Ultrasonic end effectors with increased active length

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12324602-B2
Application number	US-202318216175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2023
Priority date	Jul 27, 2007
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable along the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The surgical instrument further includes a protective sheath including a proximal end and a distal end and disposed adjacent to the body. The protective sheath further includes a pad positioned toward the distal end of the protective sheath and located between the body and the distal end of the protective sheath.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An end effector for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
an ultrasonic blade, comprising:
a first portion defining a first cross-sectional area and a first specific acoustic impedance; and
a second portion defining a second cross-sectional area and a second specific acoustic impedance, wherein the second portion is confined within a nodal gap of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second cross-sectional area is different than the first cross-sectional area, and wherein the second specific acoustic impedance is different than the first specific acoustic impedance.

2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the second specific acoustic impedance is less than the first specific acoustic impedance.

3. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is less than the first cross-sectional area.

4. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the second portion defines an internal cavity within the ultrasonic blade, wherein the internal cavity comprises a proximal-most end and a distal-most end, and wherein the proximal-most end and the distal-most end are positioned within the nodal gap.

5. The end effector of claim 4 , wherein the internal cavity is structured to abruptly change a cross-sectional area of the ultrasonic blade from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area along a length of the ultrasonic blade, thereby changing a specific acoustic impedance of the ultrasonic blade from the first specific acoustic impedance to the second specific acoustic impedance.

6. The end effector of claim 4 , wherein the internal cavity is structured to gradually change a cross-sectional area of the ultrasonic blade from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area along a length of the ultrasonic blade, thereby changing a specific acoustic impedance of the ultrasonic blade from the first specific acoustic impedance to the second specific acoustic impedance.

7. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are comprised of a same material.

8. An end effector for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
a first portion defining a first cross-sectional area and a first specific acoustic impedance;
a second portion defining a second cross-sectional area and a second specific acoustic impedance, wherein the second portion is confined within a nodal gap of the end effector, wherein the second cross-sectional area is different than the first cross-sectional area, and wherein the second specific acoustic impedance is different than the first specific acoustic impedance; and
a third portion defining a third cross-sectional area and a third specific acoustic impedance, wherein the third cross-sectional area is different than the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area, and wherein the third specific acoustic impedance is different than the first specific acoustic impedance and the second specific acoustic impedance.

9. The end effector of claim 8 , wherein the second specific acoustic impedance is less than the first specific acoustic impedance.

10. The end effector of claim 8 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is less than the first cross-sectional area.

11. The end effector of claim 8 , wherein the second portion defines a first internal cavity having a first shape, wherein the first internal cavity comprises a proximal-most end and a distal-most end, and wherein the proximal-most end and the distal-most end are positioned within the nodal gap.

12. The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the third portion defines a second internal cavity having a second shape different than the first shape.

13. The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the first internal cavity is structured to abruptly change a cross-sectional area of the end effector from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area along a length of the end effector, thereby changing a specific acoustic impedance of the end effector from the first specific acoustic impedance to the second specific acoustic impedance.

14. The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the first internal cavity is structured to gradually change a cross-sectional area of the end effector from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area along a length of the end effector, thereby changing a specific acoustic impedance of the end effector from the first specific acoustic impedance to the second specific acoustic impedance.

15. The end effector of claim 8 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are comprised of a same material.

16. An ultrasonic blade for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the ultrasonic blade comprising:
a first portion; and
a second portion distal to the first portion, wherein the second portion is confined within a nodal gap of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second portion defines an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity comprises a proximal-most end and a distal-most end, wherein the proximal-most end and the distal-most end are positioned within the nodal gap, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are comprised of a same material and form a unitary construction.

17. The ultrasonic blade of claim 16 , wherein the first portion has a first specific acoustic impedance, and wherein the second portion comprises a second specific acoustic impedance different than the first specific acoustic impedance.

18. The ultrasonic blade of claim 17 , wherein the internal cavity is defined in the second portion to abruptly change a cross-sectional area of the ultrasonic blade from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional area along a length of the ultrasonic blade, thereby changing a specific acoustic impedance of the ultrasonic blade from the first specific acoustic impedance to the second specific acoustic impedance.

19. The ultrasonic blade of claim 17 , wherein the internal cavity is defined in the second portion to gradually change a cross-sectional area of the ultrasonic blade from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional area along a length of the ultrasonic blade, thereby changing a specific acoustic impedance of the ultrasonic blade from the first specific acoustic impedance to the second specific acoustic impedance.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Stulen Foster B
• Houser Kevin L
• Battaglia Jr Vincent P
• Bertke Brian D

Classifications

• A61B2017/320072

  Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts · CPC title

• A61B17/320068

  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 title

• A61B2017/320078

  Tissue manipulating surface · CPC title

• A61B2017/320088

  with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath · CPC title

• A61B2017/320089

  node location · CPC title