Transducer arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 8,334,635 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voegele, Aaron C., Nield, Scott A., Stulen, Foster B., Wan, Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): San Martin, J.
• Application Number:
  US12/490,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 310/323.12, 310/323.18, 310/325
• US Class Current: 310/323.12
• 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 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00402 Piezo electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• 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 2017/320072 Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0607 using multiple elements B06B1/064 and B06B1/0688 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 3/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/202 using longitudinal or thickness displacement combined with bending, shear or torsion displacement
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/503 with non-rectangular cross-section orthogonal to the stacking direction, e.g. polygonal, circular
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/505 Annular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations, said transducer comprising;

a first piezoelectric element comprised of a first material having a first Curie temperature; and

a second piezoelectric element comprised of a second material having a second Curie temperature, wherein said first Curie temperature is higher than said second Curie temperature; and

an end effector operably coupled to said transducer, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said transducer and said end effector, wherein said standing wave comprises a node and an anti-node, and wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned closer to said node than said second piezoelectric element.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said node comprises a point within at least one of said transducer and said end effector in which a maximum stress is created, and wherein said anti-node comprises a point within at least one of said transducer and said end effector in which a minimum stress is created.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned at said node.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said transducer is operably engageable with a power source configured to apply a voltage potential to said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element, wherein said first piezoelectric element is configured to draw a first current and said second piezoelectric element is configured to draw a second current, and wherein said first current is larger than said second current.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said first current is configured to heat said first piezoelectric element to a first operating temperature which is less than said first Curie temperature, and wherein said second current is configured to heat said second piezoelectric element to a second operating temperature which is less than said second Curie temperature.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said transducer comprises a third piezoelectric element comprised of a third material having a third Curie temperature, wherein said second Curie temperature is higher than said third Curie temperature, and wherein said second piezoelectric element is positioned closer to said node than said third piezoelectric element.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer comprising;

a first piezoelectric element comprised of a first material, wherein said first material comprises a first Curie temperature; and

a second piezoelectric element comprised of a second material, wherein said second material comprises a second Curie temperature, and wherein said first Curie temperature is greater than said second Curie temperature; and

an end effector operably coupled to said transducer, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said transducer and said end effector, wherein said standing wave of vibrations comprises a node and an anti-node, and wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned nearer to said node than said second piezoelectric element.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said node comprises a point within at least one of said transducer and said end effector in which a maximum stress is created, and wherein said anti-node comprises a point within at least one of said transducer and said end effector in which a minimum stress is created.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned at said node.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said transducer is operably engageable with a power source configured to apply a voltage potential to said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element, wherein said first piezoelectric element is configured to draw a first current and said second piezoelectric element is configured to draw a second current, and wherein said first current is larger than said second current.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first current is configured to heat said first piezoelectric element to a first operating temperature which is less than said first Curie temperature, and wherein said second current is configured to heat said second piezoelectric element to a second operating temperature which is less than said second Curie temperature.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said transducer comprises a third piezoelectric element comprised of a third material, wherein said third material comprises a third Curie temperature, wherein said second Curie temperature is greater than said third Curie temperature, and wherein said second piezoelectric element is positioned nearer to said node than said third piezoelectric element.

13. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a waveguide comprising an end effector; and

a transducer operably coupled to said waveguide, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said transducer and said waveguide, wherein said standing wave of vibrations comprises a node and an anti-node, and wherein said transducer comprises;

a first piezoelectric element comprised of a first material having a first Curie temperature, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned at or near said node; and

a second piezoelectric element comprised of a second material having a second Curie temperature, wherein said first Curie temperature is higher than said second Curie temperature, and wherein said second piezoelectric element is positioned farther from said node than said first piezoelectric element.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said transducer is operably engageable with a power source, wherein said first piezoelectric element is configured to draw a first current from said power source and said second piezoelectric element is configured to draw a second current from said power source, and wherein said first current is larger than said second current.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said first current is configured to heat said first piezoelectric element to a first maximum operating temperature which is less than said first Curie temperature, and wherein said second current is configured to heat said second piezoelectric element to a second maximum operating temperature which is less than said second Curie temperature.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said transducer comprises a third piezoelectric element comprised of a third material having a third Curie temperature, wherein said second Curie temperature is higher than said third Curie temperature, and wherein said third piezoelectric element is positioned farther from said node than said second piezoelectric element.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising:

a sheath comprising an aperture, wherein at least a portion of said waveguide is configured to extend through said aperture, and wherein a gap is defined between said waveguide and said sheath; and

a pump comprising a membrane positioned within said gap, wherein said membrane is mounted to said sheath and said waveguide, wherein said waveguide is configured to be moved relative to said sheath by the vibrations produced by said transducer, and wherein said waveguide is configured to move said membrane to displace air within the gap.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein a minimum displacement is created at said node and a maximum displacement is created at said anti-node, and wherein said membrane is mounted to said waveguide at an anti-node.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said transducer further comprises:

a first end member;

a second end member, wherein said first and second piezoelectric elements are positioned intermediate said first end member and said second end member; and

a pump comprising a flexible strap mounted to said first end member and said second end member, wherein said flexible strap is movable by the vibrations produced by said transducer.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein said flexible strap comprises a metal strip configured to conduct heat between said first end member and said second end member.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 19, further comprising a mass mounted to said flexible strap, wherein said mass is positioned intermediate said first end member and said second end member.

22. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an waveguide comprising an end effector;

a transducer operably coupled to said waveguide, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said transducer and said waveguide, wherein said standing wave of vibrations comprises at least one node and at least one anti-node, and wherein said transducer comprises;

a first piezoelectric element;

a second piezoelectric element comprised of a material having a second Curie temperature, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned closer to said node than said second piezoelectric element; and

a third piezoelectric element comprised of a material having a third Curie temperature, wherein said second Curie temperature is greater than said third Curie temperature, and wherein said second piezoelectric element is positioned closer to said node than said third piezoelectric element.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein said transducer is operably engageable with a power source;

wherein said second piezoelectric element is configured to draw a second current, and wherein said third piezoelectric element is configured to draw a third current;

wherein said second current is configured to heat said second piezoelectric element to a second maximum operating temperature which is less than said second Curie temperature, and wherein said third current is configured to heat said third piezoelectric element to a third maximum operating temperature which is less than said third Curie temperature.