Ultrasonic surgical instruments
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
an acoustic assembly supported within the housing, wherein the acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations;
a waveguide comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is mounted to the acoustic assembly to transmit the vibrations produced by the acoustic assembly to the waveguide;
an ultrasonic blade coupled to the distal end of the waveguide;
a clamp, comprising;
a distal abutment surface comprising an electrode; and
an electrically non-conductive pad terminating at a distal end, wherein the distal abutment surface is distal to the distal end of the electrically non-conductive pad; and
a conductor in electrical communication with the electrode, wherein the conductor and the ultrasonic blade are configured to be placed in electrical communication with a power source to conduct current through tissue positioned adjacent to the distal abutment surface and the ultrasonic blade.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw.
2536 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; an acoustic assembly supported within the housing, wherein the acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations; a waveguide comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is mounted to the acoustic assembly to transmit the vibrations produced by the acoustic assembly to the waveguide; an ultrasonic blade coupled to the distal end of the waveguide; a clamp, comprising; a distal abutment surface comprising an electrode; and an electrically non-conductive pad terminating at a distal end, wherein the distal abutment surface is distal to the distal end of the electrically non-conductive pad; and a conductor in electrical communication with the electrode, wherein the conductor and the ultrasonic blade are configured to be placed in electrical communication with a power source to conduct current through tissue positioned adjacent to the distal abutment surface and the ultrasonic blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; an acoustic assembly supported within the housing, wherein the acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations; a waveguide comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive the vibrations produced by the acoustic assembly; an ultrasonic blade extending from the distal end of the waveguide; and a movable clamp arm, comprising; a distal abutment surface comprising an electrode; and an electrically non-conductive pad terminating at a distal end, wherein the distal abutment surface is distal to the distal end of the electrically non-conductive pad; wherein the surgical instrument is configured to toggle between a first operating mode, in which the acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations, and a second operating mode, in which a power source is configured to supply current to the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; an acoustic assembly supported within the housing, wherein the acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations; a waveguide comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive the vibrations produced by the acoustic assembly; an ultrasonic blade extending from the distal end of the waveguide; and a movable clamp arm, comprising; a distal abutment surface comprising an electrode; and an electrically non-conductive pad terminating at a distal end, wherein the distal abutment surface is distal to the distal end of the electrically non-conductive pad; and means for selectively conducting current to tissue abutting the distal abutment surface and a distal portion of the ultrasonic blade.
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Specification