Apparatus and method for dissecting and coagulating tissue

• US 10,034,684 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Weisenburgh, II, William B., Johnson, Gregory W., Kimball, Cory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHI, KATHERINE MENGLIN
• Application Number:
  US14/739,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20160361084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 606169, 604 22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system

Abstract

A surgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue is provided that includes an elongate sheath and an ultrasonic blade. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic blade is positioned within a sheath such that movement of the sheath relative to the blade results in the dissection and/or coagulation of tissue therebetween. In another embodiment, an ultrasonic blade is positioned within a sheath such that movement of the blade relative to the sheath results in the dissection and/or coagulation of tissue therebetween. The size and shape of distal ends of the blade and sheath determine the size and shape of the tissue being cut and/or removed from a body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dissection and coagulation of tissue, comprising:

a proximal portion;

an elongate sheath having a proximal end and distal end, the distal end of the elongate sheath comprising a substantially flat surface proximal of the distal end to form an anvil; and

an ultrasonic blade configured to dissect and sea tissue based on vibrational motion and being positioned within the elongate sheath, wherein the elongate sheath is configured for gross axial motion relative to the proximal portion and the ultrasonic blade without gross axial motion of the ultrasonic blade, and wherein the gross axial motion comprises movement between;

a first position in which the ultrasonic blade is positioned a first distance from the distal end of the elongate sheath, and

a second position in which the ultrasonic blade is positioned a second distance from the distal end of the elongate sheath when the elongate sheath moves proximally towards the distal end of the ultrasonic blade such that tissue can be dissected therebetween, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the ultrasonic blade is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the substantially flat surface of the distal end of the elongate sheath forming the anvil.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shape of the distal end of the ultrasonic blade and the distal end of the elongate sheath create a cavity at the location of the dissected tissue.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade communicates with an excitation mechanism to deliver energy to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade is configured to couple to an actuator to move the ultrasonic blade between the first and second positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a suction mechanism in the form of an elongate hollow tube positioned within the elongate sheath and extending to the distal end thereof such that a distal end of the suction mechanism is configured to remove tissue dissected by the ultrasonic blade and the elongate sheath.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the suction mechanism is configured to irrigate an area located substantially around the tissue being dissected and removed.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the suction mechanism is positioned between the distal end of the elongate sheath and the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.