Coupling arrangements and methods for attaching tools to ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 10,709,906 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nield, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Szpira, Julie A
• Application Number:
  US15/449,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20170209167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 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 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• 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 2017/320073 probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed including an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic end effector comprising a proximal end formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and a waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic end effector. The waveguide includes an attachment portion formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The attachment portion is configured to be selectively expandable into an acoustically coupled retaining engagement with the ultrasonic end effector by expanding faster than the proximal end of the ultrasonic end effector when heat is applied to establish an interference fit therebetween.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic end effector comprising a proximal end formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; and

a waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic end effector, wherein the waveguide includes an attachment portion formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, the attachment portion configured to be selectively expandable into an acoustically coupled retaining engagement with the ultrasonic end effector by expanding faster than the proximal end of the ultrasonic end effector when heat is applied to establish an interference fit therebetween.

2. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a housing operably supporting the ultrasonic transducer.

3. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade.

4. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a heat applicator configured to apply heat to the proximal end of the end effector.

5. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic end effector comprising a proximal end formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic end effector; and

an engagement mechanism formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, the engagement mechanism configured to be selectively expandable to transition the waveguide into an acoustically coupled retaining engagement with the ultrasonic end effector by expanding faster than the proximal end of the ultrasonic end effector when heat is applied to establish an interference fit therebetween.

6. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising a housing operably supporting the ultrasonic transducer.

7. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade.

8. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic end effector comprising a proximal end formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic end effector; and

an engagement mechanism formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, the engagement mechanism configured to be selectively movable from a first configuration to a second configuration to transition the waveguide into an acoustically coupled retaining engagement with the ultrasonic end effector by expanding faster than the proximal end of the ultrasonic end effector when heat is applied to establish an interference fit therebetween, wherein the second configuration is greater in size than the first configuration.

9. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the engagement mechanism is selectively radially expandable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration.

10. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising a housing operably supporting the ultrasonic transducer.

11. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade.

12. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer;

an ultrasonic end effector comprising a proximal end formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic end effector, wherein the waveguide defines a central axis extending longitudinally; and

an engagement mechanism formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, the engagement mechanism configured to be selectively movable in a direction away from the central axis to transition the waveguide into an acoustically coupled retaining engagement with the ultrasonic end effector by expanding faster than the proximal end of the ultrasonic end effector when heat is applied to establish an interference fit therebetween.

13. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 12, further comprising a housing operably supporting the ultrasonic transducer.

14. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade.