Coagulator apparatus having indexed rotational positioning

• US 5,954,736 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Flaker, Richrad W., Baxter, Chester O. III, Bishop, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/948,952
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151-158, 606/142, 606/143, 606/205-207, 606/169-171, 227/901, 227/902
• US Class Current: 606/157
• 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 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• 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

An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. Selective, indexed rotational positioning of the clamping mechanism and end-effector is achieved by the provision of a detent mechanism incorporated into the clamp drive mechanism of the apparatus. The arrangement permits an elongated portion of the apparatus to be selectively rotatably positioned with respect to an apparatus housing, with an associated ultrasonic drive unit operatively coupled to a waveguide of the apparatus for rotation together with the clamping mechanism. The detent mechanism desirably resists relative rotation of the apparatus unless a predetermined torque is applied thereto, thus facilitating efficient and convenient use during surgical procedures.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end rotatably joined to said housing, and a distal end;

an inner actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath for rotation therewith with respect to said housing;

an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer tubular sheath and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath;

a clamp arm pivotally mounted on said distal end of said outer tubular sheath for pivotal movement with respect to said end-effector for clamping tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, said clamp arm being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocable movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector;

an operating lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and means interconnecting said operating lever with said actuating member so that pivotal movement of said operating lever reciprocably moves said actuating member for pivotally moving said clamp arm, said interconnecting means permitting rotation of said actuating member relative to said operating lever, and including detent means for indexing the rotational movement of said actuating member and tubular outer sheath with respect to said housing;

wherein said interconnecting means comprises a drive collar joined to said actuating member for conjoint rotation said drive collar having a detent-receiving surface defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth defining depressions, and a drive yoke joined to said operating lever and having at least one detent, said depressions being adapted to receive said at least one detent for indexing the rotational movement of said actuating member and tubular outer sheath with respect to said housing.

2. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said drive collar includes a pair of spaced apart drive flanges, said drive yoke being positioned between said drive flanges for engagement therewith.

3. An ultrasonic surgical clamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said drive collar comprises a pair of yoke arms diametrically engageable with said drive collar, each said yoke arm having one said detent thereon.

4. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including

a rotation knob mounted on said outer sheath for effecting indexed rotation of said outer sheath and said actuating member.

5. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end rotatably joined to said housing, and a distal end;

a rotation knob mounted on said outer sheath for effecting rotation thereof with respect to said housing;

an inner tubular actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath for rotation therewith with respect to said housing;

an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer tubular sheath and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath;

a clamp arm pivotally mounted on said distal end of said outer tubular sheath for pivotal movement with respect to said end-effector for clamping tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector said clamp arm being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocable movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector;

an operating lever pivotally mounted on said housing and a clamp drive mechanism interconnecting said operating lever with said actuating member so that pivotal movement of said operating lever reciprocably moves said actuating member for pivotally moving said clamp arm;

said clamp drive mechanism including a drive collar joined to said actuating mechanism for conjoint rotation and a drive yoke joined to said operating lever and engaging said drive collar while permitting relative rotation therebetween, said drive mechanism including a detent mechanism for indexing the rotational movement of said drive collar, said actuating member, and said tubular sheath with respect to said drive yoke and said housing;

said drive yoke including a pair of yoke arms each having a detent thereon, said yoke arm biasing said detent into engagement with said drive collar;

said drive collar including a pair of spaced apart drive flanges, and a detent-receiving surface positioned therebetween, said yoke arms being positioned between said drive flanges for engagement of said detents with said detent-receiving surface;

wherein said detent-receiving surface defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth therebetween for receiving said detents.

6. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein

said detents are biased into said depressions by said yoke arms to resist relative rotational torque less than about 5 to 20 inch-ounces.

9. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein

said rotation knob includes a hub portion for rotatably mounting said outer sheath, said actuating member, and said waveguide, as a unit with said rotation knob, on said housing.

7. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end rotatably joined to said housing, and a distal end;

a rotation knob mounted on said outer sheath for effecting rotation thereof with respect to said housing;

an inner tubular actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath for rotation therewith with respect to said housing;

an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer tubular sheath and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath;

a clamp arm pivotally mounted on said distal end of said outer tubular sheath for pivotal movement with respect to said end-effector for clamping tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, said clamp arm being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocable movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector;

an operating lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a clamp drive mechanism interconnecting said operating lever with said actuating member so that pivotal movement of said operating lever reciprocably moves said actuating member for pivotally moving said clamp arm;

said clamp drive mechanism including a drive collar joined to said actuating mechanism for conjoint rotation, and a drive yoke joined to said operating lever and engaging said drive collar while permitting relative rotation therebetween said drive mechanism including a detent mechanism for indexing the rotational movement of said drive collar, said actuating member, and said tubular sheath with respect to said drive yoke and said housing;

wherein said drive collar includes a pair of diametrically opposed, axially extending arms each having a drive lug, said drive lugs being biases into engagement with said arms for reciprocably moving said actuating member relative to said tubular outer sheath.

8. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein

said drive collar further includes a pair of keys diametrically engageable with said tubular actuating member.