ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT BLADES
First Claim
1. A method of balancing an ultrasonic instrument having an ultrasonically actuated blade, wherein the blade comprises a body portion and a step portion extending from the body portion, wherein the body portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a width defined between the first and second sides, wherein the step portion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate the first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface extends between a first plane including the cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to the first plane, wherein the first and second surfaces are not parallel and are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
- configuring at least a portion of the blade such that the relationship of;
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonically actuated blade or end effector having a treatment portion. The blade can define a central axis and at least one axis which is transverse to the central axis, wherein the transverse axis can lie within a plane which is perpendicular, or normal, to the longitudinal axis and can define a cross-section of the treatment portion. Such a cross-section can include a central portion and a step extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion can comprise a width, and wherein the step can comprise a cutting edge. In at least one embodiment, the cutting edge can be defined by first and second surfaces which define an angle therebetween. In various embodiments, the position of the cutting edge and/or the angle between the cutting edge surfaces can be selected in order to balance the blade with respect to the transverse axis.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of balancing an ultrasonic instrument having an ultrasonically actuated blade, wherein the blade comprises a body portion and a step portion extending from the body portion, wherein the body portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a width defined between the first and second sides, wherein the step portion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate the first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface extends between a first plane including the cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to the first plane, wherein the first and second surfaces are not parallel and are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
configuring at least a portion of the blade such that the relationship of; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:
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a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, and a width defined between said first and second sides, wherein said body portion further comprises a center of gravity and a centerline extending through said center of gravity; a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface faces away from said centerline, wherein said second surface extends at an angle through said centerline between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of; - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:
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a body portion, comprising; a first side; a second side; a width defined between said first side and said second side; a first lateral side extending between said first side and said second side; and a second lateral side extending between said first side and said second side; a curved cutting notch extending into said body portion in said first lateral side, wherein said curved cutting notch comprises a first cutting edge; and a step portion extending from said second lateral side of said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a second cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface extends between a first plane including said second cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of; - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:
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a distal end; a proximal end; and a cross-section situated intermediate said distal end and said proximal end, wherein said cross-section is defined by a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein said cross-section is further defined by a centerline which lies in the plane, and wherein said cross-section comprises; a center portion; a first cutting portion extending from said center portion, wherein said cutting portion comprises a center of gravity which is positioned along said centerline, and wherein said first cutting portion further comprises a first cutting edge which is not positioned along said centerline; and a curved cutting notch extending into said center portion, wherein said curved cutting notch comprises a second cutting portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification