ROTATING TRANSDUCER MOUNT FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20130274732A1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wiener, Eitan T., Wan, Shan, Price, Daniel W., Norvell, David K., Giordano, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• 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 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00767 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device

Abstract

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that operably supports an electrical contact assembly therein that is in electrical communication with a signal source. An acoustic assembly is supported within the handpiece housing in rotatable contact with the electrical contact assembly. In various embodiments, the signal source produces at least one of an ultrasonic signal and a radio frequency signal.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a housing;

a generator supported by said housing, said generator to generate an ultrasonic drive signal;

an electrical contact assembly in electrical communication with said generator;

an acoustic assembly comprising first and second piezoelectric elements, said acoustic assembly rotatable with respect to said housing and said electrical contact assembly, wherein said electrical contact assembly is in electrical communication with said first and second piezoelectric elements;

a first electrode electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second piezoelectric elements and supported for rotational contact with said electrical contact assembly; and

an end effector coupled to said acoustic assembly, said end effector rotatable relative to said housing.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said end effector comprises a clamp arm rotatable about a longitudinal axis relative to said housing.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said clamp arm is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said housing comprises a trigger operatively coupled to move said clamp arm from the open position to the closed position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 comprising a waveguide having a proximal end operably connected to said acoustic assembly, said waveguide rotatable relative to said housing.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said waveguide is rotatably supported by said housing to enable said waveguide to be selectively rotated relative to said housing.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said waveguide is supported by a rotation wheel rotatably supported by said housing, said rotation wheel rotatable relative to said housing.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 comprising an outer sheath coupled to said rotation wheel, wherein said waveguide is disposed within said outer sheath, said outer sheath rotatable relative to said housing.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said electrical contact assembly comprises a first slip ring contact in rotational contact with said first electrode.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said acoustic assembly comprises a second electrode electrically coupled to the at least one of said first and second piezoelectric elements not electrically coupled to the first electrode, said second electrode supported for rotational contact with said electrical contact assembly.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said electrical contact assembly comprises a second slip ring contact in rotational contact with said second electrode.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second piezoelectric elements has a first circumference and wherein said first electrode has a second circumference that is greater than said first circumference.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said generator comprises an ultrasonic generator module to generate the ultrasonic drive signal.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said generator is configured to generate a radio frequency signal.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 wherein said generator comprises a signal generator module to generate a radio frequency signal.

16. A surgical instrument comprising:

a housing;

a generator supported by said housing, said generator to generate an ultrasonic drive signal;

an electrical contact assembly in electrical communication with said generator;

an acoustic assembly comprising first and second piezoelectric elements, said acoustic assembly rotatable with respect to said generator and said electrical contact assembly, wherein said electrical contact assembly is in electrical communication with said first and second piezoelectric elements;

a first electrode electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second piezoelectric elements and supported for rotational contact with said electrical contact assembly; and

an end effector coupled to said acoustic assembly, said end effector rotatable relative to said generator.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said end effector comprises a clamp arm rotatable about a longitudinal axis relative to said generator.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 wherein said clamp arm is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein said housing comprises a trigger operatively coupled to move said clamp arm from the open position to the closed position.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16 comprising a waveguide having a proximal end operably connected to said acoustic assembly, said waveguide rotatable relative to said generator.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein said waveguide is rotatably supported by said housing to enable said waveguide to be selectively rotated relative to said generator.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 20 wherein said waveguide is supported by a rotation wheel rotatably supported by said housing, said rotation wheel rotatable relative to said generator.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22 comprising an outer sheath coupled to said rotation wheel, wherein said waveguide is disposed within said outer sheath, said outer sheath rotatable relative to said generator.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said electrical contact assembly comprises a first slip ring contact in rotational contact with said first electrode.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said acoustic assembly comprises a second electrode electrically coupled to the at least one of said first and second piezoelectric elements not electrically coupled to the first electrode, said second electrode supported for rotational contact with said electrical contact assembly.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 25 wherein said electrical contact assembly comprises a second slip ring contact in rotational contact with said second electrode.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first and second piezoelectric elements has a first circumference and wherein said first electrode has a second circumference that is greater than said first circumference.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said generator comprises an ultrasonic generator module to generate the ultrasonic drive signal.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said generator is configured to generate a radio frequency signal.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 29 wherein said generator comprises a signal generator module to generate a radio frequency signal.