Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Mark A Neurohr

Kevin L Houser

Galen C Robertson

Foster B Stulen

Daniel W Price

Louis T DeLuca

Karen M Isaacs

Scott N Barton

Craig N Faller

Jerome R Morgan

Eitan T Wiener

Richard William Timm

Gregory W Johnson

Matthew C Miller

Sean P Conlon

Daniel J Mumaw

William D Dannaher

Prasanna Malaviya

Federico Bilotti

Laszlo Csiky

Todd Phillip Omaits

Reginald D Fortson

William S Joachim, Jr

Kristi M Bodin

Cory G Kimball

David A Witt

Aaron C Voegele

Scott A Woodruff

Shawn C Snyder

Kip M Rupp

Alessandro Pastorelli

Antonio Longo

Tracy D Lopes

Stephen E Eichmann

Scott Nielsen Barton

Steven K Neuenfeldt

George Mark Pomeroy

Karen M Kowalski

Joyce A Duell

Nicholas I Kroscher

Terry A McFarland

Michele D'arcangelo

John A Weed

Terry A Mcfarland

Todd P Omaits

George M Pomeroy

Louis T Deluca

Iii John A Weed

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for controlling a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an ultrasonic transducer, a blade extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer along a longitudinal axis, and a motor coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The motor, when activated, may rotate the ultrasonic transducer and the blade about the longitudinal axis. A control system may receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to an ultrasonic-only mode. The control system may instruct the motor to rotate the blade to a park position, and activate the ultrasonic transducer to longitudinally vibrate the blade.

Control systems for ultrasonically powered surgical instruments

An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus is disclosed including a housing including an actuator, an outer tube, an ultrasonic waveguide, an ultrasonically actuated blade, a clamp member pivotable with respect to the blade, and a force limiting mechanism including a first compression spring having a first spring constant, positioned between the actuator and the clamp arm, and a second compression spring having a second spring constant less than the first spring constant. The first compression spring transfers a force at a first rate as a function of a motion of the actuator to pivotably move the clamp member toward the blade. The second compression spring transfers a force as a function of the tissue thickness positioned between the clamp member and the blade. At least one of the first and second compression springs is pre-compressed to provide a preload less than the respective spring constant.

Actuation mechanism for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument

A surgical instrument comprising a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument further comprises an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic blade is coupled to the transducer and comprises a body and a treatment region. The body comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a bottom surface. The distal end of the body is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The treatment region extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The surgical instrument further comprises a protective sheath disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the ultrasonic blade.

Ultrasonic surgical instruments

A tissue pad is disclosed including a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first material and a first tissue engaging surface and the second component includes a second material and a second tissue engaging surface. The first component has proximal and distal ends and the second component has proximal and distal ends. The first and second components are separable. At least a portion of a distal end of the first tissue engaging surface is positioned distal relative to the second tissue engaging surface. The first material is different from the second material. The first material has a greater lubricity than the second material. The second material has a greater resistance to heat than the first material.

Tissue pads for use with surgical instruments

An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The construction includes a clamping mechanism, including a clamp arm pivotally mounted at the distal portion of the instrument, which is specifically configured to create a desired level of tissue clamping forces, exceeding 4 pounds when the trigger is fully closed. The clamping mechanism includes a force-limiting mechanism that effectively smooths out abusive tissue forces.

An ultrasonic instrument comprises a handle assembly configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft assembly having an acoustic waveguide and an ultrasonic blade, and a retractable clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to selectively translate between an inoperative position and an operative position. The clamp arm is positioned generally proximal to the ultrasonic blade when the clamp arm is in the inoperative position. The clamp arm is positioned lateral to the ultrasonic blade when the clamp arm is in the operative position. When in the operative position, the clamp arm is operable to move toward and away from the ultrasonic blade so as to capture and compress tissue between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Ultrasonic surgical instrument with retractable integral clamp arm

A surgical instrument configured to be coupled to a transducer configured to produce vibrations. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade, a protective sheath, and outer tube and an aperture. The ultrasonic blade extends along a longitudinal axis of the end effector and is configured to be coupled to a transducer. The protective sheath extends at least partially around the ultrasonic blade. The outer tube extends at least partially along the longitudinal axis. The aperture defines a channel extending at least partially through the end effector along the longitudinal axis.

A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes providing an ultrasonic waveguide comprising a blade implement at a distal end thereof, providing an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and providing a hollow sheath sized to receive the ultrasonic blade. The method further includes identifying a motionless node on the ultrasonic waveguide when the ultrasonic transducer assembly is driven at maximum current at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and installing a seal on the waveguide at the motionless node, wherein the seal has an annular groove therein. Installing the seal comprises positioning a first annular seal portion at the motionless node on the waveguide such that a first axial seal portion and a second axial seal portion extend axially in opposite axial directions beyond the first annular seal portion. When compressed, the seal maintains a contact with the waveguide that is less than a contact with the hollow sheath.

Seal arrangements for ultrasonically powered surgical instruments

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to ultrasonic surgical instruments that may be used in aqueous environments. The instruments may include cutting a member that is supported within a hollow sheath. Various seal arrangements are disclosed for establishing a substantially fluid-tight seal between the cutting member and the sheath.

A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. The transducer is configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The body includes a treatment region that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The body includes a substantially flat broad top surface, a bottom surface, and a neck portion protruding from the proximal end adapted to couple to the transducer.

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that rotatably supports an ultrasonic transducer assembly therein that may be selectively rotated by various motor configurations. Various slip ring arrangements are disclosed for supplying ultrasonic electrical signals and motor drive signals from a control system. Various forms of blade and cutting implements are disclosed for attachment to the ultrasonic transducer assembly such that such implements may be selectively rotatable within a hollow outer sheath. Vacuum may be applied to the cutting implement or through the outer sheath to draw tissue through an opening in the sheath and into contact with the cutting implement.

Ultrasonically powered surgical instruments with rotating cutting implement

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to methods for treating tissue within an aqueous environment. Various methods may include introducing a cutting implement of a surgical instrument into the aqueous environment. The cutting implement may have at least one cutting surface thereon and at least one ultrasonic portion thereon and be selectively rotatable within a hollow sheath. The methods may include rotating or rotatably oscillating the cutting implement within the hollow sheath for tissue cutting purposes. The cutting implement may also be retained in a position wherein the ultrasonic portion of the cutting implement may be applied to tissue and then have ultrasonic motion applied thereto.

Methods of using ultrasonically powered surgical instruments with rotatable cutting implements

An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The construction includes a clamping mechanism, including a clamp arm pivotally mounted at the distal portion of the instrument, which is specifically configured to create a desired level of tissue clamping forces, exceeding 4 pounds when the trigger is fully closed. The clamping mechanism includes a two-piece pad design and pad material that enables the higher tissue clamping forces and a force-limiting mechanism that effectively smooths out abusive tissue forces. The assembly also features hand activation configured to provide an ergonomical grip and operation for the surgeon. Hand switches are placed in the range of the natural swing of the surgeon's thumb, whether gripping the surgical instrument right-handed or left handed.

Handle assembly having hand activation for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument

Growing community of inventors

Newport, KY, United States of America

Mark A Neurohr