CURVED CLAMP ARM FOR USE WITH ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20110184446A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: WITT, David A., Baxter, Chester O. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• 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 2017/2829 with a removable cover
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments that have an ultrasonically actuated blade that, in one case, is ultrasonically actuated to have motion in substantially a single plane. The curved clamp arm opens and closes with respect to the blade and also has a plane of curvature that is parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and not parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the open position.

Claims

1. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end and an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the transmission member, wherein the blade comprises an ultrasonically actuated motion in substantially a single plane, and the clamp member is supported adjacent to the blade and has an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp arm is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp arm is adjacent to the blade, the curved clamp arm comprising:

a) a plane of curvature substantially parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and wherein the plane of curvature is not parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp is in the open position.

2. The curved clamp arm of claim 1 further comprising a tissue pad having a tissue engaging surface and a curved clamp arm engaging surface, and the curved clamp arm having means for engaging the curved clamp arm engaging surface.

3. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end and an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the transmission member, wherein the blade comprises a curved treatment portion defining a plane of asymmetry, and the clamp member is supported adjacent to the blade and has an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp arm is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp arm is adjacent to the blade, the curved clamp arm comprising:

a) a plane of curvature substantially parallel to the plane of asymmetry of the curved treatment portion when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and wherein the plane of curvature is not parallel to the plane of asymmetry of the curved treatment portion when the clamp is in the open position.

4. The curved clamp arm of claim 3 further comprising a tissue pad having a tissue engaging surface and a curved clamp arm engaging surface, and the curved clamp arm having means for engaging the curved clamp arm engaging surface.

5. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end and an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the transmission member, wherein the blade comprises a curved treatment portion defining a plane of asymmetry and having an ultrasonically actuated motion in substantially a single plane, and the clamp member is supported adjacent to the blade and has an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp arm is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp arm is adjacent to the blade, the curved clamp arm comprising:

a) a plane of curvature substantially parallel to the plane of asymmetry of the curved treatment portion and the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and wherein the plane of curvature is not parallel to the plane of asymmetry of the curved treatment portion and the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp is in the open position.

6. The curved clamp arm of claim 5 further comprising a tissue pad having a tissue engaging surface and a curved clamp arm engaging surface, and the curved clamp arm having means for engaging the curved clamp arm engaging surface.

7. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end and defines a longitudinal axis and an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the transmission member, wherein the blade comprises a treatment portion that curves away from the longitudinal axis and defines a plane of blade curvature, and the clamp member is supported adjacent to the blade and has an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp arm is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp arm is adjacent to the blade, the curved clamp arm comprising:

a) a plane of curvature substantially parallel to the plane of blade curvature of the curved treatment portion when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and wherein the plane of curvature is not parallel to the plane of blade curvature when the clamp is in the open position.

8. The curved clamp arm of claim 7 further comprising a tissue pad having a tissue engaging surface and a curved clamp arm engaging surface, and the curved clamp arm having means for engaging the curved clamp arm engaging surface.

9. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end and defines a longitudinal axis and an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the transmission member, wherein the blade defines a plane of blade curvature, and the clamp member is supported adjacent to the blade and has an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp arm is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp arm is adjacent to the blade, the curved clamp arm comprising:

a) a plane of curvature substantially parallel to the plane of blade curvature when the clamp arm is in the closed position and wherein the plane of curvature is not parallel to the plane of blade curvature when the clamp is in the open position.

10. The curved clamp arm of claim 9 further comprising a tissue pad having a tissue engaging surface and a curved clamp arm engaging surface, and the curved clamp arm having means for engaging the curved clamp arm engaging surface.