Cilag International Gmbh

Ethicon, Gmbh

Amy M Krumm

Jason R Lesko

Brian D Black

John E Brady

Ion V Nicolaescu

Andrew Kolpitcke

Ryan M Asher

Stephen M Leuck

Candice Otrembiak

Geni M Giannotti

Alexander R Cuti

Timothy S Holland

Demetrius N Harris

Matthew Thomas Kuhn

Ellen E Burkart

Fajian Zhang

Grace E Waters

Chad Paul Boudreaux

Kevin Michael Fiebig

Sarah Alexandra Worthington

Frederick L Estera

Joseph Daniel Dennis, Jr

Cameron D McLain

Amelia Pierce

David C Yates

Kevin L Houser

Gregory W Johnson

Matthew C Miller

Jacob Spencer Gee

William D Dannaher

Mark A Davison

Richard C Smith

Craig T Davis

Shan Wan

Eric M Roberson

Shawn C Snyder

Rafael J Ruiz Ortiz

David Alexander Monroe

Nathan T Cummings

Matthew S Schneider

Bryce Loring Heitman

Joseph E Hollo

Guion Y Lucas

Glenn W Ellison

Andrew S Meyers

Aaron C Voegele

Carl J Draginoff, Jr

Amrita Singh Sawhney

Monica L Rivard

Monica L Zeckel

Grace E Brooks

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Gregory J Bakos

Jeffrey David Messerly

Taylor W Aronhalt

Benjamin D Dickerson

Ashvani K Madan

Gregory G Scott

Chad E Eckert

Kristen G Denzinger

Joshua P Morgan

Benjamin M Boyd

William A Olson

Patrick Jarvis Scoggins

Scott A Jenkins

Prudence A Vulhop

Nichole Y Kwee

Stephen D Geresy

Yvan D Nguetio Tchoumkeu

William A Crawford

Cameron D Mclain

Laura A Schoettmer

Brian J Hemmelgarn

Eric Stout

Larry A Pummill, Jr

John S Frazier

Amelia A Pierce

Jr Larry A Pummill

Ellen T Burkhart

Andrew Kolpitke

Waters Grace E

Ellen T Burkart

Carl J Draginoff Jr

Geni M Gianotti

Yvan D Nguetio Tchomunkeu

A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Surgical instrument with selectively actuated gap-setting features for end effector

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a medical instrument configured to adjust the power level for sealing procedures to account for changes in tissue impedance levels over time. In some aspects, a medical instrument may be configured to apply power according to a power algorithm to seal tissue by applying a gradually lower amount of power over to time as the tissue impedance level begins to rise out of the 'bathtub region,' which is the time period during energy application where the tissue impedance is low enough for electrosurgical energy to be effective for sealing tissue. In some aspects, the power is then cut once the tissue impedance level exceeds the “bathtub region.” By gradually reducing the power, a balance is achieved between still applying an effective level of power for sealing and prolonging the time in which the tissue impedance remains in the “bathtub region.”

Methods and systems for advanced harmonic energy

An ultrasonic instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer support by the housing, and an integrated usage indicator. The housing is configured to removably connect to a shaft assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to be acoustically connected to a waveguide and operated a predetermined number of use cycles. The integrated usage indicator is operatively connected to the housing and includes a used state indicator. The used state indicator is configured to indicate to a clinician in a used state when the ultrasonic transducer has been operated at least the predetermined number of use cycles for limiting usage of the ultrasonic transducer to the predetermined number of use cycles.

Surgical instrument use indicator

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of assembly with a predetermined alignment includes first and second modular assemblies and an electrical lockout. The first modular assembly includes at least a portion of an end effector configured to manipulate a tissue. The second modular assembly includes a transducer power circuit and an activation switch electrically connected to the transducer power circuit. The electrical lockout is electrically connected to the transducer power circuit and configured to inhibit the activation switch from powering the ultrasonic transducer with the first and second modular assemblies misaligned from the predetermined alignment such that the first and second modular assemblies are in a locked-out state. The electrical lockout is further configured to allow the activation switch to power the ultrasonic transducer with the first and second modular assemblies in the predetermined alignment such that the first and second modular assemblies are in an operational state.

Electrical lockout for ultrasonic surgical instrument

An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a first modular assembly including at least one operator input feature an ultrasonic transducer supported by the first modular assembly, and a second modular assembly configured to be removably coupled with the first modular assembly. The second modular assembly includes at least a portion of an end effector extending distally from a distal end portion of the second modular assembly. The instrument includes a mechanical lockout assembly configured to switch between at least an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. In the locked configuration, the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly are partially coupled together such that the operator is physically prevented from activating the instrument using the operator input feature. In the unlocked configuration, the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly are completely coupled together and the operator is able to activate the instrument using the operator input feature.

Mechanical lockout for ultrasonic surgical instrument

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a medical instrument configured to adjust the power level for sealing procedures to account for changes in tissue impedance levels over time. In some aspects, a medical instrument may be configured to apply power according to a power algorithm to seal tissue by applying a gradually lower amount of power over to time as the tissue impedance level begins to rise out of the 'bathtub region,' which is the time period during energy application where the tissue impedance is low enough for electrosurgical energy to be effective for sealing tissue. In some aspects, the power is then cut once the tissue impedance level exceeds the 'bathtub region.' By gradually reducing the power, a balance is achieved between still applying an effective level of power for sealing and prolonging the time in which the tissue impedance remains in the &#x201c;bathtub region.&#x201d;

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue includes generating a desired burst pressure in the tissue, sealing the tissue, verifying that the tissue is sealed with further application of at least one of the ultrasonic energy and the RF energy. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, and a controller. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and is configured to direct application of ultrasonic and RF energies according to an initial phase, a power phase, and a termination phase for respectively generating a desired burst pressure in the tissue, sealing the tissue, and verifying the sealing of the tissue while inhibiting transection of the tissue.

Combination ultrasonic and electrosurgical instrument and method for sealing tissue in successive phases

An ultrasonic surgical instrument that includes a handle assembly including at least one user input feature; an ultrasonic transducer supported by the handle assembly, a shaft assembly configured to removably couple with the handle assembly, and a mechanical lockout assembly. The shaft assembly includes a distal end portion. The shaft assembly further includes an end effector extending distally from the distal end portion, and an ultrasonic waveguide configured to be acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer. The mechanical lockout assembly is configured to move between at least an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. In the locked configuration, the handle assembly and the shaft assembly are only partially coupled together physically preventing the user from activating the instrument using the user input feature. In the unlocked configuration, the handle assembly and shaft assembly are completely coupled together enabling the user to activate the instrument using the user input feature.

Aspects of the present disclosure include various ultrasonic surgical instruments. At least one disclosed surgical instrument includes a waveguide including a blade and a transducer base plate. The transducer base plate may be coupled to the waveguide to define a tapered joint at an interface between the waveguide and the transducer base plate. The transducer base plate may include first and second sides defining corresponding first and second flat faces configured to receive first and second piezoelectric elements. The first and second piezoelectric elements are configured to operate in a D31 mode.

Ultrasonic transducer to waveguide joining

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The includes a power source, while the shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is capable of electrically coupling the power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an insulating membrane. The first electrical contact is associated with the channel assembly while the second electrical contact is associated with the cartridge assembly. The insulating membrane is associated with either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact. The insulating membrane is configured to transition between a closed position and an opened position. Either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact is configured to transition the insulation membrane to the opened position when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the channel assembly.

Surgical instrument with electrical contact under membrane

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Amy M Krumm