Rotatable cutting implements with friction reducing material for ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 10,299,810 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Robertson, Galen C., Timm, Richard W., Rupp, Kip M., Snyder, Kristina A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US15/249,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20160367273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22011 Combined types of vibration, e.g. ultrasonic and electrohydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a housing, a transducer assembly, a motor, a hollow sheath, and a blade is disclosed. The transducer assembly may be rotatably supported within the housing and may be configured to selectively generate an ultrasonic motion. The motor may be coupled to the transducer assembly and may be configured to selectively apply rotational motion to the transducer assembly. The hollow sheath may be coupled to the housing and may define a distal cavity. The blade may be coupled to the transducer assembly and may be rotatably supported within the hollow sheath. A distal end of the blade may include a tissue-cutter that may be rotatably supported in the distal cavity. The distal cavity may comprise a friction reducing material. A portion of the tissue-cutter may be arranged to apply the ultrasonic motion to tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

a transducer assembly rotatably supported within the housing, wherein the transducer assembly is configured to selectively generate an ultrasonic motion;

a motor coupled to the transducer assembly, wherein the motor is configured to selectively apply rotational motion to the transducer assembly, and wherein the transducer assembly is operable to generate the ultrasonic motion and the motor is operable to apply the rotational motion to the transducer assembly independent of each other;

a hollow sheath coupled to the housing, wherein the hollow sheath defines a distal cavity; and

a blade coupled to the transducer assembly and rotatably supported within the hollow sheath, wherein a distal end of the blade includes a tissue-cutter rotatably supported in the distal cavity, and wherein a portion of the tissue-cutter is arranged to apply the ultrasonic motion to tissue.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal cavity comprises a friction reducing material, and wherein the friction reducing material is applied to at least one of:

an inner wall of the distal cavity;

or

a portion of the tissue-cutter.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the tissue-cutter comprises a curved tip including an arcuate portion, and wherein a cutting edge is defined on each lateral side of the arcuate portion.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the hollow sheath defines a central axis, and wherein the curved tip curves toward the central axis.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the hollow sheath further defines a distal window configured to expose the distal end of the blade.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the tissue-cutter is configured to cut tissue drawn into the distal window.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the tissue-cutter is selectively:

rotatable without applying the ultrasonic motion;

rotatable while applying the ultrasonic motion; and

non-rotatable while applying the ultrasonic motion.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly is rotatable to a predetermined position for the portion of the tissue-cutter to apply the ultrasonic motion to the tissue.