Ultrasonic surgical instrument with modular end effector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9872699-B2
Application number	US-201514731581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2015
Priority date	Oct 10, 2011
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A surgical instrument having a transmission assembly, a transducer, and a handle assembly is configured for coupling the transmission assembly to the handle assembly using a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operable to restrict the rotational movement of an actuator coupling member and the transducer relative to the handle assembly. The locking mechanism may also be operable to lock a trigger of the handle assembly in a first position. An inner tubular actuating member of the transmission assembly may be threadably attachable to the actuator coupling member or the actuator coupling member may include a latching mechanism to couple to a flared portion of the inner tubular actuating member. A waveguide of the transmission assembly may also be threadably attachable to the transducer. In one alternative, the trigger may be configured to operate the locking mechanism, either in the first position or when pivoted distally to a third position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a transmission assembly having a proximal end, the transmission assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
(i) a waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, and
(ii) an end effector coupled to the distal end of the waveguide;

(b) a transducer; and
(c) a body assembly having a transmission aperture, wherein the proximal end of the transmission assembly is insertable into the transmission aperture of the body assembly, the body assembly comprising a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism includes a moving feature that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the moving feature is configured to engage the transducer in the locked position when the transmission assembly is inserted into the transmission aperture.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the moving feature includes at least one locking feature extending toward the longitudinal axis.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , further comprising an extension extending from the transducer, wherein the at least one locking feature is configured to engage the extension in the locked position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a clamp arm, wherein the transmission assembly comprises a trigger yoke operably coupled to the clamp arm, wherein the clamp arm is configured to pivot in response to longitudinal movement of the trigger yoke.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the moving feature in the locked position is configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the trigger yoke.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the moving feature is configured to move proximally to the locked position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the moving feature is configured to move distally to the locked position.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the moving feature comprises a sliding member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the transducer is prevented from translating axially when the moving feature is in the locked position.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the body assembly comprises a latching member configured to selectively secure the transmission assembly to the body assembly.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the latching member is movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the latching member in the first position is configured to prevent the transmission assembly from entering a transmission aperture and securing to the body assembly, wherein the latching member in the second position is configured to allow the transmission assembly to enter the transmission aperture and secure to the body assembly.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the latching member is configured to move to the second position from the first position in response to the moving feature moving to the locked position.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the latching member comprises a ramped tab, wherein the moving feature includes a ramp portion, wherein the latch ramp is configured to engage and cam ramped tab downwardly to move latching member to the second position in response to the moving feature moving to the locked position.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein the ramped tab extends from the latching member away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the ramp member extends from the moving feature toward the longitudinal axis.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the transmission assembly comprises a flared portion that is selectively couplable to the body assembly, wherein the flared portion prevents the transmission assembly from translating relative to the body assembly in at least one direction.

16. A method of assembling a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a transmission assembly having a proximal end, the transmission assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
(i) a waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, and
(ii) an end effector coupled to the distal end of the waveguide;

(b) a transducer; and
(c) a body assembly comprising a locking mechanism comprising a slider, wherein the slider is movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the slider is configured to engage the transducer in a locked position;
wherein the method comprises:
(a) moving the slider to a locked position to engage the transducer;
(b) inserting the proximal end of the transmission assembly into the body assembly; and
(c) moving the slider back to the unlocked position to disengage the transducer.

17. A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a transmission assembly having a proximal end, the transmission assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
(i) a waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, and
(ii) an end effector coupled to the distal end of the waveguide;

(b) a transducer; and
(c) a body assembly comprising:
(i) a transmission aperture formed in a distal surface of the body assembly and configured to receive a portion of the transmission assembly, and
(ii) at least one friction member configured to selectively frictionally engage the transducer to prevent movement of the transducer.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein the at least one friction member comprises friction pads.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein at least one friction member is movable toward the longitudinal axis to frictionally engage the transducer.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the body assembly comprises a housing, wherein the at least one friction member is in communication with a button extending outwardly from the housing.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Boudreaux Chad P
• Houser Kevin L

Classifications

• A61N7/00 Primary

  Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) · CPC title

• A61B2017/2929

  with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft · CPC title

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B2017/320097

  with stapling means · CPC title