ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH DISTALLY POSITIONED TRANSDUCERS

• US 20140005702A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Timm, Richard W., Dietz, Timothy G., Knight, Gary W.
• Application Number:
  US13/538,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• 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 17/2804 with two or more pivotal connections A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00415 having power generation near the working tip of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2938 Independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320074 blade
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means

Abstract

Various embodiments are direct to a surgical instrument comprising and end effector, an articulating shaft and an ultrasonic transducer assembly. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade. The articulating shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis and may comprise a proximal shaft member and a distal shaft member pivotably coupled at an articulation joint. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may comprise an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may be positioned distally from the articulation joint.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

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

an articulating shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis, wherein the articulating shaft comprises;

a proximal shaft member; and

a distal shaft member pivotably coupled to the proximal shaft member at an articulation joint; and

an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly is positioned distally from the articulation joint.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

a first control member extending through the shaft; and

a second control member extending through the shaft at a position substantially opposite the longitudinal axis from the first control member, wherein proximal translation of the first control member causes the distal shaft member and end effector to pivot towards the first control member.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a clamp arm pivotable about a clamp arm pivot point from an open position to a closed position substantially parallel to the ultrasonic blade.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the clamp arm pivot point is offset from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a clamp arm control member coupled to the clamp arm at a position offset from the longitudinal axis such that distal translation of the clamp arm control member pivots the clamp arm to the open position and proximal translation of the clamp arm control member pivots the clamp arm to the closed position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the clamp arm defines a clamp portion extending distally from the clamp arm pivot point and a proximal portion extending proximally from the clamp arm pivot point, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a clamp arm control member extending through the shaft;

a first linkage member defining a proximal end pivotably coupled to the clamp arm control member and a distal end pivotably coupled to a proximal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly;

a second linkage member defining a proximal end pivotably coupled to the clamp arm control member and a distal end pivotably coupled to the proximal portion of the clamp arm.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein proximal translation of the clamp arm control member pivots the ultrasonic blade and clamp portion of the clamp arm to the closed position, and where distal translation of the clamp arm control member pivots the ultrasonic blade and clamp portion of the clamp arm to the open position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the clamp arm defines a clamp portion extending distally from the clamp arm pivot point and a proximal portion extending proximally from the clamp arm pivot point, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a clamp arm control member extending through the shaft;

a first linkage member defining a proximal end pivotably coupled to the clamp arm control member and a distal end pivotably coupled to a proximal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly;

wherein the a proximal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly and a distal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly are separated by a bendable, acoustically transmissive section having a transverse area less than a longitudinal diameter of the distal and proximal portions of the ultrasonic transducer assembly; and

wherein the proximal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly is coupled to the clamp arm control member.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the clamp arm defines a clamp portion extending distally from the clamp arm pivot point and a proximal portion extending proximally from the clamp arm pivot point, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a clamp arm control member extending through the shaft;

a first linkage member defining a proximal end pivotably coupled to the clamp arm control member and a distal end pivotably coupled to the proximal portion of the clamp arm;

an ultrasonic blade control member extending through the shaft;

a second linkage member defining a proximal end pivotably coupled to the ultrasonic blade control member and a distal end pivotably coupled to a proximal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the clamp arm defines a clamp portion extending distally from the clamp arm pivot point and a proximal portion extending proximally from the clamp arm pivot point, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a clamp arm pulley rotatable about a clamp arm pulley axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a first linkage member defining a distal end pivotably coupled to the proximal portion of the clamp arm and a proximal end pivotably coupled to the clamp arm pulley at a position offset from the clamp arm pulley axis;

a clamp arm control member positioned around the clamp arm pulley and defining first and second ends extending proximally through the proximal shaft member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the clamp arm defines a clamp portion extending distally from the clamp arm pivot point and a proximal portion extending proximally from the clamp arm pivot point, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a ultrasonic blade pulley rotatable about a ultrasonic blade pulley axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a first linkage member defining a distal end pivotably coupled to the proximal portion of the ultrasonic blade and a proximal end pivotably coupled to the ultrasonic blade pulley at a position offset from the ultrasonic blade pulley axis;

a ultrasonic blade control member positioned around the ultrasonic blade pulley and defining first and second ends extending proximally through the proximal shaft member.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the articulating shaft further comprises an inner shaft coupled to and extending proximally from the end effector such that rotation of the inner shaft causes rotation of the end effector.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the inner shaft comprises a flexible rod.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the inner shaft comprises:

an inner shaft distal member coupled to the end effector;

an inner shaft joint member pivotably coupled to the inner shaft distal member; and

an inner shaft proximal member pivotably coupled to the inner shaft joint member.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the articulating shaft further comprises:

a joint member positioned at about the articulation joint, wherein the joint member is;

pivotably coupled to the distal shaft member such that the distal shaft member is pivotable relative to the joint member about a first pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

pivotably coupled to the proximal shaft member such that the joint member is pivotable relative to the proximal shaft member about a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

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

a first control member extending through the proximal shaft member; and

a second control member extending through the proximal shaft member at a position substantially opposite the longitudinal axis from the first control member, wherein proximal translation of the first control member causes the distal shaft member to pivot towards the first control member about the first pivot axis.

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

a third control member coupled to the joint member and extending proximally through the proximal shaft member; and

a fourth control member coupled to the joint member at a position substantially opposite the longitudinal axis from the third control member and extending proximally through the proximal shaft member, wherein proximal translation of the third control member causes the joint member and distal shaft member to pivot towards the third control member about the second pivot axis.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal shaft member comprises a pulley at about the articulation joint, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a control member positioned around the pulley and defining first and second ends extending proximally through the proximal shaft member, wherein proximal translation of the first end of the control member rotates the pulley to pivot the distal shaft member and end effector about the articulation joint.

18. A surgical instrument comprising:

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

an articulating shaft extending proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis, wherein the articulating shaft comprises;

a proximal shaft member; and

a distal shaft member pivotably coupled to the proximal shaft member at an articulation joint; and

an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly is coupled to the distal shaft member and comprises a proximal portion that extends proximally past the articulation joint.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the proximal portion of the ultrasonic transducer assembly pivots away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction when the distal shaft member and end effector pivot away from the longitudinal axis about the articulation joint in a second direction opposite the first direction.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the proximal shaft member defines a first clevis arm and a second clevis arm at a distal end of the proximal shaft member, wherein the proximal portion of the transducer assembly is positioned between the first and second clevis arms when the shaft is straight.