Ultrasonic surgical instrument blades

• US 8,591,536 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Robertson, Galen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Severson, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILES, JONATHAN WADE
• Application Number:
  US13/270,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 606/37, 606/39, 606/45, 606/169, 606/170, 606/171, 303/465.5, 303/465.7, 303/53, 303/57, 839/56
• 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 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• 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 2017/320074 blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• 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 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/956 Ultrasonic

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonically actuated blade or end effector having a treatment portion. The blade can define a central axis and at least one axis which is transverse to the central axis, wherein the transverse axis can lie within a plane which is perpendicular, or normal, to the longitudinal axis and can define a cross-section of the treatment portion. Such a cross-section can include a central portion and a step extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion can comprise a width, and wherein the step can comprise a cutting edge. In at least one embodiment, the cutting edge can be defined by first and second surfaces which define an angle therebetween. In various embodiments, the position of the cutting edge and/or the angle between the cutting edge surfaces can be selected in order to balance the blade with respect to the transverse axis.

Claims

1. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, and a width defined between said first and second sides, wherein said body portion further comprises a center of gravity and a centerline extending through said center of gravity;

a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface faces away from said centerline, wherein said second surface extends at an angle through said centerline between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of;

2. The surgical blade of claim 1, wherein said body portion includes a centerline, wherein said first cutting edge is positioned on a first side of said centerline, and wherein said second cutting edge is positioned on a second side of said centerline.

3. The surgical blade of claim 1, wherein said circular notch defines a second step portion, wherein said second step portion comprises a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second cutting edge situated intermediate said third and fourth surfaces, wherein said fourth surface extends between a third plane including said second cutting edge and a fourth plane which is parallel to said third plane, wherein said third surface is not parallel to said fourth surface, wherein said third and fourth surfaces are oriented such that there is a second angle defined therebetween, wherein said second step is configured such that the relationship of:

4. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a body portion, comprising;

a first side;

a second side;

a width defined between said first side and said second side;

a first lateral side extending between said first side and said second side;

a second lateral side extending between said first side and said second side; and

a center of mass, wherein a transverse plane extends through said center of mass intermediate said first and second sides;

a curved cutting notch extending into said body portion in said first lateral side, wherein said curved cutting notch comprises a first cutting edge; and

a step portion extending from said second lateral side of said body portion, wherein said step portion is asymmetrical relative to said transverse plane, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a second cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface extends between a first plane including said second cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of;

5. The surgical blade of claim 4, wherein said body portion includes a centerline, wherein said first cutting edge is positioned on a first side of said centerline, and wherein said second cutting edge is positioned on a second side of said centerline.

6. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a distal end;

a proximal end; and

an asymmetrical cross-section situated intermediate said distal end and said proximal end, wherein said cross-section is defined by a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein said cross-section is further defined by a centerline which lies in the plane, and wherein said cross-section comprises;

a center portion comprising a center of gravity, wherein said centerline extends through said center of gravity;

a first cutting portion extending from said center portion, wherein said cutting portion comprises a center of gravity which is positioned along said centerline, and wherein said first cutting portion further comprises a first cutting edge which is not positioned along said centerline; and

a curved cutting notch extending into said center portion, wherein said curved cutting notch comprises a second cutting portion.

7. The surgical blade of claim 6, wherein said second cutting portion comprises a center of gravity which is positioned along said centerline, and wherein said second cutting portion further comprises a second cutting edge which is not positioned along said centerline.

8. The surgical blade of claim 7, wherein said first cutting edge is positioned on a first side of said centerline, and wherein said second cutting edge is positioned on a second side of said centerline.

9. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, a width defined between said first and second sides, a center of gravity, a transverse plane extending through said center of gravity between said first and second sides;

a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion is asymmetrical relative to said transverse plane, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface extends between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of;

10. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, a width defined between said first and second sides, and a center of gravity, wherein a datum extends through said center of gravity perpendicular to said width;

a step portion extending from said body portion substantially along said datum, wherein said step portion is asymmetrical relative to said datum, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a curved cutting recess situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface extends between a first plane and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of;

11. The surgical blade of claim 10, wherein said body portion defines a second step portion, wherein said second step portion comprises a third surface, a fourth surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said third and fourth surfaces, wherein said fourth surface extends between a third plane including said cutting edge and a fourth plane which is parallel to said third plane, wherein said third surface is not parallel to said fourth surface, wherein said third and fourth surfaces are oriented such that there is a second angle defined therebetween, wherein said second step is configured such that the relationship of:

12. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a distal end;

a proximal end; and

a cross-section situated intermediate said distal end and said proximal end, wherein said cross-section is defined by a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plane is at least partially defined by a transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the cross-section comprises;

a body portion having a first mass (M_B1) positioned on a first side of said transverse axis and a second mass (M_B2) positioned on a second side of said transverse axis; and

a step portion having a first mass (M_S1) positioned on said first side and a second mass (M_S2) positioned on said second side, wherein M_B1+M_S1 is substantially equal to M_B2+M_S2, and wherein said step portion is asymmetrical relative to said transverse axis;

a curved cutting recess, wherein said curved cutting recess at least partially includes said step portion.

13. The surgical blade of claim 12, wherein M_B1+M_S1 is equal to M_B2+M_S2.

14. A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising:

a body portion comprising a center of gravity and a centerline extending through said center of gravity; and

a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface faces away from said centerline, wherein said second surface extends at an angle through said centerline between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, and wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface.