Electrodes and methods for use with a multi-layer clamp arm pad to enhance the performance of a surgical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12465390-B2
Application number	US-202217963725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2022
Priority date	Oct 25, 2021
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A surgical device, is disclosed herein. The surgical device can include an end effector including a clamp jaw, a trigger configured to open and close the clamp jaw, a sensor configured to detect a relative position of the trigger, and a control circuit communicably coupled to the sensor and a generator, wherein the control circuit is configured to cause the generator to administer energy associated with a surgical operation to be performed on the tissue, receive a signal from the sensor, determine that the clamp jaws are not positioned to administer the energy associated with the surgical operation, and cause the generator to administer energy configured to release the tissue from an ultrasonic blade, wherein the energy configured to release the tissue from the clamp jaw is different than the energy associated with a surgical operation to be performed on the tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An end effector configured for use with a surgical device, the end effector comprising:
a clamp arm, comprising:
a clamp arm base;
a clamp arm pad comprising a first geometry;
an electrode comprising an electrode material; and
an intermediate material configured to join the electrode material to the clamp arm base; and

an ultrasonic blade having a first hardness,
wherein the electrode material has a second hardness, wherein the second hardness is less than the first hardness of the ultrasonic blade, and wherein the electrode material defines a cavity comprising a second geometry, wherein the second geometry corresponds to the first geometry such that a portion of the clamp arm pad can be positioned within the cavity.

2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material is welded to the clamp arm base.

3. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the electrode material is cladded to the intermediate material.

4. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the electrode material further defines a pocket configured to accommodate the intermediate material, and wherein the intermediate material is positioned within the pocket.

5. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the electrode material is at least one of an aluminum-based material, a copper-based material, or a titanium-based material, and wherein the intermediate material is a stainless steel.

6. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm pad is constructed from a non-stick, PTFE material.

7. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm pad has a first thickness that corresponds to a rated life of the clamp arm pad.

8. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the electrode material has a second thickness, and wherein the intermediate material has a third thickness that is less than the second thickness.

9. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the electrode material has a second thickness, and wherein the intermediate material has a third thickness that is greater than the second thickness.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Gee Jacob S
• Keenan Michael A
• Olson William A
• Brehm Tyler N
• Mclain Cameron D
• Price Kevin

Classifications

• A61B2017/320073

  probe · CPC title

• A61B2017/00026

  Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue · CPC title

• A61B2090/0811

  for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument · CPC title

• A61B2017/320095

  with sealing or cauterizing means · CPC title

• A61B17/320092 Primary

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