Surgical instrument

• US 9,795,405 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Price, Daniel W., Houser, Kevin L., Stulen, Foster B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILES, JONATHAN WADE
• Application Number:
  US14/625,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20150157355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 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 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• 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 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• 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 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

In one embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises an articulable waveguide. The articulable waveguide may be configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong. The articulable waveguide comprises a proximal drive section, an end effector and a first flexible. The proximal drive section is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector is located at a distal portion of the articulable waveguide. The first flexible section comprises a flex bias and be positioned between the proximal drive section and the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises a first tine extending longitudinally relative to the articulable waveguide.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an articulable waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong, the articulable waveguide comprising;

a proximal drive section configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer;

a distal drive section, wherein the proximal drive section and distal drive section are stiff drive sections;

an end effector positioned at a distal portion of the articulable waveguide;

a first flexible section comprising a flex bias, wherein the first flexible section is positioned between the proximal drive section and the distal drive section; and

a second flexible section comprising a flex bias, wherein the second flexible section is positioned between the distal drive section and the end effector; and

a first tine extending longitudinally relative to the articulable waveguide.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the articulable waveguide further comprises a non-flexible section positioned between the second flexible section and the end effector.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the flex biases of the first and second flexible sections are configured to be disposed along the same plane.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a pad positioned at a distal end of the first tine, wherein the pad and the end effector are configured to receive tissue therebetween and coact to treat the tissue positioned therebetween.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further comprising a second tine that extends longitudinally, wherein the first tine or the end effector are positioned distal to the second tine to provide an offset configuration.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the pad on the first tine and the end effector are positioned distal relative to the second tine.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising the ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the proximal drive section.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to produce mechanical vibrations at a frequency range of about 60 kHz to about 120 kHz.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an articulable waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong, the articulable waveguide comprising;

a first drive section configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer;

a first flexible section comprising a first flex bias;

a second drive section positioned distal with respect to the first drive section and the first flexible section, wherein the first drive section and the second drive section are stiff drive sections;

a second flexible section comprising a second flex bias, wherein the second flexible section is positioned distal with respect to the second drive section; and

an end effector positioned at a distal portion of the articulable waveguide; and

a first tine comprising a distal end, wherein the first tine comprises a pad disposed at the distal end of the first tine;

wherein the second drive section is positioned between the first flexible section and the second flexible section.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the articulable waveguide further comprises a non-flexible section is positioned distal with respect to the second flexible section.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the first flex bias and the second flex bias are configured to be disposed along the same plane.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the pad and the end effector are configured to receive tissue therebetween and coact to treat the tissue positioned therebetween.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, further comprising a second tine that extends longitudinally, wherein the first tine or the end effector are positioned distal to the second tine to provide an offset configuration.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising the ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the first drive section.

15. A surgical instrument configured to be acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer, the surgical instrument comprising:

an articulable waveguide configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong, the articulable waveguide comprising;

a stiff proximal drive section;

a stiff distal drive section;

a proximal flexible section comprising a proximal flex bias; and

a distal flexible section comprising a distal flex bias, wherein the stiff distal drive section is positioned between the proximal flexible section and the distal flexible section; and

an end effector positioned at a distal portion of the articulable waveguide; and

a tine comprising a distal end, wherein the tine comprises a pad disposed at the distal end.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the articulable waveguide further comprises:

a non-flexible section positioned between the distal flexible section and the end effector.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the proximal flex bias and the distal flex bias are configured to be disposed along the same plane.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the pad and the end effector are configured to receive tissue therebetween and coact to treat the tissue positioned therebetween.