Hand activated ultrasonic instrument

• US 20050033337A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Proch, Francis S., Kramer, Kenneth S., Muir, Stephanie J., Dutta, Sudeep N.
• Application Number:
  US10/869,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• 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 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• 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: 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 clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. The handle of the apparatus is configured to permit hand activation for cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. In order to promote convenient and efficient use of the apparatus, the fingertip controls are provided directly into the disposal shears handle in a position that allows surgeons to activate the device without repositioning their hand. The two buttons provide independent control of the two power levels available from the generator, matching the two foot pedal configuration of the prior art.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising:

a) a housing for accepting a handpiece for providing ultrasonic energy, the housing comprising;

b) a handle configured to interface with a user of the instrument; and

c) at least one switch located on the handle and electrically connected to a generator for providing an electrical signal to the generator for controlling the level of ultrasonic energy delivered by the handpiece.

2. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises two switches, the first switch electrically connected to the generator for providing a first electrical signal to the generator, and the second switch electrically connected to the generator for providing a second electrical signal to the generator.

3. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handpiece comprises an electrical conductor for accepting the electrical signal from the switch.

4. The ultrasonic instrument of claim 2, wherein the two switches are separated by a distance from about one-half inch to about one inch.

5. The ultrasonic instrument of claim 2, wherein the first and second switches each define a line of actuation that form an angle of actuation from about 10°

to about 30°

.