Ultrasonic end effectors with increased active length
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, the end effector configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations along the length, and the end effector having a discontinuous acoustic impedance along the length, the end effector comprising;
a first portion having a first specific acoustic impedance, the first portion disposed along the longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and
a second portion having a second specific acoustic impedance different than the first specific acoustic impedance, the second portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the first portion along the longitudinal axis to increase an active length of the end effector relative to an active length of an end effector without the second portion, wherein the active length is the distance from the distal end of the end effector where ultrasonic displacement is a predetermined level to a proximal location along the end effector where ultrasonic displacement has decreased below the predetermined level.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An end effector includes a first portion having a first specific acoustic impedance value, and a second portion having a second specific acoustic impedance value less than the first specific acoustic impedance value. The first portion includes a proximal end segment of the end effector and a distal end segment of the end effector, and the proximal end segment and the distal end segment are composed of a first material. The second portion includes an insert segment of the end effector composed of a second material. The insert segment is located between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment along the longitudinal axis of the end effector. The insert segment functions to bridge or fill the nodal energy gap. A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis as a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. An insert segment or a pad is positioned adjacent to the blade such that it engages the blade when the surgical instrument is in a closed position and generates heat filling the nodal energy gap.
876 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
-
an end effector having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, the end effector configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations along the length, and the end effector having a discontinuous acoustic impedance along the length, the end effector comprising; a first portion having a first specific acoustic impedance, the first portion disposed along the longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and a second portion having a second specific acoustic impedance different than the first specific acoustic impedance, the second portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the first portion along the longitudinal axis to increase an active length of the end effector relative to an active length of an end effector without the second portion, wherein the active length is the distance from the distal end of the end effector where ultrasonic displacement is a predetermined level to a proximal location along the end effector where ultrasonic displacement has decreased below the predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
-
an end effector comprising a distal end segment, a distal insert segment, an intermediate insert segment, a proximal insert segment, and a proximal end segment;
the segments disposed along a longitudinal axis having a length and configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations along the length;the distal end segment comprised of a first acoustic impedance material; the distal insert segment comprised of a second acoustic impedance material; the intermediate insert segment comprised of a third acoustic impedance material; the proximal insert segment comprised of a fourth acoustic impedance material; and the proximal end segment comprised of a fifth acoustic impedance material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 36)
-
- 24. An ultrasonic surgical blade comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least one of the segments narrows a nodal gap along the blade.
- 37. An ultrasonic surgical blade comprising a single material and having a length, wherein the specific acoustic impedance of the blade changes along the length, and wherein the change in acoustic impedance narrows a nodal gap.
- 44. An ultrasonic surgical blade comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least one of the segments is configured to fill a nodal energy gap.
Specification