Ultrasonic dissector and sealer

• US 9,918,736 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Van Tol, David J., Ross, Anthony B., Stoddard, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SZPIRA, JULIE ANN
• Application Number:
  US14/464,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 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 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2948 Sealing means, e.g. for sealing the interior from fluid entry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320072 Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320074 blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• 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 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• 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

Abstract

A method for ultrasonically treating tissue includes accessing a surgical site with an ultrasonic surgical instrument, dissecting tissue with a first portion of the blade, and sealing tissue with a second portion of the blade. The instrument includes a blade that defines a longitudinal axis. The blade is configured to oscillate along the longitudinal axis to ultrasonically treat tissue.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasonically treating tissue comprising:

accessing a surgical site with an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the instrument including a blade defining a longitudinal axis, the blade including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a distal surface defined in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the distal surface defining a notch adjacent a distal end of the blade;

dissecting tissue with the distal surface of the first portion of the blade; and

sealing tissue with the second portion of the blade.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the blade includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and side segments defined between the top and bottom portions and the first portion is the bottom portion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second portion is the top portion.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein dissecting tissue with the bottom portion includes contacting tissue with the notch defined on the bottom portion.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein sealing tissue includes clamping tissue between the top portion and a jaw pivotally movable relative to the blade.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sealing tissue includes applying pressure to the tissue.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein applying pressure to the tissue includes clamping the tissue between the top portion and a jaw pivotally movable relative to the blade.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein sealing tissue with the second portion of the blade includes sealing tissue with the side segments.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein dissecting tissue with the distal surface of the first portion of the blade includes ultrasonically oscillating the distal surface of the blade along the longitudinal axis.

10. A method for ultrasonically treating tissue comprising:

accessing a surgical site with an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the instrument including a blade defining a longitudinal axis, the blade having first and second portions, the first portion including a vertical surface that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and defines a notch adjacent a distal end of the blade;

dissecting tissue with the vertical surface defining the notch; and

sealing tissue with the second portion of the blade.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the blade includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and side segments defined between the top and bottom portions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second portion is the top portion.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein dissecting tissue includes contacting tissue with the notch defined on the bottom portion.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein sealing tissue includes clamping tissue between the top portion and a jaw pivotally movable relative to the blade.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein sealing tissue includes applying pressure to the tissue.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein applying pressure to the tissue includes clamping the tissue between the top portion and a jaw pivotally movable relative to the blade.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein sealing tissue includes sealing tissue with the side segments.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein dissecting tissue with the vertical surface defining the notch includes ultrasonically oscillating the vertical surface along the longitudinal axis.