.degree. C. A non-stick coating is coated on the intermediate layer on only the two major opposed surfaces, thereby exposing the intermediate layer on the two edge surfaces. The non-stick coating prevents tissue from sticking to the instrument during surgery while the intermediate metal layer enhances the electrical conductivity of the instrument for more efficient cutting and cauterization of tissue with less power consumption. The use of gold-coated edge surfaces in conjunction with fully coated major opposed surfaces provides better electrical conductivity to cut flesh and cauterize, while allowing facile passage of the blade through the flesh without sticking and permitting easier cleaning of the blade while reducing surgery time.

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First Claim