Ultrasonic surgical instrument blades

• US 10,441,308 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Robertson, Galen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miles, Wade
• Application Number:
  US15/155,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20160296249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• 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 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320072 Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320074 blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/956 Ultrasonic

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a transducer, a waveguide coupled to the transducer and defining a longitudinal axis, a tube comprising an outer surface, an end effector, and a protective sheath. The waveguide extends through the tube. The end effector includes a surgical blade extending from the waveguide. The surgical blade is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis. The surgical blade includes a cutting edge on a first side of the longitudinal axis, an atraumatic surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis, a distal tip, and a treatment portion. The cutting edge includes a proximal end. The treatment portion extends between the proximal end of the cutting edge and the distal tip. The protective sheath extends around at least a portion of the tube and along at least a portion of the surgical blade to the treatment portion.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

a waveguide coupled to the transducer and defining a longitudinal axis;

a tube comprising an outer surface, wherein the waveguide extends through the tube; and

an end effector, comprising;

a surgical blade extending from the waveguide, wherein the surgical blade is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the surgical blade comprises;

a cutting edge on a first side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting edge comprises a proximal end;

an atraumatic surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis;

a distal tip; and

a treatment portion extending between the proximal end of the cutting edge and the distal tip; and

wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

a protective sheath extending around at least a portion of the tube and along at least a portion of the surgical blade to the treatment portion.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic surface comprises an arcuate surface.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic surface comprises a dull surface.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the cutting edge comprises a sharp edge.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath comprises a polymeric material.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the protective sheath comprises a coating on a portion of the surgical blade.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the protective sheath is molded over a portion of the surgical blade.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath is permanently attached to the surgical blade.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the protective sheath extends around the distal tip of the surgical blade.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath is spaced apart from the atraumatic surface by an air gap.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a spring in the air gap between the protective sheath and the atraumatic surface.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising an irrigation source fluidically coupled to the air gap.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath is movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position relative to the surgical blade.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the protective sheath extends around the distal tip when in the deployed position.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising a handle, wherein the handle comprises an actuator configured to move the protective sheath between the undeployed position and the deployed position.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a pivotable lever.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a slide button.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath comprises a plurality of bumps extending toward the surgical blade.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath comprises an outside surface facing away from the surgical blade, and wherein the outside surface comprises a distal convex portion and a proximal concave portion.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector further comprising a non-vibrating clamp arm movable between an open position and a clamped position relative to the surgical blade.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

a waveguide coupled to the transducer and defining a longitudinal axis;

a tube comprising an outer surface, wherein the waveguide extends through the tube; and

an end effector, comprising;

a surgical blade extending from the waveguide, wherein the surgical blade is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the surgical blade comprises;

a sharp edge on a first side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the sharp edge comprises a proximal end;

a dull surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis;

a distal tip; and

a treatment portion extending between the proximal end of the sharp edge and the distal tip; and

wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

a protective sheath extending around at least a portion of the tube and along at least a portion of the surgical blade to the treatment portion.

22. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

a waveguide coupled to the transducer and defining a longitudinal axis;

a tube, wherein the waveguide extends through the tube; and

an end effector, comprising;

a surgical blade extending from the waveguide, wherein the surgical blade is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the surgical blade comprises a tissue treatment portion comprising;

a cutting edge on a first side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting edge comprises a proximal end;

an atraumatic surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis;

a distal tip; and

a treatment portion extending between the proximal end of the cutting edge and the distal tip; and

wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

means for shielding tissue from the treatment portion of the surgical blade positioned around at least a portion of the tube.