Switch arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374709-A1
Application number	US-201615260882-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2012
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Ultrasonic surgical instruments including a handle housing, a switch frame, and a switch assembly are disclosed. The switch assembly may include a first switch arrangement movably supported on a distal portion of the handle housing and selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame. The switch assembly may further include a second switch arrangement including a right switch button movably supported on a right side of the handle housing and selectively movable relative to a right switch contact supported by the switch frame, and a left switch button movably supported on a left side of the handle housing and selectively movable relative to a left switch contact supported by the switch frame. The first and second switch arrangements may be configured to be selectively actuatable by a single hand supporting the handle housing.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle housing; a switch frame operably supported in the handle housing; and a switch assembly coupled to the handle housing, wherein the switch assembly comprises:
a first switch arrangement movably supported on a distal portion of the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement is selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a second switch arrangement, comprising at least one of:
a right switch button movably supported on a right side of the handle housing, wherein the right switch button is selectively movable relative to a right switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a left switch button movably supported on a left side of the handle housing, wherein the left switch button is selectively movable relative to a left switch contact supported by the switch frame;

wherein the first and second switch arrangements are configured to be selectively actuatable by a single hand supporting the handle housing.

2 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft extending distally from the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement comprises a first button assembly pivotable about a first switch axis, and wherein the first switch axis is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

3 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the right switch button is pivotally supported relative to the handle housing for selective pivotal travel about a right switch axis relative to the right switch contact, wherein the left switch button is pivotally supported relative to the handle housing for selective pivotal travel about a left switch axis relative to the left switch contact, and wherein the right and left switch axes are substantially transverse to the first switch axis.

4 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable from the right side of the handle housing and is pivotable about a left switch axis, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable from the left side of the handle housing and is pivotable about a right switch axis.

5 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable from the right side of the handle housing and is pivotable about a central switch axis, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable from the left side of the handle housing and is pivotable about the central switch axis.

6 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the first switch arrangement comprises a first button assembly pivotable about a first switch axis relative to two first switch contacts supported by the switch frame, and wherein the central switch axis is substantially transverse to the first switch axis.

7 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the right switch contact and the left switch contact define a switch contact assembly, wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable along a second switch axis relative to the right switch contact, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable along the second switch axis relative to the left switch contact.

8 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable along the second switch axis from an unactuated position to an actuated position where a portion of the right switch button is in actuation contact with the right switch contact, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable along the second switch axis from an unactuated position to an actuated position where a portion of the left switch button is in actuation contact with the left switch contact.

9 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8 , further comprising a biasing means for biasing the right and left switch buttons into their unactuated positions.

10 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first switch arrangement comprises a first button assembly pivotable about a first switch axis relative to two first switch contacts supported by the switch frame, and wherein the second switch axis is substantially parallel to the first switch axis.

11 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
a generator configured to generate ultrasonic signals; a handle assembly, comprising:
a handle housing;
a switch frame; and
a switch assembly, comprising:
a first switch arrangement movably supported on a distal portion of the handle housing, wherein the first switch arrangement is in electrical communication with the generator and is selectively movable relative to a first switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a second switch arrangement, comprising at least one of:
a right switch button movably supported on a right side of the handle housing, wherein the right switch button is in electrical communication with the generator and is selectively movable relative to a right switch contact supported by the switch frame; and
a left switch button movably supported on a left side of the handle housing, wherein the left switch button is in electrical communication with the generator and is selectively movable relative to a left switch contact supported by the switch frame;

wherein the first and second switch arrangements are configured to be selectively operated by a single hand gripping the handle housing.

12 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the switch frame is operably supported in the handle housing proximal to the first switch arrangement and intermediate the right and left switch buttons.

13 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein each of the first switch arrangement, the right switch button, and the left switch button are pivotally coupled to the switch frame, wherein the first switch arrangement is pivotable about a first switch axis, wherein the right switch button is pivotable about a right switch axis relative to the right switch contact, wherein the left switch button is pivotable about a left switch axis relative to the left switch contact, and wherein the right and left axes are substantially transverse to the first switch axis.

14 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein each of the right switch button and the left switch button are pivotally coupled to the switch frame, wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable from the right side of the handle housing and is pivotable about a left switch axis, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable from the left side of the handle housing and is pivotable about a right switch axis.

15 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein each of the right switch button and the left switch button are pivotally coupled to the switch frame, wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable from the right side of the handle housing and is pivotable about a central switch axis, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable from the left side of the handle housing and is pivotable about the central switch axis.

16 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the right switch contact and the left switch contact define a switch contact assembly, wherein the right switch button is selectively actuatable along a second switch axis relative to the right switch contact, and wherein the left switch button is selectively actuatable along the second switch axis relative to the left switch contact.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Timm Richard W
• Price Daniel W
• Kirk Jeffery T
• Vasquez Jose Domingo
• Dietz Timothy G
• Smith Richard C
• Asher Ryan M
• Aldridge Jeffrey L
• Davis Craig T
• Henry Emron J
• Voegele James W
• Johnson Gregory W

Classifications

• F04C2270/041

  Controlled or regulated · CPC title

• H01H23/28

  with three operating positions · CPC title

• A61B17/320092

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

• A61B2017/00371

  Multiple actuation, e.g. pushing of two buttons, or two working tips becoming operational · CPC title

• A61B2017/00367

  Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like · CPC title