Ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 20080234710A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Stulen, Foster B., Price, Daniel W., Robertson, Galen C., DeLuca, Louis T., Neurohr, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,911,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• 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 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• 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: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. The transducer is configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The body includes a treatment region that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The body includes a substantially flat broad top surface, a bottom surface, and a neck portion protruding from the proximal end adapted to couple to the transducer.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency;

an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises;

a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer;

a treatment region extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a substantially flat broad top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a neck portion protruding from the proximal end adapted to couple to the transducer.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment region comprises at least one cutting edge.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the treatment region comprises at least one coagulating edge.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the treatment region comprises a distal cutting edge positioned at the distal end.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the treatment region comprises at least one lateral cutting edge positioned laterally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the at least one lateral cutting edge comprises a notch at the distal end extending inwardly into the blade body.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the substantially flat broad top surface comprises a flat portion that is substantially arcuate about a first axis.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the bottom surface comprises a round portion that is substantially arcuate about a second axis.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the body comprise a cross-sectional portion that is substantially arcuate about a third axis.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising at least one atraumatic edge positioned at the distal end.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the substantially flat broad top surface comprises a substantially flat planar top portion and the bottom surface comprises a substantially flat planar bottom portion and, wherein the planar top and bottom potions are substantially parallel.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a protective sheath disposed adjacent to the bottom surface.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the protective sheath is longitudinally deployable.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the protective sheath comprises a tapered body that extends longitudinally beyond the distal end.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the protective sheath comprises a longitudinally and vertically extending projection that extends beyond the distal end to protect the distal end of the treatment region.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the protective sheath comprises at least one projection positioned between the bottom surface of the end effector and a top surface of the protective sheath.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the bottom surface and the protective sheath define an air gap therebetween.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, further comprising at least one irrigation tube to deliver irrigation fluid to the air gap.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the protective sheath defines a chamber adjacent to the bottom surface, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the at least one irrigation tube to receive the irrigation fluid therein.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a movable non-vibrating clamp arm assembly positioned at the distal end.

21. A method for processing a surgical instrument for surgery, comprising:

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 1;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.

22. A method for processing a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

obtaining the ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1;

detaching the ultrasonic blade from the distal end of the surgical instrument; and

performing one of the following actions;

reforming any one of the body, the treatment region, the substantially flat broad top surface, the bottom surface, and the neck portion of the ultrasonic blade, resterilizing the ultrasonic blade, and reattaching the resterilized ultrasonic blade to the distal end of the surgical instrument;

or

attaching another sterilized ultrasonic blade to the distal end of the surgical instrument.

23. An ultrasonic surgical blade, comprising:

a body defining a longitudinal axis, the body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by a transducer;

a treatment region extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a substantially flat broad top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a neck portion protruding from the proximal end adapted to couple to an ultrasonic transmission waveguide to transmit vibrations at a predetermined frequency from the transducer to the distal end of the treatment region.

24. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising:

a cutting edge positioned at the distal end of the treatment region;

wherein the substantially flat broad top surface comprises a flat portion that is substantially arcuate about a first axis; and

wherein the bottom surface comprises a round portion that is substantially arcuate about a second axis; and

wherein the body comprises a cross-sectional portion that is substantially arcuate about a third axis.

25. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising at least one atraumatic edge positioned at the distal end.

26. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising:

a first cutting edge positioned at the distal end of the treatment region;

a second cutting edge positioned laterally along a side of the treatment region; and

a first coagulating edge positioned laterally along a side the treatment region opposite from the cutting edge side; and

an atraumatic edge positioned at the distal end;

wherein the substantially flat broad top surface comprises a substantially planar top portion; and

wherein the body comprises a cross-sectional portion that is substantially arcuate about a third axis.

27. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising:

a first notch cutting edge positioned at the distal end of the treatment region extending inwardly into the blade body;

wherein the substantially flat broad top surface comprises a substantially planar top portion; and

wherein the bottom surface comprises a substantially flat planar bottom portion; and

wherein the top and bottom surfaces are substantially parallel.

28. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 27, comprising:

a first lateral cutting edge positioned laterally along a side of the treatment region positioned between the notch cutting edge and the distal end; and

a second lateral cutting edge positioned laterally along the same side of the treatment region positioned between the notch cutting edge to the proximal end.

29. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 28, comprising:

an atraumatic edge positioned laterally along a side of the treatment region opposite from the cutting edge side.

30. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising:

an atraumatic edge formed at the distal end of the treatment region.

31. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 30 wherein the substantially flat broad top surface comprises a substantially flat planar top portion and the bottom surface comprises a substantially flat planar bottom portion and, wherein the planar top and bottom potions are substantially parallel.

32. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising a laterally extending offset cutting edge portion positioned laterally along a first side of the treatment region.

33. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising a protective sheath formed on the bottom surface.

34. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising a protective sheath attached to the bottom surface.

35. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 34, comprising an air gap between the protective sheath and the bottom surface.

36. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 23, comprising an ultrasonic transmission waveguide coupled to the neck portion of the body and formed as a single unitary piece.

37. A method for processing a surgical blade for surgery, comprising:

obtaining an ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 23;

sterilizing the ultrasonic surgical blade; and

storing the ultrasonic surgical blade in a sterile container.

38. A method of mounting an ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 23 onto a distal end of an ultrasonic transmission member, the method comprising one of the actions selected from the group of actions consisting of welding, threading, and gluing.