Ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus having force limiting clamping mechanism

• US 5,947,984 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Whipple, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/949,133
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/152, 606/153, 606/154, 606/155, 606/156, 606/157, 606/158, 606/142, 606/143, 606/205, 606/206, 606/207, 606/169, 606/170, 606/171, 606/174, 227/901, 227/902
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• 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 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation, and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. In order to limit the force with which tissue is clamped between a clamp arm of the clamping mechanism and the end-effector, the clamping mechanism includes a force-limiting spring which operatively connects an operating lever of the apparatus and components of the clamp drive mechanism. The force-limiting spring is preferably pre-loaded so that the interconnection of the associated components is desirably "stiff", thus providing a user with good tactile feedback during operation of the clamping mechanism. At least one travel stop is preferably provided on the apparatus housing for limiting movement of the operating lever after a predetermined degree of relative movement of the operating components in opposition to the force-limiting spring.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end joined to said housing, and a distal end;

an inner actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath;

an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer tubular sheath and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath;

a clamp arm pivotally mounted on said distal end of said outer tubular sheath for pivotal movement with respect to said end-effector for clamping tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, said clamp arm being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocable movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector;

an operating lever pivotally mounted on said housing for pivotal movement relative to a lever pivot axis, and a clamp drive mechanism interconnecting said operating lever with said actuating member so that pivotal movement of said operating lever reciprocably moves said actuating member for pivotally moving said clamp arm,

said clamp drive mechanism including a reciprocably movable drive collar joined to said actuating member for reciprocable movement therewith relative to said outer tubular sheath, and a drive yoke operatively joined to said operating lever for movement relative to said lever pivot axis, said drive yoke engaging said drive collar so that pivotal movement of said operating lever and said drive yoke reciprocably moves said drive collar and said inner actuating member,

one of said operating lever and said drive yoke defining a spring cage, and the other defining a spring slot positioned adjacent to said spring cage, with a spring held captive within said spring cage positioned within said spring slot to transmit and limit force transmitted from said operating lever to said drive yoke by movement of said operating lever relative to said drive yoke in opposition to said spring.

2. An ultrasonic clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said operating lever includes a bifurcated portion having a pair of spring flanges each defining one of said spring slots, said spring cage being provided on said drive yoke and being positioned between said pair of spring flanges.

3. An ultrasonic clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said housing includes at least one travel stop to limit pivotal movement of said operating lever relative to said housing.

4. An ultrasonic clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said spring comprises a compression coil spring.

5. An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an outer tubular sheath having a proximal end rotatably joined to said housing, and a distal end;

a rotation knob mounted on said outer sheath for effecting rotation thereof with respect to said housing;

an inner tubular actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer tubular sheath for rotation therewith with respect to said housing;

an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer tubular sheath and having an end-effector extending distally of said distal end of said outer tubular sheath;

a clamp arm pivotally mounted on said distal end of said outer tubular sheath for pivotal movement with respect to said end-effector for clamping tissue between said clamp arm and said end-effector, said clamp arm being operatively connected to said actuating member so that reciprocable movement of said actuating member pivotally moves said clamp arm with respect to said end-effector;

an operating lever pivotally mounted on said housing on a housing pivot, and a clamp drive mechanism interconnecting said operating lever with said actuating member so that pivotal movement of said operating lever reciprocably moves said actuating member for pivotally moving said clamp arm;

said clamp drive mechanism including a reciprocably movable drive collar joined to said actuating member for conjoint rotation and for reciprocable movement therewith relative to said outer tubular sheath, and a drive yoke operatively joined to said operating lever which engages said drive collar while permitting relative rotation therebetween, said drive yoke being pivoted about said housing pivot to reciprocably move said drive collar and said actuating member,

a force-limiting spring operatively interconnecting said drive yoke and said operating lever to limit force transmitted therebetween by movement of said operating lever relative to said drive yoke in opposition to said force-limiting spring,

said housing including a travel stop engageable by said operating lever after a predetermined degree of movement of said operating lever relative to said drive yoke.

6. An ultrasonic clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein

said spring comprises a compression coil spring, said operating lever being engageable with said travel stop prior to full compression of said coil spring.

7. An ultrasonic clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein

said drive yoke includes a spring cage within which said spring is positioned, said operating lever including at least one spring flange positioned adjacent to said spring cage and defining a spring slot within which said spring is further positioned.

8. An ultrasonic clamp apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein

said operating lever includes a bifurcated portion having a pair of said spring flanges positioned adjacent to and on respective opposite sides of said spring cage, said spring being positioned with a spring slot defined by each of said spring flanges.