Patent attributes
An improved insulating layer for electrosurgical instruments and its use for electrosurgical instruments for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site is disclosed. The insulating layer may include a ceramic material that is substantially sealed with a coating comprising substantially of a material based on polydiorganosiloxanes or derivatives thereof that have been cured. Such an insulating layer may advantageously include one or more insulating materials with pores that have been sealed so as to prevent biological materials from entering the pores with such sealing material preferably containing one or more of silicate materials or materials that form silicates. Heat sinks may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument.