Switch arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11419626-B2
Application number	US-201916693807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Apr 9, 2012
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

Ultrasonic surgical instruments including a handle housing, a switch frame, and a switch assembly are disclosed. The switch assembly may include a first switch arrangement movably supported on a distal portion of the handle housing and selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame. The switch assembly may further include a second switch arrangement including a right switch button movably supported on a right side of the handle housing and selectively movable relative to a right switch contact supported by the switch frame, and a left switch button movably supported on a left side of the handle housing and selectively movable relative to a left switch contact supported by the switch frame. The first and second switch arrangements may be configured to be selectively actuatable by a single hand supporting the handle housing.

First claim

We claim:

1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle housing;
a switch frame operably supported in the handle housing; and
a switch assembly coupled to the handle housing, wherein the switch assembly comprises:
a first switch arrangement movably supported on a distal portion of the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement is selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a second switch arrangement, comprising at least one of:
a right switch button movably supported on a right side of the handle housing, wherein the right switch button is selectively movable relative to a right switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a left switch button movably supported on a left side of the handle housing, wherein the left switch button is selectively movable relative to a left switch contact supported by the switch frame;

wherein the first and second switch arrangements are configured to be selectively actuatable by a single hand supporting the handle housing, wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable from the right side of the handle housing and is supported by a right switch arm that extends laterally towards the left switch button, wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable from the left side of the handle housing and is supported by a left switch arm that extends laterally towards the right switch button, wherein the right switch arm is pinned to a left portion of the switch frame with a left actuation pin and the left switch arm is pinned to a right portion of the switch frame with a right actuation pin, and wherein the right switch button is pivotable about a right switch axis and the left switch button is pivotable about a left switch axis.

2. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft extending distally from the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement comprises a first button assembly pivotable about a first switch axis, and wherein the first switch axis is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

3. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the right switch axis and left switch axis are substantially transverse the first switch axis.

4. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 ,
wherein the left switch arm extends from the left switch button toward the right switch axis; and
wherein the ultrasonic surgical instrument further comprises a left switch pin extending from the left switch arm, wherein the left switch pin is configured to contact the left switch contact.

5. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 4 ,
wherein the right switch arm extends from the right switch button towards the left switch axis; and
wherein the ultrasonic surgical instrument further comprises a right switch pin extending from the right switch arm, wherein the right switch pin is configured to contact the right switch contact.

6. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the left switch arm comprises a hole defined therein, and wherein the right switch pin is configured to contact the right switch contact through the hole.

7. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the right switch arm extends laterally above and across the left switch arm.

8. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
a generator configured to generate ultrasonic signals;
a handle assembly, comprising:
a handle housing;
a switch frame; and
a switch assembly, comprising:
a first switch arrangement movably supported on a distal portion of the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement is in electrical communication with the generator and is selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a second switch arrangement, comprising at least one of:
a right switch button movably supported on a right side of the handle housing, wherein the right switch button is in electrical communication with the generator and is selectively movable relative to a right switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a left switch button movably supported on a left side of the handle housing, wherein the left switch button is in electrical communication with the generator and is selectively movable relative to a left switch contact supported by the switch frame;
wherein the first and second switch arrangements are configured to be selectively operated by a single hand gripping the handle housing, wherein each of the right switch button and the left switch button are pivotally coupled to the switch frame, wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable from the right side of the handle housing and is supported by a right switch arm that extends laterally towards the left switch button, wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable from the left side of the handle housing and is supported by a left switch arm that extends laterally towards the right switch button, wherein the right switch arm is pinned to a left portion of the switch frame with a left actuation pin and the left switch arm is pinned to a right portion of the switch frame with a right actuation pin, and wherein the right switch button is pivotable about a right switch axis and the left switch button is pivotable about a left switch axis.

9. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8 , further comprising a shaft extending distally from the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement comprises a first button assembly pivotable about a first switch axis, and wherein the first switch axis is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

10. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the right switch axis and left switch axis are substantially transverse the first switch axis.

11. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8 ,
wherein the left switch arm extends from the left switch button toward the right switch axis; and
wherein the ultrasonic surgical instrument further comprises a left switch lug extending from the left switch arm, wherein the left switch lug is configured to contact the left switch contact.

12. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 ,
wherein the right switch arm extends from the right switch button towards the left switch axis; and
wherein the ultrasonic surgical instrument further comprises a right switch lug extending from the right switch arm, wherein the right switch lug is configured to contact the right switch contact.

13. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the left switch arm comprises an aperture defined therein, and wherein the right switch lug is configured to contact the right switch contact through the aperture.

14. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the right switch arm extends laterally above and across the left switch arm.

15. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a distal side; and
a first lateral side; and
a second lateral side;

a switch frame; and
a switch assembly, comprising:
a distal switch arrangement movably supported on the distal side of the housing, wherein the distal switch arrangement is selectively movable relative to a distal switch contact; and
a lateral switch arrangement, comprising at least one of:
a first switch button movably supported on the first lateral side of the housing, wherein the first switch button is selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame, wherein the first switch button is pivotable about a first switch axis, and wherein the first switch axis is closer to the

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Timm Richard W
• Price Daniel W
• Kirk Jeffery T
• Vasquez Jose Domingo
• Dietz Timothy G
• Smith Richard C
• Asher Ryan M
• Aldridge Jeffrey L
• Davis Craig T
• Henry Emron J
• Voegele James W
• Johnson Gregory W

Classifications

• A61B2017/320095

  with sealing or cauterizing means · CPC title

• H01H23/28

  with three operating positions · CPC title

• F04C2270/041

  Controlled or regulated · CPC title

• A61B2017/320094

  additional movable means performing clamping operation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00424

  ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist · CPC title