Articulation features for ultrasonic surgical instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12364502-B2
Application number	US-202318171032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2023
Priority date	Sep 17, 2013
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations;
(c) a shaft extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis;
(d) an articulation section coupled with the shaft, wherein the articulation section comprises:
(i) an outer tube comprising a plurality of outer tube segments, wherein the outer tube segments are coupled together via a plurality of tabs and recesses, wherein the outer tube segments provide flexibility to the outer tube, and
(ii) an inner tube comprising a plurality of inner tube segments, wherein the inner tube segments are coupled together via a plurality of tabs and recesses, wherein the inner tube segments provide flexibility to the outer tube;

(e) a waveguide positioned within the inner tube; and
(f) an end effector coupled with the articulation section, wherein the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer via the waveguide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube is configured to rotate about the inner tube when the inner tube and outer tube are both in an articulated state.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube further comprises a plurality of outer gaps respectively between the plurality of outer tube segments, wherein the plurality of outer tube segments includes a plurality of outer projections, wherein the plurality of outer projections respectively traverses the plurality of outer gaps.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of outer projections is configured to prevent the plurality of outer tube segments from rotating relative to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube further comprises a plurality of inner gaps respectively between the plurality of inner tube segments, wherein the plurality of inner tube segments includes a plurality of inner projections, wherein the plurality of inner projections respectively traverses the plurality of inner gaps.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of inner projections is configured to prevent the plurality of inner tube segments from rotating relative to each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the articulation section is configured to articulate from a straight configuration toward an articulated configuration, wherein the end effector extends along the longitudinal axis with the articulation section in the straight configuration, and wherein the end effector is deflected from the longitudinal axis with the articulation section in the articulated configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the outer tube is configured to rotate relative to the inner tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outer tube segments defines an outer longitudinal length, wherein the plurality of inner tube segments defines an inner longitudinal length, and wherein the outer longitudinal length is different than the inner longitudinal length.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the inner longitudinal length is longer than the outer longitudinal length.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further includes a clamp arm pivotally connected relative to the inner tube via a clamp coupling, wherein the clamp coupling is configured to permit clamp arm to rotate relative to the inner tube, and wherein the clamp coupling is further configured to prevent clamp arm from translating relative to the inner tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the clamp coupling includes a collar secured to the inner tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first articulation band extending through the articulation section.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Stulen Foster B
• Monroe David A
• Weisenburgh Ii William B
• Smith Richard C
• Madan Ashvani K
• Davis Craig T
• Worrell Barry C
• Dickerson Benjamin D
• Boudreaux Chad P
• Strobl Geoffrey S
• Gallmeyer Thomas C
• Sitler Amy L
• Muhlenkamp Tylor C
• Conlon Sean P
• Hibner John A

Classifications

• A61B2017/00318

  Steering mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B2017/0003

  of parts of the instruments · CPC title

• A61B17/320068 Primary

  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

• A61B2017/00473

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

• A61B2017/00336

  with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable · CPC title