Covidien LP

David J Van Tol

Anthony B Ross

Keith W Malang

Robert B Stoddard

Gary M Couture

Michael B Lyons

Matthew S Cowley

Robert M Sharp

Thomas E Drochner

Kenneth E Netzel

Thomas W Meiser

James R Fagan

James D Allen, Iv

John R Twomey

Eric Russell Larson

Alexander M Waskiewicz

Christopher T Tschudy

Rachael L Kabala

David S Price

Duane E Kerr

William H Nau, Jr

Kenlyn S Bonn

Daniel A Friedrichs

Weng-Kai K Lee

Titus Horton

Daniel Simmons

Barry J Kaup

Michael Clifton

Dylan R Kingsley

Ryan C Artale

Robert B Smith

Scott E M Frushour

Zachary S Heiliger

David Price

Rebecca J Coulson

Christopher A Deborski

Monte S Fry

Jing Zhao

Allen Honegger

Richard L Croft

Kelly E Goodman

Ken Netzel

James D Allen Iv

Michael S Cowley

A surgical system includes an elongated assembly and an articulation joint defined in the elongated assembly. The elongated assembly articulates about the articulation joint. The articulation joint defines a central axis and a distal side portion. An offsetting member extends from the distal side portion of the articulation joint. An end effector is supported by the offsetting member. The end effector includes a blade and a jaw member movable relative to the blade between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for clamping tissue. The offsetting member offsets the end effector with respect to the central axis of the articulation joint. An actuation cable extends through the central axis of the articulation joint. The actuation cable is operably coupled to the jaw member to pivot the jaw member with respect to the blade between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.

Surgical instruments, systems, and methods incorporating an offset end effector

An end effector assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic blade configured to mechanically couple to an ultrasonic transducer configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration energy to the ultrasonic blade and a jaw member movable relative to the ultrasonic blade from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for clamping tissue therebetween. The jaw member includes a structural body and a jaw liner engaged with the structural body. The jaw liner defines a tissue contacting surface positioned to oppose the ultrasonic blade in the approximated position, and includes a wear indicator disposed within the jaw liner and configured to provide an alert indicating that the jaw liner is worn beyond a pre-determined threshold.

Ultrasonic surgical instruments for detecting wear in jaw liner

A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining an insulative tissue-contacting surface and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the insulative tissue-contacting surface. A second jaw member includes an ultrasonic blade body positioned to oppose the insulative tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to apply a first grasping force to tissue disposed therebetween. A slider is movable, independent of the first jaw member, between a retracted position, wherein the slider is disposed proximally of the first and second jaw members, and an extended position, wherein the slider extends about the first jaw member and urges the first jaw member from the approximated position further towards the second jaw member to apply a second, greater grasping force to tissue.

Surgical instruments incorporating ultrasonic and electrosurgical functionality

An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic generator configured to provide an ultrasonic drive signal, and an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the ultrasonic generator to receive the ultrasonic drive signal therefrom and configured, in response to the received ultrasonic drive signal, to produce a mechanical motion. The ultrasonic surgical system further includes a sensor configured to sense a frequency and a magnitude of the mechanical motion, and a controller configured to receive a target mechanical motion to be produced by the ultrasonic transducer and control the ultrasonic drive signal so that a frequency of the ultrasonic drive signal falls within a frequency range around a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, the frequency range corresponding to the target mechanical motion produced by the ultrasonic transducer.

Surgical instruments, systems, and methods for frequency dithering control functionality

An ultrasonic surgical system includes a waveguide defining first and second longitudinal lumens extending through at least a portion of a length of the waveguide. A distal transverse lumen is defined within the waveguide transversely through at least a portion of the waveguide to intersect and interconnect the first and second longitudinal lumens. First and second proximal transverse lumens extend from first and second proximal transverse apertures within the waveguide transversely through portions of the waveguide to intersect the first and second longitudinal lumens, respectively. Inflow and outflow conduits are fluidly coupled with the first and second proximal transverse apertures, respectively, to enable the inflow of fluid into the first longitudinal lumen and the outflow of fluid from the second longitudinal lumen, respectively.

Devices, systems, and methods of manufacturing fluid-cooled ultrasonic surgical instruments

An articulating ultrasonic surgical end effector for use with a hand-held surgical instrument or a robotic surgical system includes an articulation assembly, a clevis operably coupled to the articulation assembly, and a transducer assembly pivotably coupled to the clevis. The transducer assembly includes a transducer housing and an ultrasonic transducer and a waveguide disposed within the transducer housing. The waveguide is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer. The transducer assembly also includes an ultrasonic blade disposed at the distal end of the waveguide and extending from the transducer housing and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the transducer housing and movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a clamping position. Ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted along the waveguide to the ultrasonic blade for treating tissue.

Articulating ultrasonic surgical instruments and systems

A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining an insulative tissue-contacting surface and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the insulative surface. A second jaw member of the end effector assembly includes an ultrasonic blade body positioned to oppose the insulative surface of the first jaw member, and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the ultrasonic blade body and positioned to oppose the first and second electrically-conductive surfaces, respectively, of the first jaw member. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. The first and second electrically-conductive surfaces of the second jaw member are movable, independent of the first jaw member, relative to the first jaw member and the ultrasonic blade body between a retracted position and an extended position.

A ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a horn, a piezoelectric stack positioned proximally of the horn and defining a longitudinal opening extending therethrough, a proximal end mass positioned proximally of the piezoelectric stack and defining a longitudinal opening, and a rod secured to the horn and extending proximally from the horn through the longitudinal opening of the piezoelectric stack and the longitudinal opening of the proximal end mass. The rod is secured to the proximal end mass to pre-compress the piezoelectric stack between the horn and the proximal end mass.

Ultrasonic transducer assembly for an ultrasonic surgical instrument

The ultrasonic surgical device includes a power source configured to generate power, an ultrasonic transducer having a first resonant frequency, the ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the power source and configured to generate ultrasonic motion in response to the generated power, an ultrasonic probe configured to be mechanically couplable to the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic probe having a second resonant frequency when the ultrasonic probe is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, and a controller configured to determine whether the ultrasonic probe is properly coupled to the ultrasonic transducer based on the first resonant frequency and the second resonant frequency.

Ultrasonic surgical device and method for detection of attachment of ultrasonic probe

A jaw member, end effector assembly including the jaw member and an ultrasonic blade, and an ultrasonic surgical instrument including the end effector assembly are provided. The jaw member includes a structural body and a jaw liner. The structural body includes a pair of proximal flanges and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the proximal flanges. The elongated distal portion includes spaced-apart side rails defining an elongated opening therebetween and interconnected at distal ends thereof via a distal cap. The jaw liner is engaged within the elongated opening and includes a base and first and second arms extending from the base. Each arm defines an inwardly-angled tissue contacting surface. The jaw liner defines a jaw liner compliance feature extending longitudinally therealong between the inwardly-angled tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second arms to facilitate outward deflection of the first and second arms relative to one another.

Jaw members, end effector assemblies, and ultrasonic surgical instruments including the same

An ultrasonic transducer and generator (TAG) assembly of a surgical instrument includes generator components and transducer components. The generator components are disposed within a first cavity cooperatively defined by a body portion and a cover. The generator components are covered in a thermally insulative material. The transducer components are disposed within a second cavity cooperatively defined by a proximal housing and a spinner housing.

Reusable ultrasonic transducer and generator assemblies, surgical instruments including the same, and methods of manufacturing the same

An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic waveguide defining a blade at a distal end portion thereof. The ultrasonic waveguide is configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong to the blade. The blade defines a plurality of surfaces. At least one lumen is defined at least partially through the blade. The at least one lumen establishes a flow path through the blade extending from a first open end on one surface of the plurality of surfaces to a second open end on a different surface of the plurality of surfaces. The at least one lumen is configured to urge fluid through the blade along the flow path from the one surface to the different surface.

Energy-based surgical instruments incorporating cooling features

A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated body extending distally therefrom. The elongated body defines a first articulating portion and a second articulating portion. The elongated body defines a lumen therein. An end effector is supported at a distal end portion of the elongated body. A flexible waveguide extends through the lumen of the elongated body. A proximal end portion of the flexible waveguide connects to an ultrasonic transducer. A distal end portion of the flexible waveguide is connected with the end effector. the flexible waveguide defines a first articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide and a second articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide.

A method for sealing a vessel includes supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector and a transducer coupled to the end effector, when the end effector is grasping a vessel, sensing parameters of the vessel when the end effector achieves a predetermined velocity, estimating a size of the vessel based on the sensed parameters, controlling the electrical energy based on maintaining a predetermined initial heating rate of heating the vessel until a predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered, and controlling the electrical energy based on a predetermined heating rate curve of heating the vessel after the predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered.

Methods and ultrasonic devices and systems for vessel sealing

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

David J Van Tol