Balanced ultrasonic blade including a singular balance asymmetry

• US 6,660,017 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Beaupre, Jean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US09/862,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 606/169, 606/170, 606/167, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/169
• 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 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location

Abstract

A balanced ultrasonic surgical instrument is described wherein the balanced ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transmission rod and an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the ultrasonic transmission rod. According to the present invention, the ultrasonically actuated blade includes a treatment portion and a balance portion. The treatment portion has a functional feature such as, for example, a triangular blade which makes the treatment portion asymmetric. The balance portion includes a singular asymmetric balance feature designed and positioned to balance out any undesirable torque generated by the treatment portion. The balance portion further extends generally from a node point on the ultrasonic transmission rod to the proximal end of the treatment portion.

Claims

1. An end effector for use in an ultrasonic surgical instrument, wherein said end effector comprises:

an ultrasonic transmission rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to said distal end of said transmission rod, wherein said ultrasonically actuated blade comprises;

a distal end;

a proximal end connected to said transmission rod at a longitudinal vibratory node point;

a treatment portion including at least one functional asymmetry; and

a balance portion including a singular balance asymmetry wherein said balance portion extends from said node point to said treatment portion and said treatment portion extends from said balance portion to said distal end of said blade.

2. An end effector according to claim 1, wherein said balance asymmetry is positioned to counter torque created at said proximal end of said blade by said at least one functional asymmetry.

3. An end effector according to claim 2, wherein said balance asymmetry is positioned such that transverse vibrations in said ultrasonic transmission rod are substantially equal to zero.

4. An end effector according to claim 2 wherein said transmission rod has a balance ratio of less than 1:

10.

5. An end effector according to claim 4 wherein said balance ratio of said transmission rod is less than 1:

200.

6. An end effector for use in an ultrasonic surgical instrument, wherein said end effector comprises:

an ultrasonic transmission rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

a balanced ultrasonically actuated blade attached to said distal end of said transmission rod, wherein said balanced ultrasonically actuated blade comprises;

a distal end;

a proximal end;

an angled treatment portion; and

a balance portion including a singular balance asymmetry wherein said balance portion extends from said distal end of said ultrasonic waveguide to said treatment portion and said treatment portion extends from said balance portion to said distal end of said blade.

7. An end effector according to claim 6 wherein said blade has a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface including said angled treatment portion and said bottom surface being parallel to said transmission rod, said first singular balance asymmetry being positioned on said top surface.

8. An end effector according to claim 7 wherein said singular balance asymmetry comprises a cutout on said top surface of said balance portion.

9. An end effector according to claim 7 wherein said singular balance asymmetry comprises a raised region on said bottom surface of said balance region.

10. An end effector according to claim 8 wherein said blade is bisected by a plane of symmetry, said blade being substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry, said singular balance asymmetry comprising a cutout on said top surface of said blade wherein said cutout is substantially parallel to said plane of symmetry and wherein said cutout is substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry.

11. An end effector according to claim 9 wherein said blade is bisected by a plane of symmetry, said blade being substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry, said singular balance asymmetry comprising a raised region positional on said bottom surface of said blade, wherein said raised region is substantially parallel to said plane of symmetry and wherein said raised region is substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry.

12. An ultrasonic surgical instrument including a balanced end effector for, wherein said instrument comprises:

a handle including an ultrasonic handpiece;

an ultrasonic transmission rod having a proximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal end is operatively connected to said handpiece;

an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to said distal end of said transmission rod, wherein said ultrasonically actuated blade comprises;

a distal end;

a proximal end connected to said transmission rod at a longitudinal vibratory node point;

a treatment portion including at least one functional asymmetry; and

a balance portion including a singular balance asymmetry wherein said balance portion extends from said node point to said treatment portion and said treatment portion extends from said balance portion to said distal end of said blade.

13. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein said balance asymmetry is positioned to counter torque created at said proximal end of said blade by said at least one functional asymmetry.

14. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein said balance asymmetry is positioned such that transverse vibrations in said ultrasonic transmission rod are substantially equal to zero.

15. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein said transmission rod has a balance ratio of less than 1:

10.

16. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 15 wherein said balance ratio of said transmission rod is less than 1:

200.

17. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle

an ultrasonic transmission rod having a proximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal end is operatively connected to said handle;

a balanced ultrasonically actuated blade attached to said distal end of said transmission rod, wherein said balanced ultrasonically actuated blade comprises;

a distal end;

a proximal end;

an angled treatment portion; and

a balance portion including a singular balance asymmetry wherein said balance portion extends from said distal end of said ultrasonic waveguide to said treatment portion and said treatment portion extends from said balance portion to said distal end of said blade.

18. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 17 wherein said blade has a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface including said angled treatment portion and said bottom surface being parallel to said transmission rod, said singular balance asymmetry being positioned on said top surface.

19. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 18 wherein said singular balance asymmetry comprises a cutout on said top surface of said balance portion.

20. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 18 wherein said singular balance asymmetry comprises a raised region on said bottom surface of said balance portion.

21. An end effector according to claim 19 wherein said blade is bisected by a plane of symmetry, said blade being substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry, said singular balance asymmetry comprising a cutout on said top surface of said blade wherein said cutout surface is substantially parallel to said plane of symmetry and wherein said cutout is substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry and wherein said cutout is substantially symmetrical on either sides of said plane of symmetry.

22. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 20 wherein said blade is bisected by a plane of symmetry, said blade being substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry, said singular balance asymmetry comprising a raised region positional on said bottom surface of said blade, wherein said raised region is substantially parallel to said plane of symmetry and wherein said raised region is substantially symmetrical on either side of said plane of symmetry.