Method of assembling a transducer for a surgical instrument

• US 8,650,728 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• 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: Wan, Shan, Nield, Scott A., Bialczak, Shawn D., Madan, Ashvani K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tugbang, A. Dexter
• Application Number:
  US12/490,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 29/253.5, 295/94, 298/42, 298/46, 735/79, 606/169, 604/22, 347/72, 310/312, 310/320, 310/357, 310/369
• US Class Current: 29/25.35
• 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 having a non-rectangular cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the stacking direction, e.g. polygonal or circular in top view
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/505 the cross-section being annular
• 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 a standing wave of vibrations along a longitudinal axis having a node and an anti-node 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. In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a method of assembling the transducer for the ultrasonic surgical instrument. In various embodiments, the method comprises selecting piezoelectric elements and arranging the piezoelectric elements relative to the node to minimize the difference in magnitude between the currents drawn by the piezoelectric elements.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a transducer for a surgical instrument, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations having a node and an anti-node, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a first piezoelectric element having a first material property, wherein said first piezoelectric element is configured to draw a first current when a voltage potential is applied thereto, and wherein said first piezoelectric element is configured to produce a first amount of work;

selecting a second piezoelectric element having a second material property, wherein said second material property is different than said first material property, wherein said second piezoelectric element is configured to draw a second current when a voltage potential is applied thereto, and wherein said second piezoelectric element is configured to produce a second amount of work; and

arranging said first piezoelectric element and said second piezoelectric element relative to said node such that the difference between the magnitude of said first current and the magnitude of said second current is minimized, whereby the difference between the first amount of work and the second amount of work is minimized.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first material property is a first thickness of said first piezoelectric element, wherein said second material property is a second thickness of said second piezoelectric element, and wherein said second thickness is larger than said first thickness.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first material property is a first dielectric constant, wherein said second material property is a second dielectric constant, and wherein said first dielectric constant is larger than said second dielectric constant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first material property is a first voltage sensitivity, wherein said second material property is a second voltage sensitivity, and wherein said second voltage sensitivity is larger than said first voltage sensitivity.