Rotation features for ultrasonic surgical instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9743946-B2
Application number	US-201314109013-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2013
Priority date	Dec 17, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a body assembly;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations, wherein the acoustic waveguide defines a longitudinal axis;
(c) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide;
(d) a clamp assembly, wherein the clamp assembly comprises a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade about a pivot axis, wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a driving element, wherein the clamp arm is configured to movably actuate the driving element of the clamp assembly relative to the body assembly as the clamp arm pivots toward and away from the ultrasonic blade; and
(e) a rotation feature, wherein the driving element of the clamp assembly is configured to engage the rotation feature in response to pivoting of the clamp arm toward and away from the ultrasonic blade to thereby rotatably drive the rotation feature based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis, wherein the rotation feature is operable to be rotatably driven by the driving element of the clamp assembly to rotate the ultrasonic blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic blade has a curved section curving along a path that deviates from the longitudinal axis, wherein the clamp arm has a curved section curving along the path that deviates from the longitudinal axis, such that the curvature of the curved section of the clamp arm complements the curvature of the curved section of the ultrasonic blade.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises:
(i) a rack, and
(ii) a gear configured to engage with the rack.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the gear is coaxially disposed about the waveguide, wherein the rack extends transversely relative to the clamp arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises a motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is resiliently biased toward a first rotational position about the longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises:
(i) a pin disposed transversely through the waveguide, and
(ii) an elongate member extending from the clamp assembly, wherein the elongate member is configured to engage the pin and thereby rotate the ultrasonic blade about the longitudinal axis in response to the clamp arm completing a first range of travel about the pivot axis toward a closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises a bushing secured to the waveguide, wherein the bushing is configured to cause rotation of the ultrasonic blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis in response to contact between the bushing and the clamp assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises:
(i) a waveguide pin disposed transversely through the waveguide, and
(ii) a tube having at least one cam channel, wherein the tube is coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis, wherein the tube is movable relative to the longitudinal axis to rotate the waveguide pin about the longitudinal axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the tube is operable to translate along the longitudinal axis, wherein the waveguide pin is disposed in the at least one cam channel such that the waveguide pin is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in response to translation of the tube along the longitudinal axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the tube is operable to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the waveguide pin is fixedly secured to the tube, wherein the rotation feature further comprises a drive pin disposed in the cam channel, wherein the drive pin is operable to translate relative to the longitudinal axis to thereby rotate the tube and the waveguide pin about the longitudinal axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises a pin disposed transversely through the waveguide, wherein the pin is operable to translate along a path transverse to the longitudinal axis to thereby rotate the ultrasonic blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation feature comprises:
(i) a pin disposed transversely through the waveguide, and
(ii) a resilient feature interposed between at least a portion of the pin and at least a portion of the waveguide.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the resilient feature comprises an elastomeric material.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the resilient feature is configured to bias the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade in an obliquely offset angular relationship such that either:
(i) proximal portions of the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade engage each other first during pivotal movement of the clamp arm toward the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis, or
(ii) distal portions of the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade engage each other first during a pivotal movement of the clamp arm toward the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensor elements operable to sense positioning of tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm, wherein the rotation feature is configured to respond to positioning of tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm as sensed by the one or more sensor elements.

17. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a body assembly;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations, wherein the acoustic waveguide defines a longitudinal axis;
(c) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide;
(d) a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade about a pivot axis; and
(e) a rotation feature engaged with an engaged portion of the clamp arm, wherein the rotation feature is operable to drive rotation of the ultrasonic blade about the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotation feature is configured to be driven by the engaged portion of the clamp arm based on movement of the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis to thereby drive rotation of the ultrasonic blade about the longitudinal axis in response to pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the rotation feature comprises a pin disposed transversely through the waveguide, wherein the pin is operable to translate along a path to thereby rotate the ultrasonic blade about the longitudinal axis relative to the clamp arm.

19. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a body assembly;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations, wherein the acoustic waveguide defines a longitudinal axis;
(c) an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide;
(d) a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade about a pivot axis; and
(e) a rotation feature operable to drive rotation of the ultrasonic blade about the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotation feature is attached to either t

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Faller Craig N
• Debenedictis Elizabeth
• Kelly William D
• Lamping Michael R
• Dietz Timothy G
• Weizman Patrick A
• Gee Jacob S
• Schulte John B
• Muhlenkamp Tylor C
• Turner Douglas J
• Smith Eric B
• Conlon Sean P
• Timm Richard W
• Messerly Jeffrey D
• Bertke Brian D

Classifications

• A61B2017/320072

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

• A61B2017/2947

  Pivots · CPC title

• A61B2017/320095

  with sealing or cauterizing means · CPC title

• A61B2017/320075

  single edge blade, e.g. for cutting · CPC title

• A61B2017/320088

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