Surgical instrument with modular shaft and transducer

• US 9,308,009 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Madan, Ashvani K., Hunt, John V., Houser, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US13/270,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 606/21, 606169-170
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• 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 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 : with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 : battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 : low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 : with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 : Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• 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 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00172 : Connectors and adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 : Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0019 : vibrating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 : Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 : specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 : Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 : Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 : Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 : Aligner or center

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical device comprises a detachable transducer module, a handle, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an end effector having a harmonic blade. The transducer module is removably coupled with the shaft assembly to form an active assembly. The active assembly is removably coupled with the handle. The handle may include a resilient wall structure that deflects outwardly to receive the active assembly in a snap fit. The handle may include a pivoting latch feature to selectively retain the active assembly relative to the handle.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

(a) a transducer module having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a shaft assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the shaft assembly is configured to be removably coupled with the distal end of the transducer module, wherein the transducer module is operable to transmit energy to at least part of the shaft assembly; and

(c) a housing presenting an upwardly presented open upper recess, wherein the upwardly presented open upper recess is defined at least in part by a lower platform and a pair of opposing wall portions, wherein the opposing wall portions terminate at upwardly presented and exposed upper edges, wherein the upwardly presented open upper recess is configured to removably receive the transducer module, wherein at least one of the platform or the pair of opposing wall portions supports the transducer module, wherein an upper portion of the transducer module extends upwardly relative to a vertical position of the upper edges such that the upper portion of the transducer module is exposed above the upper edges.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the transducer module comprises an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations in response to electrical power.

3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the transducer module further comprises a cable coupled with the proximal end of the transducer module.

4. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the transducer module further comprises a clutch mechanism located at the distal end of the transducer module.

5. The surgical device of claim 4, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a sprag-type clutch.

6. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft assembly further comprises an end effector at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector includes a harmonic blade in communication with the transducer module.

7. The surgical device of claim 6, wherein the end effector further comprises a clamp member operable to pivot relative to the harmonic blade.

8. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft assembly further comprises a knob disposed at the proximal end of the shaft assembly.

9. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the opposing wall portions are resilient, such that the opposing wall portions are configured to resiliently deflect outwardly to receive the transducer module in a snap-fit.

10. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the opposing wall portions define a gap exposing the upper portion of the transducer module with a lower portion of the transducer module engaged by the opposing wall portions.

11. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a latch member configured to selectively retain the transducer module relative to the housing.

12. The surgical device of claim 11, wherein the latch member comprises a cam feature configured to seat one or both of the transducer module or the shaft assembly relative to the housing.

13. The surgical device of claim 11, wherein the latch member is pivotally secured to one of the opposing wall portions.

14. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a handle configured to be gripped by a user'"'"'s hand.

15. The surgical device of claim 14, wherein the handle comprises a pistol grip and one or more of a pivoting trigger or at least one button.

16. A surgical device, comprising:

(a) an active assembly, the active assembly comprising;

(i) a transducer module having a proximal end and a distal end, and

(ii) a shaft assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the shaft assembly is configured to be removably coupled with the distal end of the transducer module; and

(b) a handle having a body section, the body section comprising wall portions and a platform wherein the wall portions terminate at upper edges, wherein the upper edges are upwardly presented and exposed, wherein the wall portions define an upwardly presented open recess with the platform being upwardly exposed,

wherein the transducer module is configured to fit in the recess, between the upper edges and above the platform.

17. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein the transducer module and shaft assembly are rotatable together relative to the handle.

18. The surgical device of claim 16, wherein the transducer module comprises an ultrasonic transducer, a cable, and a slip ring assembly coupling the ultrasonic transducer with the cable.