SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATING SHAFTS

• US 20140005701A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Olson, William A., Stulen, Foster B., Messerly, Jeffrey D., Price, Daniel W., Houser, Kevin L., Faller, Craig N., Dannaher, William D., Rhee, Sora, Muhlenkamp, Tylor C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,393,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• 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 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22014 the ultrasound transducer being outside patient's body; with an ultrasound transmission member; with a wave guide; with a vibrated guide wire not applied in A61B17/22012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320072 Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein are directed to ultrasonic blades. For example, an ultrasonic blade may comprise a proximally positioned straight section extending along a longitudinal axis and a distally positioned curved section coupled to the straight section and curved away from the longitudinal axis. The curved section may define a radius of curvature and subtend a first angle. A point of tangency between the curved section and the straight section may be positioned at either a node of the ultrasonic blade or an anti-node of the ultrasonic blade.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an ultrasonic blade, the ultrasonic blade comprising;

a proximally positioned straight section extending along a longitudinal axis; and

a distally positioned curved section coupled to the straight section and curved away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the curved section defines a radius of curvature, wherein the curved section subtends a first angle, and wherein a point of tangency between the curved section and the straight section is located at a predetermined position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is selected from the group consisting of a node of the ultrasonic blade and an anti-node of the ultrasonic blade and in between the node and the anti-node of the ultrasonic blade, and any combinations thereof.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved section is described by:

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the curved section of the ultrasonic blade comprises two quarter wavelengths at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic blade.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein a length of the curved section of the ultrasonic blade is greater than a distance between adjacent nodes on the straight section of the ultrasonic blade.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the curved section of the ultrasonic blade comprises one quarter wavelength at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic blade.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a shaft enclosing at least a portion of the end effector.

8. An articulatable surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector to treat tissue, wherein the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade;

a shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis wherein the shaft comprises a flexible portion;

a waveguide acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade and extending proximally through the shaft, wherein the waveguide comprises a bendable waveguide portion at about the flexible shaft portion, and wherein the waveguide comprises;

a first flange positioned at a node of the waveguide distal from the bendable waveguide portion and coupled to an interior of the shaft;

a second flange positioned at a node of the waveguide proximate from the bendable waveguide portion and coupled to an interior of the shaft;

a first control member coupled to the first flange and extending proximally through the second flange and shaft, such that proximal translation of the first control member pulls the first flange proximally, causing the shaft and waveguide to pivot away from the longitudinal axis towards the first control member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising a second control member coupled to the first flange and extending proximally through the second flange and shaft, such that proximal translation of the second control member pulls the first flange proximally, causing the shaft and waveguide to pivot away from the longitudinal axis towards the second control member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the waveguide has a first thickness at a first position proximate from the bendable waveguide portion and a second thickness at the bendable waveguide portion, and wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the flexible portion of the shaft defines a plurality of slots substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the waveguide and ultrasonic blade define a resonant frequency.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the bendable waveguide portion has a length of at least one wavelength at the resonant frequency.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising:

a clamp arm mounting member mechanically coupled to the second flange; and

a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the clamp arm mounting member at a hinge interface.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the hinge interface is offset from the longitudinal axis and further comprising a translating member coupled to the clamp arm at a position offset from the longitudinal axis and substantially opposite the hinge interface such that distal translation of the translating member opens the clamp arm away from the ultrasonic blade and proximal translation of the translation member closes the clamp arm towards the ultrasonic blade.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the waveguide further comprises a third flange positioned at a node of the waveguide distal from the second flange, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a clevis mechanically coupled to the third flange; and

a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the clevis at a hinge interface.

17. An articulatable surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector to treat tissue;

an outer shaft extending along a longitudinal axis;

an inner shaft at least partially within the outer shaft, the inner shaft extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the inner shaft comprises a biased portion that is biased to bend away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction;

wherein the inner shaft and the outer shaft are translatable relative to one another to a first position where the biased portion of the inner shaft is within the outer shaft and the inner shaft is substantially straight along the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the inner shaft and the outer shaft are translatable relative to one another to a second position where the biased portion of the inner shaft is outside of and distally positioned from the outer shaft such that the biased portion of the inner shaft is bent away from the longitudinal axis in the first direction.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the outer shaft is fixed and the inner shaft is translatable relative to the outer shaft.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the inner shaft is fixed and the outer shaft is translatable relative to the inner shaft.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the biased portion of the inner shaft comprises at least one leaf spring positioned to bias the biased portion to bend away from the longitudinal axis in the first direction.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the biased portion of the inner shaft comprises a continuous flexible material.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the inner shaft comprises a proximal member, and wherein the biased portion comprises:

a distal portion pivotably coupled to the distal portion at a hinge interface; and

a spring positioned to bias the distal portion to pivot away from the longitudinal axis in the first direction.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the end effector further comprises an ultrasonic blade.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23, further comprising an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade and positioned distally from a proximal-most position of the biased portion of the inner shaft.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein the end effector further comprises:

a clevis; and

a clamp arm pivotably coupled to clevis.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 25, further comprising a translating member coupled to the clamp arm and extending proximally through at least one of the inner shaft and the outer shaft, wherein alternating proximal and distal translation of the translating member causes the clamp arm to pivot relative to the ultrasonic blade.

27. A surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis;

an ultrasonic blade positioned within the shaft, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises a proximally positioned straight section and a distally positioned curved section;

wherein the ultrasonic blade is translatable along the longitudinal axis relative to the shaft from a first position where the curved section of the blade extends from a distal end of the shaft to a second position where the curved section of the blade is at least partially contained within the shaft.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the curved section of the ultrasonic blade defines a first radius of curvature when extended from the distal end of the shaft and a second radius of curvature when at least partially contained within the shaft, wherein the first radius of curvature is smaller than the second radius of curvature.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 28, wherein the curved section of the ultrasonic blade contacts an inner wall of the shaft when the curved section is at least partially contained within the shaft.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the curved section defines a radius of curvature, wherein the curved section subtends a first angle, and wherein a point of interface between the curved section and the straight section is at a position selected from the group consisting of a node of the ultrasonic blade and an anti-node of the ultrasonic blade.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 30, wherein the radius of curvature of the blade is described by:

32. The surgical instrument of claim 30, wherein the curved section of the ultrasonic blade comprises two quarter wavelengths at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic blade.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 30, wherein a length of the curved section of the ultrasonic blade is greater than a distance between adjacent nodes on the straight section of the ultrasonic blade.

34. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the shaft is fixed and the ultrasonic blade is translatable along the longitudinal axis relative to the shaft.

35. The surgical instrument of claim 27, wherein the ultrasonic blade is fixed and the shaft is translatable along the longitudinal axis relative to the ultrasonic blade.