Ultrasonic surgical instrument with replaceable clamp pad

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020078043-A1
Application number	US-201916549821-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 23, 2019
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Mar 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm and a clamp pad. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An ultrasonic instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer; and (b) an end effector, comprising:
(i) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide,
(ii) a clamp arm comprising a proximal portion and an elongated distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly such that the clamp arm is configured to pivot relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the elongated distal portion defines an opening extending between a top portion of the elongated distal portion and a bottom portion of the elongated distal portion, and
(iii) a clamp pad configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly, and wherein a portion of the clamp pad extends vertically through the opening of the elongated distal portion while the clamp pad is coupled with the clamp arm.

22 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21 , wherein the clamp pad further comprises a pad portion and a mating portion, wherein the mating portion extends above the pad portion, and wherein the mating portion is configured to extend through the opening.

23 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 22 , wherein the end effector further comprises a sliding lock, and wherein the sliding lock is configured to engage the mating portion of the clamp pad.

24 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 23 , wherein the sliding lock is configured to engage the top portion of the elongated distal portion while also engaging the mating portion of the clamp pad to couple the clamp pad with the clamp arm.

25 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 23 , wherein the elongated distal portion comprises a bridging member that segments the opening into a first opening and a second opening.

26 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 25 , wherein the mating portion of the clamp pad comprises a first body and a second body, wherein the first body extends through the first opening, and wherein the second body extends through the second opening.

27 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 23 , wherein the sliding lock comprises a pair of arms collectively and at least partially defining a T-shaped slot.

28 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21 , wherein the clamp pad further comprises a foldable tab configured to extend through the opening.

29 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 28 , wherein the top portion of the elongated distal portion defines a recess, and wherein the foldable tab extends within the recess.

30 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 28 , wherein the foldable tab is formed of a malleable material.

31 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 28 , wherein the clamp pad further comprises a base and a pad body, wherein the base is coupled with the foldable tab, and wherein the pad body houses the base.

32 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 21 , wherein the clamp pad further comprises a padded portion and a cartridge, and wherein the cartridge is fixed to the padded portion.

33 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 32 , wherein the padded portion is configured to enter through the opening from the top portion toward the bottom portion.

34 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 33 , wherein the elongated distal portion comprises a first laterally oriented distal opening, and wherein the cartridge comprises a second laterally oriented distal opening configured to align with the first laterally oriented distal opening when the clamp pad is coupled with the clamp arm.

35 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 34 , wherein the end effector further comprises a pin configured to couple with cartridge with the elongated distal portion via the first laterally oriented distal opening and the second laterally oriented distal opening.

36 . An ultrasonic instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer; and (b) an end effector, comprising:
(i) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide,
(ii) a clamp arm comprising a proximal portion and an elongated distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly such that the clamp arm is configured to pivot relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the elongated distal portion comprises a threaded coupling feature, and
(iii) a clamp pad comprising a complementary threaded coupling feature, wherein the clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly via the threaded coupling feature and the complementary threaded coupling feature.

37 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 36 , wherein the elongated distal portion comprises a lead in nose located distally relative to the threaded coupling feature.

38 . The ultrasonic instrument of claim 36 , wherein the elongated distal portion comprises a stop configured to engage the clamp pad when the clamp pad is suitably oriented relative to the clamp arm.

39 . the ultrasonic instrument of claim 36 , wherein a distal end of the clamp pad is configured to selectively engage a distal end of the clamp arm to orient the clamp pad relative to the clamp arm.

40 . An ultrasonic instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer; and (b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide,
(ii) a clamp arm comprising a proximal portion and an elongated distal portion, wherein the elongated distal portion distally terminates at a protruding head thereof, wherein a remainder of the elongate distal portion is narrower relative to the protruding head, wherein the proximal portion is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly such that the clamp arm is configured to pivot relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and
(iii) a clamp pad comprising:
(A) an elastomeric tube comprising a distal face, and
(B) a distal base extending distally from the distal face of the elastomeric tube,
wherein the clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotably coupled with the shaft assembly, wherein the protruding head is configured to engage the distal face when the clamp pad is coupled with the clamp arm, and wherein the distal base is configured to engage the protruding head to inhibit the clamp pad from rotating relative to the clamp arm when the clamp pad is coupled with the clamp arm.

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Dickerson Benjamin D
• Smolik Steven P
• Cagle David J
• Messerly Jeffrey D
• Estera Frederick L
• Riestenberg Paul F
• Scheib Charles J
• Muhlenkamp Tylor C
• Denzinger Kristen G
• Asher Ryan M

Classifications

• A61B2017/320072

  Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts · CPC title

• A61B2017/00473

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

• A61B2017/320074

  blade · CPC title

• A61B17/320092 Primary

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

• A61B2017/320094

  additional movable means performing clamping operation · CPC title