End effector for instrument with ultrasonic blade and bipolar clamp arm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10660692-B2
Application number	US-201615355875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2016
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm assembly. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with an acoustic waveguide of the shaft assembly. The clamp arm assembly is pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are operable to cooperate to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending longitudinally and distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to communicate ultrasonic vibrations; and
(c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide, and
(ii) a clamp arm assembly, wherein the clamp arm assembly is pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm assembly comprises:
(A) a clamp arm body,
(B) a first electrode having a first body portion and a first terminal, wherein the first body portion has a first exposed surface longitudinally extending along a first surface centerline, facing toward the ultrasonic blade, and configured to engage tissue, wherein the first terminal is laterally offset from the first surface centerline and transversely extends from the first body portion toward the clamp arm body such that the first terminal is electrically connected to the first exposed surface, and
(C) a second electrode having a second body portion and a second terminal, wherein the second body portion has a second exposed surface longitudinally extending along a second surface centerline, facing toward the ultrasonic blade, and configured to engage tissue, wherein the second terminal is laterally offset from the second surface centerline and transversely extends from the second body portion toward the clamp arm body such that the second terminal is electrically connected to the second exposed surface, wherein the first and second electrodes are operable to cooperate to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm assembly defines a length, wherein the first and second electrodes extend longitudinally along the length of the clamp arm assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is laterally offset from the second electrode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm assembly further comprises a clamp pad, wherein the clamp pad is operable to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade, and wherein the first and second terminals transversely extend through the clamp pad.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the clamp arm body defines a first opening that receives a first portion of the clamp pad, wherein the first terminal transversely extends through the first portion of the clamp pad and the first opening such that the first terminal is laterally interposed between the clamp pad and the clamp arm body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the clamp pad has a tissue engaging surface and defines a plurality of openings through the tissue engaging surface associated with the first and second electrodes, wherein the openings are configured to provide tissue access to the first and second electrodes through the clamp pad, and wherein the first and second electrodes are recessed within the plurality of openings, respectively, relative to the tissue engaging surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode defines a first half of the clamp arm body, wherein the second electrode defines a second half of the clamp arm body, wherein the clamp pad is laterally interposed between the first and second electrodes, wherein the clamp pad includes an electrically insulative material.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the clamp arm body defines a plurality of lateral notches, wherein the lateral notches are configured to receive an outward flow of material forming the clamp pad.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode comprises a first wire extending along at least a portion of a length of the clamp pad, wherein the second electrode comprises a second wire extending along at least a portion of a length of the clamp pad, wherein portions of the first and second wires are exposed relative to the clamp pad to enable contact with tissue being compressed against the ultrasonic blade by the clamp pad.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode comprises a first plurality of laterally extending portions, wherein the first plurality of laterally extending portions of the first electrode are longitudinally spaced apart from each other, wherein the second electrode comprises a second plurality of laterally extending portions, wherein the second plurality of laterally extending portions of the second electrode are longitudinally spaced apart from each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the clamp arm body has an outer surface facing away from the ultrasonic blade and defines a first opening transversely extending through the outer surface, wherein the first opening receives a first portion of the clamp pad such that the first portion of the clamp pad is exposed through the first opening.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first terminal transversely extends through the first portion of the clamp pad and the first opening such that the first terminal is exposed and accessible via the first opening.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first terminal transversely extends from the first body portion transversely beyond the outer surface of the clamp arm body.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second terminal transversely extends through the first portion of the clamp pad and the first opening such that the second terminal is exposed and accessible via the first opening.

15. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending longitudinally and distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to communicate ultrasonic vibrations; and
(c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide, and
(ii) a clamp arm assembly, wherein the clamp arm assembly is pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position relative to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm assembly comprises:
(A) a clamp arm body having an outer surface facing away from the ultrasonic blade and defining a first opening transversely extending through the outer surface,
(B) a clamp pad defining a first bore and a second bore and having a first pad portion received within the first opening of the clamp arm body such that the first pad portion is exposed through the first opening,
(C) a first electrode received at least partially within the first bore and captured therein in each of the open and closed positions, and
(D) a second electrode received at least partially within the second bore and captured therein in each of the open and closed positions, wherein the first and second electrodes are operable to cooperate to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the clamp arm body further defines a second opening transversely extending through the outer surface, and wherein the clamp pad has a second pad portion received within the second opening of the clamp arm body such that the second pad portion is exposed through the second opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first electrode is laterally spaced apart from the second electrode, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode is longitudinally and laterally surrounded by the first pad portion received within the first opening of the clamp arm body, and wherein at least a portion of the second electrode is longitudinally and laterally surrounded by the second pad

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Lesko Jason R
• Corbett Catherine A
• Weisenburgh Ii William B
• Worrell Barry C
• Davison Mark A
• Cummings Nathan
• Burkart Ellen
• Dannaher William D
• Hough Christina M
• Faller Craig N
• Brown Adam
• Messerly Jeffrey D
• Chen Kai
• Clem William E

Classifications

• A61B2017/320095

  with sealing or cauterizing means · CPC title

• A61B2018/00619

  Welding · CPC title

• A61B2018/00404

  Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart · CPC title

• A61B2018/00077

  high, i.e. electrically conducting · CPC title

• A61B2018/00791

  Temperature · CPC title