Ultrasonic Device for Fingertip Control
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- (a) a handpiece having a length;
(b) an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned distal to the handpiece;
(c) a controller operable to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade, wherein the controller is integral with the handpiece; and
(d) an activation member operable to activate the blade, wherein the activation member is integral with the handpiece, wherein the activation member is positioned and configured to be engaged by a user'"'"'s hand to selectively activate the blade;
wherein either or both of the controller or the activation member is accessible from a plurality of positions along the length of the handpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a handpiece and an ultrasonically actuated blade distal to the handpiece. The instrument includes an activation member that is operable to selectively activate the blade and a controller that is operable to select the energy level at which the blade will be activated. The activation member may comprise capacitive switches; resistive sensors; resonant cavity switching technology; infrared sensing technology; technology that uses a resonant, standing wave on a surface that is perturbed by the presence of a finger; and/or any other suitable type of technology. The controller may comprise the same. The controller may permit selection from three or more available ultrasonic energy levels. The activation member and/or controller may be manipulated from various longitudinal positions on the handpiece and/or various rotational positions about the handpiece, such that the handpiece may be gripped in a variety of ways.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a handpiece having a length; (b) an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned distal to the handpiece; (c) a controller operable to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade, wherein the controller is integral with the handpiece; and (d) an activation member operable to activate the blade, wherein the activation member is integral with the handpiece, wherein the activation member is positioned and configured to be engaged by a user'"'"'s hand to selectively activate the blade; wherein either or both of the controller or the activation member is accessible from a plurality of positions along the length of the handpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a handpiece having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the handpiece extends outwardly from the distal end to the proximal end, such that the proximal end is wider than the distal end; (b) an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned distal to the handpiece; (c) a first button, wherein the first button is integral with the handpiece, wherein the first button is operable to activate the blade at a first level of ultrasonic energy; and (d) a second button, wherein the first button is integral with the handpiece, wherein the first button is operable to activate the blade at a first level of ultrasonic energy. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a handpiece; (b) an end effector positioned distal to the handpiece, wherein the handpiece and end effector are configured to permit a user to apply a force to tissue with the end effector by using the handpiece to force the end effector against the tissue; (c) a power source in communication with the end effector, wherein the power source is operable to provide power to the end effector, wherein the power source is operable to convert one form of power into another form of power, wherein the power source is integral with the handpiece; (d) a controller, wherein the controller is integral with the handpiece, wherein the controller is operable to control the level of power provided by the power source to the end effector; and (e) an activation member, wherein the activation member is integral with the handpiece, wherein the first button is operable to activate the blade at a power level selected using the controller. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification