Ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 9,913,656 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Stulen, Foster B.
• Primary Examiner(s): FISHBACK, ASHLEY LAUREN
• Application Number:
  US14/537,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 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 comprises a solid blade body defining an axis. The solid blade body comprises a first length, a proximal end, and a distal end. The solid blade body is configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic surgical blade further comprises a treatment region and a first edge at the distal end of the solid blade body. The ultrasonic surgical blade comprises an inner concave surface. The inner concave surface comprises a cavity extending proximally from the distal end of the solid blade body along the axis. The cavity terminates at a proximal end of the inner concave surface. The inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis when the fluid droplets collide with the inner concave surface to enhance visibility of a surgical site.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical blade for the treatment of tissue, comprising:

a solid blade body defining an axis, the solid blade body comprising;

a first length;

a proximal end; and

a distal end, wherein the solid blade body is configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer;

a treatment region;

a first edge at the distal end of the solid blade body; and

an inner concave surface, comprising;

a cavity extending proximally from the distal end of the solid blade body along the axis, wherein the cavity terminates at a proximal end of the inner concave surface, wherein the cavity comprises a second length between the first edge and the proximal end, wherein the first length is substantially longer than the second length, wherein the cavity is substantially concave and comprises a convex portion, and wherein the convex portion comprises a partial ellipsoid surface.

2. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis at a point beyond the distal end of the solid blade body.

3. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the cavity terminates at a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis.

4. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the treatment region comprises a curved blade.

5. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the treatment region comprises at least one coagulating edge.

6. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the inner concave surface is asymmetric.

7. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the treatment region comprises at least one cutting edge.

8. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the solid blade body further comprises an apex.

9. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 8, wherein the inner concave surface extends inwardly toward the apex.

10. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 9, wherein the inner concave surface terminates at the apex within the solid blade body.

11. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the first edge forms a base of the inner concave surface.

12. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the inner concave surface terminates at the partial ellipsoid surface.