Apparatus and method for dissecting and coagulating tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016361084-A1
Application number	US-201514739792-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue is provided that includes an elongate sheath and an ultrasonic blade. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic blade is positioned within a sheath such that movement of the sheath relative to the blade results in the dissection and/or coagulation of tissue therebetween. In another embodiment, an ultrasonic blade is positioned within a sheath such that movement of the blade relative to the sheath results in the dissection and/or coagulation of tissue therebetween. The size and shape of distal ends of the blade and sheath determine the size and shape of the tissue being cut and/or removed from a body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for dissection and coagulation of tissue, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade configured to dissect and seal tissue and having a proximal end and distal end, the distal end of the ultrasonic blade comprising a surface proximal of the distal end to engage tissue; and an elongate sheath configured to extend over the ultrasonic blade and being movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first position in which the elongate sheath is positioned over a proximal portion of the ultrasonic blade and a second position in which the elongate sheath moves distally towards the surface of the distal end of the ultrasonic blade such that tissue can be dissected therebetween.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the elongate sheath is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the surface of the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the shape of the distal end of the ultrasonic blade and the distal end of the elongate sheath define a cavity at the location of the dissected tissue.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the ultrasonic blade communicates with an excitation mechanism to deliver mechanical energy at at least one ultrasonic frequency to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the elongate sheath is configured to couple to an actuator to move the sheath between the first and second positions.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a suction mechanism in the form of an elongate hollow tube positioned within the sheath and extending to the distal end thereof such that a distal end of the suction mechanism is configured to remove tissue dissected by the ultrasonic blade and the sheath.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the suction mechanism is configured to irrigate an area located substantially around the tissue being dissected and removed.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the suction mechanism is positioned between the distal end of the sheath and the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

9 . An apparatus for dissection and coagulation of tissue, comprising:
an elongate sheath having a proximal end and distal end, the distal end of the elongate sheath comprises a substantially flat surface proximal of the distal end to form an anvil; and an ultrasonic blade configured to dissect and seal tissue and being positioned within the elongate sheath, the ultrasonic blade being movable relative to the elongate sheath between a first position in which the ultrasonic blade is positioned a distance from the distal end of the elongate sheath and a second position in which the sheath moves proximally towards the distal end of the ultrasonic blade such that tissue can be dissected therebetween.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a distal end of the ultrasonic blade is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the surface of the distal end of the elongate sheath forming the anvil.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the shape of the distal end of the ultrasonic blade and the distal end of the elongate sheath create a cavity at the location of the dissected tissue.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade communicates with a excitation mechanism to deliver energy to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade is configured to couple to an actuator to move the blade between the first and second positions.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a suction mechanism in the form of an elongate hollow tube positioned within the sheath and extending to the distal end thereof such that a distal end of the suction mechanism is configured to remove tissue dissected by the ultrasonic blade and the sheath.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the suction mechanism is configured to irrigate an area located substantially around the tissue being dissected and removed.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the distal end of the suction mechanism is positioned between the distal end of the sheath and the distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

17 . An apparatus for dissection and coagulation of tissue, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade; an elongate sheath defining an aperture, wherein the ultrasonic blade is positioned within the aperture, the elongate sheath being movable distally relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first position defining a gap between a distal end of the sheath and the ultrasonic blade to receive target tissue in the gap, and a second position in which the elongate sheath is movable proximally towards the ultrasonic blade to grasp the target tissue therebetween; and a handle assembly mechanically coupled to the sheath to apply axial motion to the sheath.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises a curved surface for engaging the target tissue.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a distal end of the ultrasonic blade extends distally beyond a distal end of the sheath.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a distal end of the sheath extends distally beyond a distal end of the ultrasonic blade.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Weisenburgh Ii William B
• Johnson Gregory W
• Kimball Cory G

Classifications

• A61B17/320092

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

• A61B2017/320078

  Tissue manipulating surface · CPC title

• A61B2018/00589

  Coagulation · CPC title

• A61B2017/320094

  additional movable means performing clamping operation · CPC title

• A61B2017/320069

  for ablating tissue · CPC title