Thumb pad actuator for an ultrasonic surgical instrument
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
- a. a housing body shroud for the ultrasonic surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. an ultrasonic waveguide for transferring ultrasonic vibrations to the distal end of the surgical instrument to perform a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein a clamp arm is rotationally mounted relative to a blade which is stationarily supported at the distal end of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and when the thumb pad actuator is pushed forward in a distal direction, the rotational clamp arm is opened relative to the stationary blade, and when the thumb pad actuator is pulled rearward in a proximal direction, the clamp arm is closed relative to the stationary blade.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a large thumb slide actuator and a handle which is held in to the palm of a surgeon operator to balance the weight of the instrument during usage. The surgeon'"'"'s thumb is placed upon the thumb slide actuator, thereby facilitating actuation with a pulling-pushing motion of the thumb slide. When the thumb slide is pushed forward in a distal direction, a rotational clamp arm is opened relative to a stationary blade, and when the thumb slide is pulled rearward in a proximal direction, the clamp arm is closed. This arrangement eliminates a problem with steadying the instrument, with the entire thumb resting on the thumb slide, and also eliminates pressure points on the thumb during long transection times. The large thumb slide features a ribbed texture on its upper surface to prevent thumb slippage. The thumb slide is optimized for ergonomic usage with all size hands, with the user being able to initiate an open or close movement from any point on the thumb slide. The thumb slide has a horizontal S shaped design which fits the normal curvature of the thumb to provide greater comfort and control. The thumb slide is actuated proximally and distally along the same arc which the thumb follows naturally when bent proximally and distally at the first knuckle, which provides the surgeon with a natural and familiar actuating movement for greater ease and control.
314 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the ultrasonic surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. an ultrasonic waveguide for transferring ultrasonic vibrations to the distal end of the surgical instrument to perform a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein a clamp arm is rotationally mounted relative to a blade which is stationarily supported at the distal end of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and when the thumb pad actuator is pushed forward in a distal direction, the rotational clamp arm is opened relative to the stationary blade, and when the thumb pad actuator is pulled rearward in a proximal direction, the clamp arm is closed relative to the stationary blade.
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2. An ultrasonic surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the ultrasonic surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. an ultrasonic waveguide for transferring ultrasonic vibrations to the distal end of the surgical instrument to perform a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein a rotational coupler is rotationally mounted within the instrument housing to provide for complete rotational movement and freedom thereof within the surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An ultrasonic surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the ultrasonic surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. an ultrasonic waveguide for transferring ultrasonic vibrations to the distal end of the surgical instrument to perform a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein the upper central surface of thumb pad actuator has a horizontal S shaped design which fits the normal curvature of the thumb to provide greater comfort and control, and the upper surface also has a ribbed texturing to prevent thumb slippage.
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15. A surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. a rotational coupler rotationally mounted within the instrument housing to provide for complete rotational movement and freedom thereof within the surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. a surgical tip at the distal end of the surgical instrument for performing a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein a clamp arm is rotationally mounted relative to a blade which is stationarily supported at the distal end of the surgical instrument, and when the thumb pad actuator is pushed forward in a distal direction, the rotational clamp arm is opened relative to the stationary blade, and when the thumb pad actuator is pulled rearward in a proximal direction, the clamp arm is closed relative to the stationary blade.
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31. A surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. a surgical tip at the distal end of the surgical instrument for performing a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein a rotational coupler is rotationally mounted within the instrument housing to provide for complete rotational movement and freedom thereof within the surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. a surgical tip at the distal end of the surgical instrument for performing a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein the upper central surface of thumb pad actuator has a horizontal S shaped design which fits the normal curvature of the thumb to provide greater comfort and control, and the upper surface also has a ribbed texturing to prevent thumb slippage.
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44. A surgical instrument which is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and reduce fatigue in a surgeon operator'"'"'s hand and arm, comprising:
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a. a housing body shroud for the surgical instrument which defines a handle which is held in the palm of a surgeon user to balance the weight of the instrument during usage;
b. a thumb pad actuator translationally mounted on the upper surface of the body shroud for distal and proximal movements along substantially the same arc that the thumb naturally follows when bending proximally and distally at the first knuckle, thereby providing an actuating movement by the thumb along a familiar and natural arc which facilitates a coordinated easy actuation with very little major muscle movement;
c. a surgical tip at the distal end of the surgical instrument for performing a useful surgical procedure thereat;
d. wherein the thumb-pad actuator is mounted on top of the surgical instrument for distal and proximal movements by first and second slide pins which are mounted for distal and proximal movements in first and second slide grooves defined in opposed body half shrouds of the surgical instrument, the first slide pin is mounted on the distal end of the thumb pad actuating, and the second slide pin is mounted on the proximal end of the thumb pad actuator, and the first slide groove extends distally and proximally in a generally horizontal direction, and the second slide groove extends distally and proximally in both a generally horizontal direction and also a rearward-downwardly extending direction, such that movement of the thumb pad actuator as guided by the first and second slide grooves follows the natural movement of an extending and retracting thumb of a surgeon operator.
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Specification