Ultrasonic surgical instruments with moving cutting implement

• US 9,962,182 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dietz, Timothy G., Johnson, Gregory W., Conlon, Sean P., Mumaw, Daniel J., Morgan, Jerome R., Dannaher, William D., Vakharia, Omar J., Timm, Richard W., Miller, Matthew C., Robertson, Galen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US14/590,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20150119916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• 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 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take 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 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical instrument for operation in an aqueous environment is provided. In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a hollow sheath and a blade disposed at least partially within the sheath. Coupled to the blade may be at least one ultrasonic transducer, which, in turn, may be coupled to a drive system. The drive system may be configured to deliver gross axial motions to the blade such that the blade translates with respect to the hollow sheath when the drive system is activated. Accordingly, tissue may be cut by the blade with gross axial movement of the blade and/or ultrasonic vibrational motion provided by the ultrasonic transducer(s). In alternative embodiments, the blade may be rotated axially instead of translated with respect to the hollow sheath.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a hollow sheath including at least one opening therein and at least one tooth positioned in the at least one opening, wherein the at least one tooth is configured to grip tissue positioned within the at least one opening;

a blade disposed at least partially within the hollow sheath, wherein the blade comprises a tip, and wherein the tip is configured to cut tissue;

at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the blade;

a drive system communicating with the at least one ultrasonic transducer to deliver rotational motions to the blade such that the blade rotates with respect to the hollow sheath when the drive system is activated; and

wherein the hollow sheath comprises a hollow projection that projects away from the blade and the at least one tooth is defined in the hollow projection.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the blade comprises a concave surface positioned next to the at least one opening.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the blade includes an elliptical center that is offset from a rotational axis of the blade.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth comprises a beveled shearing surface.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the blade comprises a screw surface positioned next to the at least one opening.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the blade further includes a lumen defined therein.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the blade is paddle shaped.

8. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a hollow sheath including at least one opening therein and at least one tooth positioned in the at least one opening, wherein the at least one tooth is configured to grip tissue positioned within the at least one opening;

a blade disposed at least partially within the hollow sheath, wherein the blade comprises an end portion, and wherein the end portion is configured to cut tissue;

at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the blade;

a drive system communicating with the at least one ultrasonic transducer to deliver rotational motions to the blade such that the blade rotates with respect to the hollow sheath when the drive system is activated; and

wherein the hollow sheath comprises a hollow projection that projects away from the blade and the at least one tooth is defined in the hollow projection.