Ultrasonic blade overmold

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016022305-A1
Application number	US-201414337508-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Jan 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an acoustic waveguide, and an ultrasonic blade. The acoustic waveguide comprises a bore extending through the waveguide, an anchor pin, and an acoustic isolator. The anchor pin is insertable through the bore and is operable to longitudinally anchor the acoustic waveguide relative to the ultrasonic instrument. The acoustic isolator is radially disposed about the acoustic waveguide and is operable to acoustically isolate the acoustic waveguide from the ultrasonic instrument. The acoustic isolator comprises an opening extending through the isolator. The opening is configured to receive the anchor pin. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide.

First claim

I/we claim:

1 . An ultrasonic instrument comprising:
(a) an ultrasonic transducer; (b) an acoustic waveguide in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the acoustic waveguide defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the acoustic waveguide comprises:
(i) a bore extending transversely through the waveguide,
(ii) an anchor pin, wherein the anchor pin is insertable through the bore and is operable to secure the acoustic waveguide relative to the ultrasonic instrument, and
(iii) an acoustic isolator, wherein the acoustic isolator is angularly disposed about the acoustic waveguide and is operable to acoustically isolate the acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic isolator comprises a first opening extending through the isolator, wherein the opening is configured to receive the anchor pin; and
(c) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide.

2 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic isolator comprises an elastomeric material.

3 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic isolator comprises silicone.

4 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic isolator is positioned at an acoustic node along the longitudinal length of the acoustic waveguide.

5 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 4 , wherein the acoustic isolator, the bore, and the pin are all disposed at the same node along the longitudinal axis of the acoustic waveguide.

6 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide further comprises an o-ring positioned at nodal position along the longitudinal axis of the acoustic waveguide, wherein the o-ring is positioned distally of the acoustic isolator.

7 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 6 , wherein the o-ring is configured to acoustically isolate the acoustic waveguide.

8 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the anchor pin of the acoustic waveguide is oriented orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the acoustic waveguide.

9 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the bore of the acoustic waveguide is chamfered.

10 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the acoustic isolator is larger than the bore of the acoustic waveguide.

11 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 10 , wherein the first opening of the acoustic isolator is aligned over the bore of the acoustic waveguide.

12 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the isolator further comprises a second opening.

13 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 12 , wherein the anchor pin is insertable into the first opening of the acoustic isolator and the acoustic waveguide extends through the second opening of the acoustic isolator.

14 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 12 , wherein the second opening is perpendicular to the first opening.

15 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic isolator extends outwardly from the waveguide such that the acoustic isolator has a substantially uniform thickness.

16 . An ultrasonic instrument comprising:
(a) an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations; (b) an acoustic waveguide in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the acoustic waveguide defines a first longitudinal axis, wherein the acoustic waveguide comprises:
(i) a bore extending through the acoustic waveguide, wherein the bore defines a second longitudinal axis,
(ii) an anchor pin configured to be received within the bore, and
(iii) an acoustic isolator, wherein the acoustic isolator surrounds a portion of the acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic isolator comprises a single opening oriented about the first longitudinal axis of the acoustic waveguide and a pair of openings oriented about the second longitudinal axis of the bore; and
(c) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide.

17 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 16 , wherein the acoustic isolator is formed of an elastomeric material.

18 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 16 , wherein the pair of openings of the acoustic isolator are aligned with the bore of the acoustic waveguide such that the anchor pin is insertable through the pair of openings in the acoustic isolator and into the bore of the acoustic waveguide.

19 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 16 , wherein the bore, the anchor pin, and the acoustic isolator are positioned at a nodal position relative to the longitudinal axis of the acoustic waveguide.

20 . A method for assembling an ultrasonic instrument comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a acoustic waveguide comprising a bore extending through the acoustic waveguide, an anchor pin, and an acoustic isolator, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) blocking the bore of the acoustic waveguide, wherein the bore is located at a nodal position relative to a longitudinal axis of the acoustic waveguide; (b) overmolding an elastomeric material around the acoustic waveguide at the bore of the acoustic waveguide thereby forming the acoustic isolator such that the acoustic isolator comprises a hole on both sides of the bore; (c) inserting the anchor pin through a feature of the ultrasonic instrument; (d) further inserting the anchor pin through the acoustic isolator and the bore such that the acoustic waveguide is longitudinally fixed relative to the ultrasonic instrument.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc

Inventors

• Lamping Michael R
• Witt David A
• Holcomb Matthew D
• Jadeed Nabeel M

Classifications

• 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

• A61B2017/320089

  node location · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title

• A61B2017/320088

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

• A61B2017/320071

  with articulating means for working tip · CPC title