Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Emily H Monroe

Jacob Spencer Gee

Jeffrey David Messerly

William Bruce Weisenburgh, Ii

Daniel W Price

Jeffrey L Aldridge

Geoffrey S Strobl

James Walden Voegele

Craig N Faller

John B Schulte

Patrick A Weizman

Kevin D Felder

William David Kelly

Amy L Marcotte

Robert J Laird

John A Weed, Iii

Patrick Jarvis Scoggins

Scott A Nield

Nicholas G Molitor

John W Willis

David C Groene

A surgical instrument comprising a waveguide, an end effector, and an electrical switch is disclosed. The waveguide comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and one output of a radio frequency (RF) generator. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the waveguide and electrically coupled to the waveguide. The clamp arm comprises a movable jaw member electrically coupled to another output of the RF generator. The electrical switch is operable to cause the surgical instrument to deliver electrical current from the RF generator to the movable jaw member for a first period, and to cause the surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade for a second period.

Ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices

A surgical instrument is presented that may include a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector and an articulation joint coupled to the shaft assembly and the end effector. The surgical instrument also may include an articulation control mechanism configured to: control movement of the articulation joint between a first and second maximum articulation angle; determine that the articulation joint has articulated to the first maximum articulation angle; provide a first indication that the articulation joint has articulated to the first maximum articulation angle; determine that the articulation joint has articulated to the second maximum articulation angle; and provide a second indication that the articulation joint has articulated to the second maximum articulation angle.

Articulating radio frequency (RF) tissue seal with articulating state sensing

Growing community of inventors

Georges Mills, NH, United States of America

Emily H Monroe