Surgical instrument with selectively actuated gap-setting features for end effector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116532-B2
Application number	US-201715798720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Nov 16, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

First claim

We claim:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position, wherein the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are configured to receive tissue in the opened position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position;

(b) a shaft assembly projecting proximally from the end effector and including an acoustic waveguide operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to connect to an ultrasonic transducer;
(c) a body projecting proximally from the shaft assembly;
(d) a clamp arm actuator operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to selectively move relative to the body from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to thereby direct the clamp arm respectively from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position; and
(e) a spacer operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to move from an unactuated position to an actuated position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move from the opened position to the closed position without interruption from the spacer when the spacer is in the unactuated position, and wherein the spacer is further configured inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade when the spacer is in the actuated position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spacer includes an adjuster configured to manipulate the spacer from the unactuated position to the actuated position, wherein the spacer further includes a blocker configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator towards the body with the spacer in the actuated position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spacer includes a blocker movable between a first position and a second position such that the spacer is in the unactuated position when the blocker is in the first position and the spacer is in the actuated position when the blocker is in the second position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the spacer further includes an adjuster operatively connected to the blocker such that the adjuster is configured to move the blocker between the first position and the second position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the blocker includes a protrusion having a free end positioned between the body and the clamp arm actuator when the blocker is in the second position, wherein the blocker is configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator toward the body in the second position to thereby inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spacer includes:
(i) an adjuster, and
(ii) a blocker operatively connected with the adjuster,
wherein the adjuster is configured to move the blocker from a first position to a second position to thereby inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is positioned along the body.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the spacer includes a blocker configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the blocker is positioned below an upper surface of the body in the first position, wherein the blocker is positioned above the upper surface of the body and towards the clamp arm actuator in the second position.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the blocker includes a protrusion configured to extend transversely upwards from the body towards the clamp arm actuator in the second position.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the protrusion has a length that corresponds to the predetermined gap between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the clamp arm actuator is configured to abut the protrusion to maintain the intermediate position of the clamp arm when the blocker is in the second position.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the spacer includes an adjuster operatively connected to the blocker and configured to move the blocker from the first position to the second position.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the adjuster is configured to translate distally to thereby move the blocker from the first position to the second position.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the blocker is configured to pivot from the first position to the second position.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the spacer includes:
(i) an adjuster, and
(ii) a blocker operatively connected with the adjuster,
wherein the adjuster is configured to selectively move the blocker from a first position below an upper surface of the body to a second position above the upper surface of the body towards the clamp arm actuator, wherein the blocker is configured to inhibit the clamp arm actuator from moving towards the body when the blocker is in the second position.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position, wherein the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are configured to receive tissue in the opened position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position;

(b) a shaft assembly projecting proximally from the end effector and including an acoustic waveguide operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to connect to an ultrasonic transducer;
(c) a body projecting proximally from the shaft assembly;
(d) a clamp arm actuator operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to selectively move relative to the body from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to thereby direct the clamp arm respectively from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position; and
(e) a spacer operatively connected to the clamp arm, wherein the spacer includes a blocker having a free end selectively moveable within a space defined between the clamp arm actuator and the body, wherein blocker is configured to selectively inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator relative to the body to maintain at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and, wherein the blocker is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to move from the opened position to the closed position without contacting the blocker when the blocker is in the first position, wherein the clamp arm is inhibited to move from the intermediate position to t

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc
• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Asher Ryan M
• Black Brian D
• Brady John E
• Dennis Joseph
• Giannotti Geni M
• Heitman Bryce L
• Holland Timothy S
• Hollo Joseph E
• Kolpitcke Andrew
• Krumm Amy M
• Lesko Jason R
• Miller Matthew C
• Monroe David A
• Nicolaescu Ion V
• Ruiz Ortiz Rafael J
• Schneider Matthew S
• Smith Richard C
• Snyder Shawn C
• Worthington Sarah A
• Zeckel Monica L
• Zhang Fajian

Classifications

• A61B2017/00473

  Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B18/1445

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title

• A61B17/320092

  with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw · CPC title

• A61B2018/00755

  Resistance or impedance · CPC title

• A61B2017/00367

  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 title