Curved clamp arm tissue pad attachment for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 8,002,782 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, Chester O. III, Witt, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Julian W
• Application Number:
  US11/234,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 606/169, 606/32, 606/34, 606/40, 606/49, 606/51, 606/52, 606/205, 606/207, 600/437, 600/471, 600/564
• US Class Current: 606/169
• 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 2017/2829 with a removable cover
• 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

The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm tissue pad attachment for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument is described. The curved clamp arm includes a proximal end and a distal end, with a top surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the curved clamp arm. The top surface comprises at least one hole. The clamp arm includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface, with the bottom surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the clamp arm. The bottom surface includes at least one engaging surface, where the hole in the top surface extends from the top surface to the engaging surface of the clamp arm. One embodiment of the curved clamp includes a plurality of the holes in the top surface, and a plurality of the engaging surfaces in the bottom surface, wherein each hole in the top surface extends through the curved clamp arm, terminating at a corresponding engaging surface on the bottom surface. The plurality of holes may also be staggered laterally from the proximal end of the clamp arm to the distal end of the clamp arm.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;

an ultrasonically actuated curved end-effector attached to the distal end of the waveguide;

a tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface having a protrusion; and

a curved clamp member pivotable with respect to the end-effector and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the end effector and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the end effector and that the motion from the closed position to the open position occurs in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of curvature of the end effector for clamping tissue between the clamp arm and the end-effector, the clamp member comprising a slot for slidably receiving the protrusion.

2. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a rotatable element operatively associated with the waveguide, the curved end-effector and the curved clamp member, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause corresponding rotation of the curved end-effector and curved clamp member.

3. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protrusion is T-shaped.

4. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the slot is T-shaped.

5. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tissue pad is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction.

6. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 5, wherein the tissue pad is formed from polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE).

7. A method of assembling an ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising the steps of:

obtaining an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;

an ultrasonically actuated curved end-effector attached to the distal end of the waveguide;

a tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface having a protrusion; and

a curved clamp member pivotable with respect to the end-effector and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the end effector and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the end effector and that the motion from the closed position to the open position occurs in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of curvature of the end effector for clamping tissue between the clamp arm and the end-effector, the clamp member comprising a slot for slidably receiving the protrusion; and

slidably engaging the protrusion within the slot.

8. An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;

an ultrasonically actuated curved end-effector attached to the distal end of the waveguide and defining a first curved surface and a second curved surface, and a first plane perpendicular to the first and second curved surfaces;

a tissue pad having a tissue engaging surface and a clamp member engaging surface; and

a curved clamp member pivotable with respect to the end-effector and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the end effector and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the end effector and that the motion from the closed position to the open position occurs in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane for clamping tissue between the first tissue engaging surface and the end-effector, and the clamp member engaging the clamp member engaging surface.

9. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a rotatable element operatively associated with the waveguide, the curved end-effector and the curved clamp member, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause corresponding rotation of the curved end-effector and curved clamp member.

10. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 8, wherein the tissue pad is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction.

11. The ultrasonic clamp coagulator in accordance with claim 10, wherein the tissue pad is formed from polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE).

12. A method of assembling an ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising the steps of:

obtaining an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;

an ultrasonically actuated curved end-effector attached to the distal end of the waveguide and defining a first curved surface and a second curved surface, and a first plane perpendicular to the first and second curved surfaces;

a tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface; and

a curved clamp member pivotable with respect to the end-effector and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the end effector and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the end effector and that the motion from the closed position to the open position occurs in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of curvature of the end effector for clamping tissue between the first tissue engaging surface and the end-effector, the clamp member comprising a slot for slidably receiving the protrusion; and

engaging the second engaging surface with the curved clamp member.