Patent · US Active

Cam driven coupling between ultrasonic transducer and waveguide in surgical instrument

US10881448B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
300References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 2015
Grant dateJan 5, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 24, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/53913
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a waveguide, a transducer, and a coupling assembly. In some versions the coupling assembly translates the transducer to couple the transducer to the waveguide. For instance, a gear having arcuate troughs may engage pins on the transducer and/or waveguide to mate the transducer to waveguide. A pawl may selectively engage and prevent rotation of the gear. Alternatively, lever arms may cam the transducer into the waveguide. The lever arms may selectively couple to a casing to prevent decoupling of the transducer and waveguide. In another configuration, a locking tab can be slid and locked into a slot to couple the transducer and waveguide. Further still, levers with self-locking pins may engage and couple the transducer to the waveguide. In another version, a rotatable body portion may engage a tab on the transducer to rotate and couple the transducer to the waveguide.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.