Ultrasonic surgical instruments comprising transducer arrangements

• US 8,754,570 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• 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: Voegele, Aaron C., Nield, Scott A., Stulen, Foster B., Wan, Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, J. San
• Application Number:
  US13/717,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 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 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 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 transducer for a surgical instrument, the transducer comprising:

a first end member;

a second end member;

at least one piezoelectric element positioned intermediate said first end member and said second end member, wherein said at least one piezoelectric element is configured to produce vibrations; 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 at least one piezoelectric element.

2. The transducer of claim 1, wherein said flexible strap comprises a metal strip configured to conduct heat between said first end member and said second end member.

3. The transducer of claim 1, wherein an air gap is defined between said flexible strap and said at least one piezoelectric element.

4. The transducer of claim 1, wherein said first end member, said second end member, and said at least one piezoelectric element are positioned along a longitudinal axis, wherein said flexible strap is configured to deflect in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis.

5. The transducer of claim 1, further comprising a mass mounted to said flexible strap, wherein said mass is positioned intermediate said first end member and said second end member.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations;

an end effector operably coupled to said transducer;

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

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

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said transducer and said end effector, wherein said standing wave comprises at least one node having minimum displacement and at least one anti-node having maximum displacement, and wherein said membrane is mounted to said end effector at a said anti-node.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said membrane comprises a first membrane mounted to said end effector at a first anti-node, and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a second membrane mounted to said end effector at a second anti-node.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said membrane further comprises at least one aperture configured to allow air to flow therethrough.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said membrane is configured to create a turbulent air flow over a surface of said end effector.

11. A transducer for a surgical tool comprising an end effector, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said end effector, said transducer comprising:

a first piezoelectric element capable of producing a first amount of work; and

a second piezoelectric element capable of producing a second amount of work, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned closer to a node than said second piezoelectric element, and wherein a difference between said first amount of work and said second amount of work is maximized.

12. The transducer of claim 11, wherein said first piezoelectric element comprises a first Curie temperature, wherein said second piezoelectric element comprises a second Curie temperature, and wherein said first Curie temperature is higher than said second Curie temperature.

13. The transducer of claim 12, wherein said first amount of work heats said first piezoelectric element to a first operating temperature, wherein said second amount of work heats said second piezoelectric element to a second operating temperature, wherein said first operating temperature is less than said first Curie temperature, and wherein said second operating temperature is less than said second Curie temperature.

14. The transducer of claim 11, wherein said first piezoelectric element comprises a first thickness, wherein said second piezoelectric element comprises a second thickness, and wherein said second thickness is less than said first thickness.

15. The transducer of claim 11, wherein said first piezoelectric element comprises a first strain constant, wherein said second piezoelectric element comprises a second strain constant, and wherein said second strain constant is greater than said first strain constant.

16. The transducer of claim 11, wherein said first piezoelectric element comprises a first dielectric constant, wherein said second piezoelectric element comprises a second dielectric constant, wherein said second dielectric constant is less than said first dielectric constant.

17. The transducer of claim 11, wherein said first piezoelectric element comprises a first voltage sensitivity, wherein said second piezoelectric element comprises a second voltage sensitivity, wherein said second voltage sensitivity is less than said first voltage sensitivity.

18. The transducer of claim 11, wherein said first piezoelectric element comprises a first number of duty cycles, wherein said second piezoelectric element comprises a second number of duty cycles, wherein said second number of duty cycles is greater than said first number of duty cycles.

19. A transducer for a surgical tool comprising an end effector, wherein said transducer is configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations in said end effector, said transducer comprising:

a first piezoelectric element capable of producing a first amount of work; and

a second piezoelectric element capable of producing a second amount of work, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned closer to a node than said second piezoelectric element, and wherein a difference between said first amount of work and said second amount of work is minimized.

20. The transducer of claim 19, wherein said first piezoelectric element is positioned at or near said node.

21. The transducer of claim 19, wherein said first piezoelectric element has a first thickness, wherein said second piezoelectric element has a second thickness, and wherein said second thickness is greater than said first thickness.

22. The transducer of claim 19, wherein said first piezoelectric element has a first strain constant, wherein said second piezoelectric element has a second strain constant, and wherein said second strain constant is less than said first strain constant.

23. The transducer of claim 19, wherein said first piezoelectric element has a first dielectric constant, wherein said second piezoelectric element has a second dielectric constant, and wherein said second dielectric constant is greater than said first dielectric constant.

24. The transducer of claim 19, wherein said first piezoelectric element has a first voltage sensitivity, wherein said second piezoelectric element has a second voltage sensitivity, and wherein said second voltage sensitivity is greater than said first voltage sensitivity.

25. The transducer of claim 19, wherein said first piezoelectric element has been subjected to a first number of duty cycles, wherein said second piezoelectric element has been subjected to a second number of duty cycles, and wherein said second number of duty cycles is less than said first number of duty cycles.