Ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 9,636,135 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Stulen, Foster B.
• Primary Examiner(s): FISHBACK, ASHLEY LAUREN
• Application Number:
  US14/537,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• 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 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• 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 2017/320089 node location
• 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 2017/32035 with gas or air

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical blade comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the body is movable relative to a longitudinal axis by vibrations produced by a transducer. The body comprises a longitudinally extending bore formed within the ultrasonic surgical blade. The ultrasonic surgical blade is configured to emit a spray from the bore at the distal end thereof to substantially prevent fluid from contacting the distal end of the ultrasonic surgical blade.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

a spray source;

an ultrasonic blade extending along a longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises;

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;

an elongate tissue treatment region extending along a lateral portion of the body, wherein the elongate tissue treatment region is configured to treat target tissue laterally abutting the ultrasonic blade; and

a longitudinally extending bore formed within the blade, wherein the longitudinally extending bore is fluidically coupled to the spray source, wherein the longitudinally extending bore defines an opening at the distal end of the body from which a spray from the spray source is emitted, and wherein the spray is emitted distal to and in a direction away from the target tissue and the elongate tissue treatment region along the lateral portion of the body; and

a clamp arm positioned opposite to the elongate tissue treatment region.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the spray is configured to substantially prevent fluid from contacting the distal end of the blade.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the spray comprises a gas.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the gas is at least one of carbon dioxide or air.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the spray is configured to emanate from the spray source.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the spray source is positioned at the proximal end of the body.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises a metallic electrically conductive material.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Ti6A14V, Aluminum, and Stainless Steel.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises a hydrophobic surface.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic blade further comprises an external cutting edge extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the body.

12. An end effector, comprising:

an ultrasonic surgical blade, wherein the ultrasonic surgical blade comprises;

a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis by vibrations produced by a transducer;

an elongate tissue treatment region extending along a lateral portion of the body, wherein the elongate tissue treatment region is configured to treat target tissue laterally abutting the ultrasonic blade;

a longitudinally extending bore formed within the ultrasonic surgical blade, wherein the longitudinally extending bore defines an opening at the distal end of the body from which a spray is emitted; and

a spraying mechanism fluidically coupled to the longitudinally extending bore;

wherein the spray is emitted distal to and in a direction away from the target tissue and the elongate tissue treatment region along the lateral portion of the body, and wherein the spray is configured to substantially prevent fluid from contacting the distal end of the blade; and

a clamp arm assembly, wherein the clamp arm assembly is positioned opposite to the elongate tissue treatment region.

13. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the spray comprises a gas.

14. The end effector of claim 13, wherein the gas is at least one of carbon dioxide or air.

15. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the spray is configured to emanate from the spraying mechanism.

16. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the bore extends substantially along the longitudinal axis.

17. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the body of the ultrasonic surgical blade comprises a metallic electrically conductive material.

18. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the body of the ultrasonic surgical blade comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Ti6A14V, Aluminum, and Stainless Steel.

19. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the body of the ultrasonic surgical blade comprises a hydrophobic surface.

20. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the body of the ultrasonic surgical blade comprises a substantially cylindrical cross-section.

21. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic surgical blade further comprises an external cutting edge extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the body.

22. A surgical instrument, comprising:

means for generating a fluid spray;

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency; and

an ultrasonic blade coupled to the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises;

a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer;

an elongate tissue treatment region extending along a lateral portion of the body, wherein the elongate tissue treatment region is configured to treat target tissue laterally abutting the ultrasonic blade; and

a longitudinal bore formed within the blade, wherein the longitudinal bore is fluidically coupled to the means for generating a fluid spray, wherein the longitudinal bore defines an opening at the distal end of the body from which the fluid spray is emitted, and wherein the fluid spray is emitted distal to and in a direction away from the target tissue and the elongate tissue treatment region along the lateral portion of the body; and

a clamp arm positioned opposite to the elongate tissue treatment region.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the ultrasonic blade further comprises an external cutting edge extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the body.