Surgical instrument with ratcheting rotatable shaft

• US 9,039,720 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Madan, Ashvani K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHI, KATHERINE MENGLIN
• Application Number:
  US13/274,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606169-171, 606/205, 601/2, 604/22, 433/119, 464/37, 464/38, 81 29- 33, 242/256, 242/389, 242/396.4, 242/611.1
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• 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 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 : Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 : with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 : battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 : low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2825 : Inserts of different material in jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 : with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 : Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• 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 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 : Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0019 : vibrating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/005 : with a lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 : Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 : Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0076 : having additional locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/008 : Pegs inserted, e.g. forced, into openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3007 : Stackable casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3008 : having multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 : Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 : specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 : Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 : Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 : Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 : Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 : Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 : specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/531 : Electrode connections inside a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 : Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 : Aligner or center

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a reusable housing including an internal transducer and an internal end effector rotation assembly. An exemplary rotation assembly is a ratchet and pawl assembly, which allows the transducer to rotate in a first direction but not in a second, opposite direction. The end effector, including an integral torque wrench, is attached to the transducer to form a single unit that is rotatable relative to the housing. The transducer attaches to a stationary cable via slip rings. The cable communicates with a generator, which provides electrical power to the transducer. The transducer converts the electrical power into ultrasonic vibrational energy, which is transmitted to the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an ultrasonic transducer;

(c) an acoustic transmission assembly attached to the transducer to form a rotatable unit, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; and

(d) a rotation assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit relative to the housing, wherein the rotation assembly comprises an input feature, wherein the input feature is configured to actuate relative to the housing along a linear path, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to convert linear motion of the input feature into rotation of the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit incrementally through a predetermined angular range in response to each linear actuation of the input feature.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the rotation assembly comprises a ratchet and pawl assembly.

3. The instrument of claim 2, further comprising a toothed flange disposed about the transducer, wherein the toothed flange forms a ratchet of the ratchet and pawl assembly.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the flange is unitarily secured to the transducer.

5. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the input feature comprises a button associated with a pivoting pawl, wherein the button is associated with the ratchet and pawl assembly, wherein the ratchet is configured to receive the pawl between teeth presented by the ratchet.

6. The instrument of claim 5, wherein the ratchet and pawl assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit in a first direction in response to actuation of the button.

7. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the button is biased to return to an original position upon removal of a pressing force.

8. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the pawl of the button is configured to be firmly received in a space defined between adjacent gear teeth of the ratchet upon removal of the pressing force.

9. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the transducer is coupled with a cable extending from the housing.

10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the transducer is coupled with the cable via one or more slip rings.

11. The instrument of claim 9, further comprising a generator, wherein the cable is coupled with the generator.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly comprises a shaft extending distally relative to the housing, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly includes an end effector in communication with the shaft, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

(c) a transducer coupled with the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly is operable to communicate ultrasonic vibrations from the transducer such that the transducer and the acoustic transmission assembly together define an acoustic assembly; and

(d) a pawl and ratchet rotation assembly communicating with the acoustic transmission assembly, wherein the pawl and ratchet rotation assembly is operable to rotate the acoustic assembly about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the pawl and ratchet rotation assembly is operable to convert a discrete linear input motion into a corresponding discrete angular rotation of the acoustic assembly.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the end effector includes an ultrasonic blade.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the housing is configured to be handheld.

15. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an ultrasonic transducer;

(c) an acoustic transmission assembly coupled with the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer and the acoustic transmission assembly together form a rotatable unit, wherein the acoustic transmission assembly comprises;

(i) a shaft portion extending distally from the housing, wherein the shaft portion defines a longitudinal axis, and

(ii) an end effector, wherein the end effector includes an ultrasonic blade; and

(d) a rotation assembly, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to rotate the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion and relative to the housing in a first direction, wherein the rotation assembly is operable to prevent rotation of the rotatable unit about the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion in a second direction, wherein the rotation assembly includes a rotatable member and an input member, wherein the input member includes a pivotable engagement protrusion, wherein the engagement protrusion is configured to pivot between an engagement position and a disengagement position, wherein the engagement protrusion is operable to engage the rotatable member when in the engagement position to thereby drive the rotatable unit to rotate in the first direction.