Surgical instruments
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an outer sheath;
a transducer configured to produce vibrations;
an end-effector engaged with said transducer, wherein said end-effector defines an axis and a distal tip, and wherein said distal tip is movable relative to said axis by vibrations produced by said transducer; and
a clamp having a jaw member movably supported relative to said end-effector, wherein said jaw member is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said clamp is translatable axially between a first axial position and a second axial position with respect to said distal tip of said end-effector, wherein said second axial position is distal to said first axial position, wherein said clamp is at least partially disposed within said outer sheath in said first axial position, wherein said clamp is fully outside said outer sheath in said second axial position, and wherein said jaw member is movable between said open position and said closed position while said clamp is in said second axial position.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument that may include a housing, a transducer engaged with the housing which can produce vibrations, and an end-effector engaged with the transducer. The surgical instrument can include an adjustable sheath extending from the housing where the sheath is movable relative to the distal tip of the end-effector and where the distance between the distal tip of the sheath and the distal tip of the end-effector can enable the sheath to act as a depth stop. The sheath can be adjusted such that, when the distal tip of the sheath contacts the tissue or bone being incised, the surgeon can determine that the appropriate depth of the incision has been reached. In other embodiments, the end-effector can be moved with respect to the sheath to adjust the distance between the distal tip of the end-effector and the distal tip of the sheath.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an outer sheath; a transducer configured to produce vibrations; an end-effector engaged with said transducer, wherein said end-effector defines an axis and a distal tip, and wherein said distal tip is movable relative to said axis by vibrations produced by said transducer; and a clamp having a jaw member movably supported relative to said end-effector, wherein said jaw member is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said clamp is translatable axially between a first axial position and a second axial position with respect to said distal tip of said end-effector, wherein said second axial position is distal to said first axial position, wherein said clamp is at least partially disposed within said outer sheath in said first axial position, wherein said clamp is fully outside said outer sheath in said second axial position, and wherein said jaw member is movable between said open position and said closed position while said clamp is in said second axial position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; an outer sheath; a transducer engaged with said housing, wherein said transducer is configured to produce vibrations; an end-effector engaged with said transducer, wherein said end-effector defines an axis and a distal tip, and wherein said distal tip is movable relative to said axis by vibrations produced by said transducer; and a clamp, wherein said clamp includes a jaw member and a pivot, wherein said jaw member is rotatable with respect to said end-effector about said pivot, wherein said jaw member is detachable from said clamp, wherein said clamp is translatable axially between a proximal inoperable position and a distal operable position, wherein said clamp is at least partially surrounded by said outer sheath in said proximal inoperable position, and wherein said clamp is fully outside said outer sheath in said distal operable position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; an outer sheath; a transducer engaged with said housing, wherein said transducer is configured to produce vibrations; an end-effector engaged with said transducer, wherein said end-effector defines an axis and a distal tip, and wherein said distal tip is movable relative to said axis by vibrations produced by said transducer; a clamp, wherein said clamp includes a jaw member and a pivot; rotating means for rotating said clamp between an open position and a closed position about said pivot; and translating means for translating said clamp axially between a first proximal position and a second distal position with respect to said distal tip of said end-effector, wherein said rotating means is operable to rotate said clamp between said open position and said closed position in said second distal position, wherein said clamp is at least partially surrounded by said outer sheath in said first proximal position, and wherein said clamp is fully outside said outer sheath in said second distal position.
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Specification