Ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus having improved clamp arm tissue pad
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end joined to said housing, and a distal end;
an inner actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath;
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 reciprocal movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector;
said clamp arm having a clamping surface positioned for cooperation with said end-effector, said clamp arm including a plurality of gripping teeth each extending continuously transversely thereof for cooperation with said end-effector to grip tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, said teeth collectively defining a cylindrical gripping surface, spaced from root portions of said teeth, for cutting tissue along a line and for compressing tissue along regions on opposite sides of said line.
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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. The clamping mechanism includes a pivotal clamp arm which cooperates with the end-effector for gripping tissue therebetween. The clamp arm is preferably provided with a clamp tissue pad having a plurality of axially spaced gripping teeth which cooperate with the end-effector to achieve the desired ultrasonic effect on tissue, while facilitating grasping and gripping of tissue during surgical procedures.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end joined to said housing, and a distal end; an inner actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath; 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 reciprocal movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector; said clamp arm having a clamping surface positioned for cooperation with said end-effector, said clamp arm including a plurality of gripping teeth each extending continuously transversely thereof for cooperation with said end-effector to grip tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, said teeth collectively defining a cylindrical gripping surface, spaced from root portions of said teeth, for cutting tissue along a line and for compressing tissue along regions on opposite sides of said line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8)
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5. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end joined to said housing, and a distal end; an inner actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath; 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, said end-effector having a cylindrical surface defined by a first radius extending from a longitudinal axis of said end-effector; 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; said clamp arm having a clamping surface positioned for cooperation with said end-effector, said clamp arm including a plurality of gripping teeth each extending continuously transversely thereof and collectively defining a substantially planar gripping surface for cooperation with said end-effector to grip tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, and for cutting along a line when said substantially planar gripping surface is positioned in substantially parallel relationship to the cylindrical surface of said end-effector, with the spacing between said gripping surface and said end-effector increasing in oppositely extending directions from said line. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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9. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end rotatably joined to said housing, and a distal end, said outer tubular sheath defining a longitudinal axis about which said outer tubular sheath is rotatable; an inner tubular actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said inner tubular actuating member and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath; and 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 pivoted about a pivot axis offset from said longitudinal axis, said clamp arm including a pair of lever portions extending from said pivot axis on respective opposite sides of said end-effector, each said lever portion being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocal movement of said actuating member pivots said clamp arm; said clamp arm having a clamping surface positioned for cooperation with said end-effector, said clamp arm including a plurality of gripping teeth each extending continuously transversely thereof and collectively defining a substantially planar gripping surface for cooperation with said end-effector to grip tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, and for cutting along a line when said substantially planar gripping surface is positioned in substantially parallel relationship to said end-effector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end rotatably joined to said housing, and a distal end, said outer tubular sheath defining a longitudinal axis about which said outer tubular sheath is rotatable; an inner tubular actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said inner tubular actuating member and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath; and 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 pivoted about a pivot axis offset from said longitudinal axis, said clamp arm including a pair of lever portions extending from said pivot axis on respective opposite sides of said end-effector, each said lever portion being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocal movement of said actuating member pivots said clamp arm; said clamp arm having a clamping surface positioned for cooperation with said end-effector, said clamp arm including a plurality of gripping teeth each extending continuously transversely thereof and collectively defining a substantially cylindrical gripping surface for cooperation with said end-effector to grip tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, and for cutting along a line when said substantially cylindrical gripping surface is positioned in substantially parallel relationship to said end-effector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification