Surgical instrument with ratcheting rotatable shaft
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) an ultrasonic transducer;
(c) an acoustic transmission assembly attached to the transducer to form a rotatable unit, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; and
(d) a rotation assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit relative to the housing, wherein the rotation assembly comprises an input feature, wherein the input feature is configured to actuate relative to the housing along a linear path, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to convert linear motion of the input feature into rotation of the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit incrementally through a predetermined angular range in response to each linear actuation of the input feature.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a reusable housing including an internal transducer and an internal end effector rotation assembly. An exemplary rotation assembly is a ratchet and pawl assembly, which allows the transducer to rotate in a first direction but not in a second, opposite direction. The end effector, including an integral torque wrench, is attached to the transducer to form a single unit that is rotatable relative to the housing. The transducer attaches to a stationary cable via slip rings. The cable communicates with a generator, which provides electrical power to the transducer. The transducer converts the electrical power into ultrasonic vibrational energy, which is transmitted to the end effector.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) an ultrasonic transducer; (c) an acoustic transmission assembly attached to the transducer to form a rotatable unit, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; and (d) a rotation assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit relative to the housing, wherein the rotation assembly comprises an input feature, wherein the input feature is configured to actuate relative to the housing along a linear path, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to convert linear motion of the input feature into rotation of the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit incrementally through a predetermined angular range in response to each linear actuation of the input feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical instrument comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) an acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly comprises a shaft extending distally relative to the housing, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly includes an end effector in communication with the shaft, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; (c) a transducer coupled with the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly is operable to communicate ultrasonic vibrations from the transducer such that the transducer and the acoustic transmission assembly together define an acoustic assembly; and (d) a pawl and ratchet rotation assembly communicating with the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the pawl and ratchet rotation assembly is operable to rotate the acoustic assembly about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the pawl and ratchet rotation assembly is operable to convert a discrete linear input motion into a corresponding discrete angular rotation of the acoustic assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A surgical instrument comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) an ultrasonic transducer; (c) an acoustic transmission assembly coupled with the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer and the acoustic transmission assembly together form a rotatable unit, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly comprises; (i) a shaft portion extending distally from the housing, wherein the shaft portion defines a longitudinal axis, and (ii) an end effector, wherein the end effector includes an ultrasonic blade; and (d) a rotation assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion and relative to the housing in a first direction, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to prevent rotation of the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion in a second direction, wherein the rotation assembly includes a rotatable member and an input member, wherein the input member includes a pivotable engagement protrusion, wherein the engagement protrusion is configured to pivot between an engagement position and a disengagement position, wherein the engagement protrusion is operable to engage the rotatable member when in the engagement position to thereby drive the rotatable unit to rotate in the first direction.
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Specification